ARC Raiders PvE Toggle Beta Test: Dates, Rules, and What Changes
Embark Studios has confirmed a PvE Toggle beta test for ARC Raiders, running from October 13 to October 20, 2026. For one week, you can opt into matchmaking with zero player-to-player damage and face only the ARC.
It is one of the longest-running requests from the community, and it arrives in the week after Frozen Trail launches. We are tracking the test on our ARC Raiders hub, and this article covers the confirmed rules, the data behind the decision, and what is still TBC.
PvE Toggle beta at a glance
The table below collects every rule Embark has confirmed for the test so far.
| Detail | What Embark has confirmed |
|---|---|
| Test dates | October 13-20, 2026 (start and end times TBC) |
| Opt-in | Yes, you choose PvE or PvPvE before matchmaking |
| Player damage in PvE | Zero player-to-player damage |
| Squad sizes | Solos, Duos, and Trios matched into the same PvE session |
| Switching modes | Seamless switching between PvE and PvPvE |
| PvPvE matchmaking rating | Not affected by PvE sessions |
| Loot in PvE | Overall loot value lowered (exact figure not published) |
| Loot in PvPvE | Slightly higher baseline loot values during the test |
| Downed state in PvE | ARC targets you if you move while downed, and ignores you if you stay still |
| Excluded content | Some major conditions, Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate, and the Frigate |
| After the test | Toggle removed, matchmaking returns to normal |
How the PvE Toggle works
The toggle adds a second matchmaking pool alongside classic PvPvE. In a PvE session, other Raiders can still share the map with you, but they cannot damage you, and you cannot damage them.
Embark is clear that this is not a harder PvE mode or a new progression track. The post describes it as “an attempt to give players an alternative to PvP encounters,” so the raid loop, maps, and ARC threat stay the same.
A few mechanics change to keep some pressure on you:
- Mixed squad sizes: Solos, Duos, and Trios load into the same PvE session, so a solo Raider may share a map with a full Trio.
- Downed behavior: If the ARC downs you, moving makes you a target again, while staying still makes the ARC ignore you.
- Rating protection: Time spent in PvE does not change your PvPvE matchmaking rating, so you can test it without affecting your regular lobbies.
The downed rule is the biggest change for Trios, since Embark is using the ARC itself to keep revives tense. Your teammates will need to clear nearby ARC before you crawl to cover, and our ARC enemy database lists which machines patrol each area if you want to plan revive-safe routes.
What is excluded from PvE
Not every map condition will be available in PvE matchmaking during the test. The excluded content is:
- Some major conditions: Embark has not listed which major conditions are affected beyond the named ones below.
- Night Raids: Unavailable in the PvE pool.
- Hidden Bunker: Unavailable in the PvE pool.
- Locked Gate: Unavailable in the PvE pool.
- Frigate: The new ARC Operation from Frozen Trail, confirmed in the Frozen Trail content preview, is also excluded.
The Frigate exclusion stands out because it only arrives on October 8, five days before the test starts. If you want to try the Frigate or Night Raids that week, you will need to queue into PvPvE, and our Event Timers show when each condition is active.
Loot and the economy during the test
Loot is the main balancing lever. PvE loot value is lowered to reflect the lower risk, and Embark has not published how large that reduction is.
At the same time, PvPvE sessions get slightly higher baseline loot values for the duration of the test. Embark explains that Friendly players already see higher extraction rates and more value earned, so the PvPvE bump is meant to keep the reward for risk intact.
Example Scenario: You have a Trio heading into Dam and want materials for your Workshop upgrades. PvE gives you a safer extract with lower-value loot, while PvPvE carries the risk of rival squads but a slightly higher loot baseline, so the right queue depends on whether you value consistency or payout for that run.
Because neither percentage is public, we will not guess at the size of the gap. Once the test is live, we plan to compare loot from both queues on the same maps and add the results to our ARC Raiders interactive maps coverage.
Why Embark is testing PvE now
Embark says it weighs decisions against data, player feedback, and gut instinct. The post shares a breakdown of the playerbase by playstyle, based on its own data:
| Player group | Share of players | Trend since launch |
|---|---|---|
| Friendly co-op players | 37% | Growing consistently |
| Mixed players | 27% | Not stated |
| Pure PvP players | 34% | Stable |
The survey findings go further. Over 70% of Friendly players and 40% of PvP players said they want fewer hostile encounters, and 51% of surveyed players expressed interest in a dedicated PvE option.
Embark also acknowledges the history here. The first, unlaunched version of ARC Raiders was conceived as a PvE co-op raiding game, and the studio says it has “been hesitant to return to that concept.”
What about cheaters?
Embark’s post frames the test around playstyle and player choice, and it does not mention cheating. That said, cheating has been one of the most common complaints from the community, and Embark addressed it directly in its Ensuring Fair Play update in May, which outlined kernel-level Easy Anti-Cheat protection alongside machine-learning detection.
The practical effect of zero player-to-player damage is that a cheater in a PvE session cannot kill you. Other Raiders can still reach loot before you, so a PvE lobby does not remove every form of competition, but it does remove the outcome most players are worried about.
Example Scenario: You run solo and have lost several raids in a row to encounters you felt were unfair. In the PvE pool, the worst case is losing a container to a faster Raider, while in PvPvE the same encounter can cost your full loadout, which our Loadouts builder can help you plan around.
Whether PvE lobbies have a lower rate of cheating reports is something only Embark’s data can show. We will update this section if the studio shares anything on it after the test.
Risks Embark has flagged
Embark calls this “not a risk-free test” and lists three concerns:
- Tension: A PvE toggle could reduce some of the tension the game was built around, which is why the downed rule exists.
- Economy: PvE sessions produce higher extraction rates and more value earned, which is why loot values shift in both queues.
- Matchmaking: Low-population regions and off-peak hours may see slightly longer queue times, which Embark says it will monitor.
The tension concern is a fair one. A large part of the ARC Raiders identity comes from not knowing whether the squad you hear is friendly, and a split pool changes who you meet in PvPvE as well as PvE.
What is still TBC
Several details were not in the announcement, and we have marked them TBC until Embark confirms them:
- Start and end times: Only dates are confirmed, with no time or timezone given.
- Platforms: The post does not specify platforms, though ARC Raiders is on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
- Quest and Trial progress: It is not stated whether quests and Trials progress normally in PvE, so check before relying on it for our ARC Raiders quest database objectives.
- Loot reduction size: No percentage is given for PvE or for the PvPvE increase.
- Full list of excluded major conditions: Only the named conditions are confirmed.
What happens after October 20
When the test ends, the toggle is removed and matchmaking returns to normal. Embark states that the test “is not a promise that there will be a PvE mode in the future.”
The studio will review feedback and data during and after the test, then share findings and future plans. It also warns that any future version could look very different from the beta, so treat the rules above as test-only.
If you want PvE to stick around, the most useful thing you can do is play it during the test window and give feedback on what worked and what did not. We will cover the results alongside our Frozen Trail hub updates.
Frequently asked questions
When is the ARC Raiders PvE Toggle beta test?
The test runs from October 13 to October 20, 2026. Exact start and end times have not been announced.
Is the ARC Raiders PvE mode permanent?
No. The toggle is removed when the test ends, and Embark has said the test is not a promise of a future PvE mode.
Can other players hurt you in PvE?
No. PvE sessions have zero player-to-player damage, though other Raiders can still share the map and loot containers.
Does playing PvE affect your PvPvE rank?
No. Embark has confirmed that your PvPvE matchmaking rating is not affected by PvE sessions.
Is loot worse in PvE?
Yes. Overall loot value is lowered in PvE, and PvPvE sessions get slightly higher baseline loot during the test.
Can you play the Frigate or Night Raids in PvE?
No. The Frigate, Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate, and some major conditions are excluded from PvE matchmaking during the test.
