ARC Raiders PvE Test Tops 30 Million Rounds as Embark Weighs What Comes Next

ARC Raiders’ temporary PvE matchmaking test ended with more than 30 million rounds played, but Embark Studios has not decided whether the option should become permanent. The studio says the experiment produced substantial data and that player reactions were mixed. It expects to share more about its next step in November.

What the test measured

The limited test ran from October 13 to October 20, giving players a choice between the game’s standard player-versus-player-versus-environment (PvPvE) matchmaking and a PvE queue focused on cooperating against ARC machines. It was an experiment to understand the effect of a separate PvE path, not an announcement that a permanent mode was coming.

In the PvE queue, players could not damage one another. Several other rules changed the experience: throwable items could not affect other players, loot value was reduced, and matchmaking did not prioritize separating squads by size. Some map conditions were unavailable in the PvE option. ARC’s machines remained dangerous, and a downed player could still draw their attention after a short grace period if they moved.

These changes made the test more than a switch that removed player combat. Embark adjusted the risk and reward structure, the likelihood of encountering other squads, and the activities available. That gave the studio an opportunity to study how different matchmaking rules might reshape an extraction raid. It also means players were evaluating a package of changes rather than a single isolated feature.

Thirty million rounds, many open questions

Embark’s October 20 update said players fired more than 30 million rounds during the testing period. The number signals considerable activity, but by itself it does not show whether players support a permanent PvE mode. It cannot tell readers how many people completed raids, how long they played, whether they would return, or whether the option improved the overall experience. The studio says it needs time to examine the data alongside player feedback.

Embark described the initial reaction as polarizing. That suggests competing priorities: some players may welcome a lower-pressure way to explore maps and fight ARC with friends, while others may worry that splitting matchmaking could weaken the unpredictable PvPvE encounters central to the game. The developer has not published a detailed survey result or said which view was more common.

A representative sample of players is due to receive a survey beginning October 22. Embark also invited players to share thoughts through its PvE test feedback channel on Discord. Those responses can explain things match statistics cannot, including whether the rules felt fair, whether raids stayed tense, how often players encountered ARC, and whether the lower loot values matched the challenge.

Why the decision matters

ARC Raiders is built around the uncertainty of entering a raid where other human scavengers may cooperate or attack. That possibility influences how players travel, spend ammunition, decide when to extract, and interpret another squad’s behavior. A dedicated PvE option changes those decisions. It could make the game more accessible to people who prefer fighting machine threats with friends, while reducing unexpected player conflict.

The trade-off extends beyond the design of individual encounters. Separate queues can affect matchmaking times, especially in regions or hours with fewer players. They can change how often squads meet and alter the perceived value of loot. Embark’s test rules acknowledged some of these concerns, including the possibility of longer waits in low-population regions and during quiet hours. The studio said it would monitor session quality.

A long-term PvE mode would also need its own balance decisions. The test lowered loot value and restricted some map conditions, but a permanent option could require more adjustments to progression, rewards, and activity availability. If one mode becomes the safest or most efficient route to valuable gear, players could feel pushed into it even when they prefer the other experience. If rewards are too weak, the cooperative queue might feel like a side activity rather than a meaningful way to play. Embark has not announced how it would resolve those questions.

What Embark has and has not decided

For now, the studio has announced a review, not a verdict. It has not confirmed that PvE matchmaking will return, become permanent, or expand. It has also not said it will remove the standard PvPvE queue. Embark says its priority is the overall health and enjoyability of ARC Raiders, and it expects to provide further information in November after reviewing the data and survey feedback.

Several outcomes remain possible: the current rules could be adjusted, the test could be repeated, a narrower cooperative option could be explored, or the studio could decide that a separate queue does not improve the game. Those are possibilities, not announced plans. The next update should help explain which questions the test answered and which remain open.

What players should watch next

The most helpful November follow-up would explain how Embark judged the test: not just how many rounds were played, but how the toggle affected PvPvE sessions, queue health, raid completion, and the player experience. Details about what participants liked or disliked could clarify whether the studio sees a path to a permanent option or whether the test exposed trade-offs that are too difficult to balance.

Players who took part can contribute through the survey or official feedback channel. For everyone else, the careful conclusion is that ARC Raiders attracted substantial PvE activity during a limited experiment, but the studio has not committed to keeping the feature. Embark is still weighing the evidence, and the future of a permanent PvE option remains undecided until it reports back.