Arc Raiders PvE Mode Test Starts October 13

Ever wished you could explore Arc Raiders without constantly watching your back for other players? Well, you might just get your chance very soon.

Embark Studios has announced a limited-time PvE mode test for Arc Raiders, running from October 13 to October 20. During that week, a PvE toggle will let you seamlessly switch between lobbies where you can fight other players and lobbies where players can't damage you. The goal? To give you more choice and see if it's possible to completely disengage from PvP gameplay.

But don't expect the same rewards. Because PvE has lower stakes, loot in those lobbies will be lower-valued. And while ARCs will still target downed players to keep some tension alive, if you stay still, the AI foes will ignore you. Embark will be keeping a close eye on the player economy and matchmaking times throughout the test.

The studio is being refreshingly honest about the risks. "It's possible that this will not work," they noted, meaning PvE might never become a permanent fixture. This isn't a stress test—it's a real experiment to see how well a PvE mode can operate. Embark even pointed out that the first, unlaunched iteration of ARC Raiders was conceived as a PvE game, and they've been hesitant to return to that concept. "There is a risk that introducing a PvE matchmaking toggle could reduce some of the tension that the game was built around," they said. "At the same time, we have to respect that some players want to enjoy the game in their own way, and we can't ignore what the data is telling us."

So what does the data say? Embark's numbers show that a sizable chunk of players already ignore or try to avoid combat against other players. In fact, 37% are Friendly co-op players (a group that's grown consistently since launch), 27% are Mixed players, and 34% are Pure PvP players (stable since launch). Over 70% of Friendly players and even 40% of PvP players want fewer hostile encounters, while 51% of the surveyed player base has expressed interest in a dedicated PvE option.

Embark also shared a thoughtful perspective on game design: "As creators, we design a game with an intention for how we think it should be played; but after launch, it becomes the players' game. This is one of the unique and wonderful things about making games; we build something with a specific vision, and then we get to see players finding their own ways to enjoy it."

It's a bold move to test something so publicly, even if it doesn't lead to permanent changes. The community will ultimately decide whether Arc Raiders needs PvE—and their feedback will determine if it's feasible. What do you think? Will you be trying out the PvE toggle next month?