Embark Studios Tests PvE “Rebellion” Map Condition for ARC Raiders in China

Embark Studios is currently testing a new version of ARC Raiders in China that includes a highly requested player-versus-environment (PvE) map condition called the ‘Rebellion Incident’. The developers are trying out alternative game modes for the extraction shooter, which was originally released in October 2025.

What We Know So Far About the Chinese Version

The Chinese Testing Phase

It is standard practice for Western shooters to receive amended, separate versions when launching in the Chinese market to comply with regional guidelines. During the initial rounds of testing for this specific Chinese build, players noticed a few new map conditions. This information eventually made its way to Western social media platforms, thanks to a few dedicated users who took the time to translate posts from Chinese forums. It takes a fair amount of patience to sift through translated forum posts, but it gives us a practical look at what the studio is experimenting with behind closed doors.

How the ‘Rebellion Incident’ Works

The most notable discovery is a map condition translated as the ‘Rebellion Incident’, though some have also referred to it as ‘Safe Zone’. In this mode, players cannot inherently damage one another on sight. By default, friendly fire is disabled. If a player decides they want to attack others, they must deliberately choose to initiate a “rebellion.”

Once a player does this, the game announces to the lobby that there are rebels present. These rogue players are then marked with a red icon on the compass and the in-game map. According to the translations, this mode provides a high amount of resources and is considered a lower-difficulty option. I think this is a very sensible approach to game design. It allows players who just want to fight the robotic enemies and gather loot to do so in relative peace, while still maintaining a risk factor if someone decides to betray the lobby. Extraction games can be quite stressful, and having a clear system that highlights hostile players—similar to the Rogue system in The Division—would make the experience much more manageable for quieter players.

Double Bosses and Extra Threats

In addition to the Rebellion mode, testers uncovered a second condition referred to as ‘Double King’ or ‘Dual Boss’. This specific condition apparently spawns both a Queen and a Matriarch boss on the same map at the exact same time. Fighting one large machine in ARC Raiders is usually tedious enough on its own, so dealing with two simultaneously sounds like it would require a highly coordinated group. I usually play quietly and tend to avoid the large boss encounters entirely, but I can understand how players who enjoy difficult, chaotic fights would find this addition appealing.

Will This Come to the Core Game?

Currently, these features are isolated to the Chinese testing phase. However, players in the West have been asking for a PvE-only option for quite some time. If you look at the community discussions, there is a clear demand from the casual player base for an experience that doesn’t strictly force competitive player-versus-player combat all the time.

I think introducing the Rebellion Incident to the global version of ARC Raiders would be a good decision. It offers a fair middle ground. You still have the tension of potential player betrayals, but you do not have to worry about being shot from a bush while you are just trying to check your inventory. Hopefully, Embark Studios observes the positive reception to these leaks and considers bringing these map conditions to the broader player base in a future update.

More ARC Raiders Resources

• Interactive Maps – Plan your route across all ARC Raiders maps.
• ARC Raiders Database – Browse every item, weapon, and enemy in the game.
• ARC Raiders Guides – More guides to help you progress faster.
• MetaForge Discord – Share your farming spots and connect with other Raiders.