Embark Studios is giving Arc Raiders players a short break from the usual PvPvE routine. From October 13 to October 20, 2026, the extraction shooter will run a limited-time PvE mode test, giving players a way to step out of the standard extraction format for a bit.
There’s a new matchmaking toggle for it. You can choose regular lobbies or PvE-only sessions, where other players can’t damage you. Solos, duos, and trios will all be funneled into the same PvE queue. Embark says this is just an experiment, not something guaranteed to work long term, and whether it has a future will depend on things like matchmaking times and what it does to the in-game economy.
The lower-risk setup comes with a few tradeoffs. Loot in PvE is worth less, while PvPvE loot gets a slight bump. ARCs, the game’s AI enemies, will still target downed players. At the same time, AI will ignore stationary players. Night Raids and the Hidden Bunker won’t be part of the test either.
This comes right after the Frozen Trail update on October 8, and Embark says player demand pushed it forward. The studio says 37% of players fall into the growing Friendly co-op group, compared with 34% who are pure PvP players. It also says 70% of Friendly players, 40% of PvP players, and 51% overall want fewer hostile encounters or a dedicated PvE option. That tracks with Arc Raiders’ original PvE concept, and with the broader shift in shooters toward lower-pressure co-op.
If you want a friendlier Arc Raiders run, this is the one to jump into. You can access it in Arc Raiders through the in-game matchmaking toggle during the October 13 to October 20 test window.
Author: Emmanuel Bosque
{
"social": {
"email": "",
"facebook": "",
"twitter": "",
"linkedin": ""
},
"ja-JP": "",
"de-DE": "Emmanuel Bosque schreibt bei Softonic über Videospiele: Neuerscheinungen, Updates, die aus einem Spiel still und leise ein anderes machen, und eine Branche, die ihre Schritte selten vorher ankündigt. Er schreibt für die, die spielen wollen, nicht für die, die diskutieren wollen: was heute spielbar ist, auf welcher Plattform und ob der Download sich lohnt. Er gehört zum Redaktionsteam von Softonic und arbeitet täglich mit KI-Werkzeugen in der Produktion.",
"en-US": "Emmanuel Bosque covers video games at Softonic: releases, the updates that quietly turn a game into a different one, and an industry that rarely announces its moves in advance. He writes for the person who is going to play, not the person who is going to argue: what you can play today, on which platform, and whether it is worth the download. He is part of Softonic's editorial team and works daily with AI tools in content production.",
"es-ES": "Emmanuel Bosque cubre videojuegos en Softonic: lanzamientos, actualizaciones que convierten un juego en otro sin decirlo y los movimientos de una industria que casi nunca avisa. Escribe pensando en quien va a jugar, no en quien va a discutir: qué se puede jugar hoy, en qué plataforma y si de verdad merece la descarga. Forma parte del equipo editorial de Softonic y trabaja a diario con herramientas de IA en la producción de contenido.",
"fr-FR": "Emmanuel Bosque couvre les jeux vidéo chez Softonic : sorties, mises à jour qui transforment discrètement un jeu en un autre, et une industrie qui prévient rarement à l'avance. Il écrit pour celui qui va jouer, pas pour celui qui va débattre : ce qui est jouable aujourd'hui, sur quelle plateforme, et si le téléchargement en vaut la peine. Il fait partie de l'équipe éditoriale de Softonic et travaille au quotidien avec des outils d'IA dans la production de contenu.",
"it-IT": "Emmanuel Bosque si occupa di videogiochi su Softonic: uscite, aggiornamenti che trasformano un gioco in un altro senza dirlo e un'industria che quasi mai avvisa in anticipo. Scrive per chi ha intenzione di giocare, non per chi ha intenzione di discutere: cosa si può giocare oggi, su quale piattaforma e se vale davvero il download. Fa parte del team editoriale di Softonic e lavora ogni giorno con strumenti di IA nella produzione dei contenuti.",
"nl-NL": "Emmanuel Bosque schrijft bij Softonic over videogames: releases, updates die een spel stilletjes in een ander spel veranderen, en een industrie die haar stappen zelden vooraf aankondigt. Hij schrijft voor wie gaat spelen, niet voor wie gaat discussiëren: wat je vandaag kunt spelen, op welk platform en of de download het waard is. Hij maakt deel uit van de redactie van Softonic en werkt dagelijks met AI-tools in de contentproductie.",
"pl-PL": "Emmanuel Bosque zajmuje się grami w Softonicu: premierami, aktualizacjami, które po cichu zmieniają grę w zupełnie inną, i branżą, która rzadko uprzedza o swoich ruchach. Pisze dla tych, którzy chcą zagrać, a nie dla tych, którzy chcą się spierać: w co można zagrać dziś, na jakiej platformie i czy naprawdę warto pobierać. Należy do zespołu redakcyjnego Softonica i codziennie korzysta z narzędzi AI w produkcji treści.",
"pt-BR": "Emmanuel Bosque cobre games na Softonic: lançamentos, atualizações que transformam um jogo em outro sem avisar e uma indústria que raramente anuncia seus movimentos com antecedência. Escreve para quem vai jogar, não para quem vai discutir: o que dá para jogar hoje, em qual plataforma e se vale mesmo o download. Faz parte da equipe editorial da Softonic e trabalha diariamente com ferramentas de IA na produção de conteúdo."
}
View all posts by Emmanuel Bosque
