Arc Raiders is testing a PvE mode because "a large and growing group" refuse to hunt each other
Arc Raiders developer Embark Studios is bowing to the pacifists and trialing a PvE mode in their extraction shooter. If you play between October 13th and 20th, you'll be able to flick a toggle that means you load either into the traditional world of Arc Raiders, where human players vie for the valuable scraps left behind in a ruined world watched over by killer robots, or a slightly safer version…
Embark, the developers behind Arc Raiders, have announced plans to test a purely PvE mode for the game. The test will run from October 13-20, 2026. During this period, players will be able to switch between the classic PvPvE experience and a PvE experience, where no player-to-player damage occurs. Both Solos, Duos, and Trios sessions will be supported in the PvE mode.
Certain features, such as Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate, and Frigate, will not be included in the PvE test as they are designed to create higher tension and rely on player encounters. Embark's decision to introduce a PvE mode comes after analyzing player data, which shows that over 70% of Friendly players and even 40% of PvP players desire fewer hostile encounters and a dedicated PvE option.
The PvE test will not affect players' PvPvE matchmaking ratings, and Embark emphasizes that this is a limited experiment. The developers believe that PvP is integral to the Arc Raiders experience but acknowledge the importance of accommodating players with different needs.
Written by urgent.news from PC Gamer's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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