ARC Raiders PvE: What the 2026 Matchmaking Test Changes

ARC Raiders PvE is now a scheduled test that follows the older Rebellion experiment. Embark announced a PvE matchmaking toggle on September 24, 2026. During the test, players can choose the classic PvPvE extraction loop or a PvE queue built around cooperation against ARC machines, alongside the usual ARC Raiders extraction loop.

Updated 2026-10-05: Embark has scheduled a PvE matchmaking toggle test for October 13-20, 2026, but it has not committed to a permanent mode.

Is there an ARC Raiders PvE mode? (quick answer)

As of October 5, 2026, there is no permanent PvE-only mode in ARC Raiders. There is a scheduled test from October 13 through 20, 2026. The new toggle offers PvE with "zero player-to-player damage," while PvPvE remains the core experience. Embark says the toggle will disappear after the test and that the data will guide the next decision.

Key Takeaways

• The ARC Raiders PvE test window is October 13-20, 2026. Embark's FAQ also lists 11 a.m. CEST in the timing line.
• The ARC Raiders PvE toggle switches between PvPvE and PvE matchmaking. PvE has zero player-to-player damage, with Solos, Duos, and Trios in the same session.
• Four conditions are excluded: Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate, and Frigate.
• PvE loot value is lower because the sessions are safer. PvPvE gets slightly higher baseline loot during the test.
• The test does not change PvPvE matchmaking rating and does not promise a permanent mode.

What Happened

Embark's September 24 announcement describes a dedicated ARC Raiders PvE matchmaking choice. The studio says players will be able to choose between the classic PvPvE experience and a PvE experience focused on co-op against the ARC threat. Its stated goal is to make the ARC Raiders PvE switch seamless, rather than replacing the game's existing extraction format.

The ARC Raiders PvE test is planned for October 13-20, 2026, and the announcement's FAQ lists 11 a.m. CEST in the timing entry. As of October 5, this is a scheduled beta test, not a live permanent queue. The announcement does not identify a separate invite group, region lock, or platform restriction. It describes the opt-in as an in-game toggle and explicitly says that Solos, Duos, and Trios will share PvE sessions.

Embark also shared the player data behind the ARC Raiders PvE test. Its split is 37% Friendly co-op players, 27% Mixed players, and 34% Pure PvP players. The Friendly group has grown consistently since launch, while the Pure PvP group has stayed stable. More than 70% of Friendly players and 40% of Pure PvP players said they wanted fewer hostile encounters, and 51% of surveyed players expressed interest in a dedicated PvE option.

What the ARC Raiders PvE matchmaking test changes

In the ARC Raiders PvE test, sessions remove damage between Raiders and focus the run on ARC enemies and co-op social play. Embark's announcement uses the exact condition "zero player-to-player damage." It also says PvE matchmaking will mix Solos, Duos, and Trios in the same session, so the test is not a solo-only playlist.

The ARC Raiders PvE queue is meant to be an additional choice. Players can switch between PvE and PvPvE, and the studio says the switch should be seamless. Playing PvE will not affect a player's PvPvE matchmaking rating. That gives the test a lower-risk way to try a different session type without changing the rating used for the standard experience.

Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate, and Frigate are excluded because Embark designed them around higher tension and the uncertainty of meeting other players. If you want to prepare for the rest of the run, our ARC Raiders enemy types guide and squad loadouts guide still apply.

Rewards, progression, and the PvPvE economy

ARC Raiders PvE is safer, so its overall loot value is lower. Embark says PvE players are expected to extract more often and earn more value as a result. To balance that difference during the test, PvPvE sessions get slightly higher baseline loot values.

The announcement does not add a new progression track. Embark says the point is not to create a more difficult PvE experience or new progression, but to provide an alternative to hostile player encounters. It does not promise special PvE rewards, a separate pass, or exclusive loot. It does say that a player downed by ARC may be reacquired if they crawl or move, while staying still can cause the machine to ignore them. PvE reduces Raider damage, not every source of danger.

For the rest of the game, the ARC Raiders beginner guide remains useful for the normal loot and extraction loop, while the maps guide explains the places and routes that the test will still use. The electromagnetic storm guide is also relevant to map conditions that can make a run dangerous even without another Raider shooting at you.

The old Rebellion beta is history, not this test

The previous version of this article, published June 16, 2026, covered the June 2026 China Rebellion beta. Rebellion was a map condition rather than a PvE-only matchmaking queue: it raised ARC pressure to encourage cooperation, while PvP and friendly fire remained technically active. That older test belongs in the history of ARC Raiders PvE, but it should not be confused with the October toggle.

The difference is the player-damage rule. Rebellion pushed players toward co-op through environmental pressure. The new test explicitly removes player-to-player damage in the PvE experience. Embark's September announcement provides the current 37%, 27%, and 34% player breakdown above.

Why It Matters

Embark says ARC Raiders began as a raid-based PvE co-op concept before the team reset it into the high-tension PvPvE extraction game that launched. The toggle is a test of whether the studio can support players who want fewer hostile encounters without weakening the core loop. Embark also says the risk is real: the PvE option could reduce the tension that makes ARC Raiders work, and the test may not succeed.

Frozen Trail arrives October 8, five days before the ARC Raiders PvE matchmaking test. The Frozen Trail expansion preview covers that update, including new content and the Frigate condition. Frigate is specifically excluded from the test, so the expansion and the test are related in timing but are not the same feature. The ARC Raiders anti-cheat update for October 8 is a separate fair-play story, not a confirmation that a permanent PvE queue exists.

After the ARC Raiders PvE test, Embark says the toggle will be removed and matchmaking will return to normal. The studio will review data and player feedback before deciding what happens next. Embark describes the test as serious consideration, not a promise. A permanent mode could arrive later, change substantially, or not happen at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a PvE mode in ARC Raiders?

Not as a permanent mode. Embark has scheduled a PvE matchmaking toggle test for October 13-20, 2026, alongside the core PvPvE experience.

When is the ARC Raiders PvE test?

The official ARC Raiders PvE timing is October 13-20, 2026, with 11 a.m. CEST listed in the announcement FAQ.

How will PvE matchmaking work?

Players can toggle between PvPvE and PvE. PvE sessions have zero player-to-player damage and include Solos, Duos, and Trios together.

What is excluded from the PvE test?

Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate, and Frigate are excluded because they rely on higher tension and player uncertainty.

Will PvE change ARC Raiders rewards or rating?

PvE loot value is lower, PvPvE gets slightly higher baseline loot, and PvE play does not affect your PvPvE matchmaking rating.

Will ARC Raiders get a permanent PvE mode?

There is no guarantee. Embark will review the test data and feedback, and says any future version could look very different.

Related Reading

• ARC Raiders beginner guide: the standard extraction, crafting, and progression loop.
• ARC Raiders Endgame Guide: Trials, Expeditions and Season 4: Trials, Expeditions, and late-game planning for the current season.
• ARC Raiders Best Solo Loadouts: Weapons, Gear and Tips: solo gear and weapon choices for safer runs.
• ARC Raiders Loot Guide: What to Keep, Sell, or Scrap: which materials to keep, sell, or scrap before the test.
• ARC Raiders Skill Tree Tier List: Best Upgrades Ranked: how to prioritize the three skill branches.
• ARC Raiders Crafting Guide: Workbenches, Recipes, Materials: workbench recipes and material priorities.

References

• Embark's official PvE toggle beta test announcement
• Embark's official Frozen Trail content preview
• ARC Raiders on Steam