Arc Raiders PvE mode has created a difficult choice for Embark Studios: welcome more playstyles without weakening its extraction shooter. The October experiment removed damage between players, allowing Raiders to cooperate against ARC machines. However, a popular alternative does not automatically fit the game’s long-term identity.
Embark now faces a bigger question than whether people enjoyed fighting machines together. It must determine what those players actually want. A quieter break from PvPvE could demand very different development priorities from a permanent cooperative experience.
Why Arc Raiders PvE mode remains undecided
The week-long test gave players a matchmaking toggle that prevented them from damaging one another. Instead of worrying about hostile Raiders, participants could concentrate on surviving encounters with ARC machines.
According to Embark’s October 20 announcement, players completed more than 30 million PvE rounds. That figure demonstrates substantial activity during the experiment. However, it does not reveal how many individuals participated or whether they preferred PvE permanently.
Embark also described reactions as polarizing. Therefore, raw participation alone cannot settle the discussion. The studio must consider how the toggle affected enjoyment across its broader audience.
Feedback remains central to that process. Embark opened a dedicated Discord channel and announced a survey for a representative player sample starting October 22. It expects to share additional information in November, although no permanent PvE mode has been confirmed.
Three possible directions for Arc Raiders PvE mode
Executive producer Aleksander Grøndal outlined the central dilemma during an October 25 interview with MP1st. Before discussing additional content, Embark needs to understand which experience players are asking for.
He identified three possible directions, each with a different purpose:
- A relaxed side mode: Players could enjoy cooperative encounters between more demanding PvPvE sessions.
- An AI challenge mode: Combat against machines could become the main attraction, emphasizing difficult encounters without player-versus-player damage.
- A complete PvE-only experience: Cooperative play could become a distinct way to experience Arc Raiders.
These are possibilities under consideration, not announced features. Crucially, each would influence how Embark approaches future updates.
A relaxed option could complement the existing experience. Meanwhile, a dedicated challenge mode would place greater emphasis on enemy encounters. A full PvE alternative raises broader questions about progression, balance, and the game’s identity.
Consequently, choosing a direction matters more than simply restoring the October toggle. The same experiment could point toward several very different futures.
Why Embark’s original vision complicates the decision
There is an unusual historical twist behind this discussion. Arc Raiders originally entered development as a cooperative PvE looter. Embark later changed direction because that formula was not working as intended.
Chief Creative Officer Stefan Strandberg explained that transition in a 2025 documentary. The studio ultimately adopted the PvPvE extraction shooter structure that defines the current game on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Now, players have shown interest in an experience closer to that abandoned starting point. Nevertheless, interest in a temporary experiment does not prove the original design would succeed today.
Grøndal acknowledged that Embark approached the test with some skepticism rooted in its development history. He also suggested that Arc Raiders might naturally attract people who prefer less stressful sessions.
That distinction matters. Some players may want to escape competitive pressure occasionally. Others might prefer avoiding it entirely. Those preferences could require different solutions.
Similar design tensions appear elsewhere in multiplayer gaming. For example, The Duskbloods’ PvPvE balancing challenges illustrate why combining competitive and environmental threats demands careful decisions.
What November’s update needs to clarify
Embark has not promised a decision in November. Instead, it expects to communicate more about its findings. That difference is important for players hoping to see the toggle return.
The studio says its priority is the overall health and enjoyment of Arc Raiders. Accordingly, any future PvE approach must be evaluated alongside the existing extraction experience.
One concern is how separate activities would influence future development. Creating content for a relaxed cooperative session differs from designing encounters for competitive extraction gameplay.
Another question involves keeping cooperative activities meaningful over time. Battle4Play’s coverage of Destiny 2’s Menagerie and returning rewards offers a useful comparison. Cooperative content needs reasons for players to keep engaging beyond its initial appeal.
However, that comparison does not establish what Embark will implement. It simply highlights why a lasting mode requires more thought than a successful trial.
For now, Arc Raiders PvE mode remains an open question. Embark has participation data, community feedback, and several possible directions to examine. The decisive issue is whether cooperative play can expand the audience without changing what makes Arc Raiders distinctive.
Would a calmer alternative make extraction rounds more enjoyable, or should PvE become a complete experience of its own?
Creator of the website, Pokemon trainer by nature. Trying to report on everything related to the world of video games, series and movies. Yu-Gi-Oh is my weakness, collecting cards since the dawn of time.
