Players have asked for a PvE option since launch, and Embark has finally answered with the ARC Raiders PvE toggle.
The catch is that it runs for one week, cuts loot, and locks out the Frigate.
Here is exactly what Embark confirmed for the October 13-20 test, what it left unconfirmed, and how to decide which queue to join.
Table of Contents
What is the ARC Raiders PvE toggle?
The ARC Raiders PvE toggle is a one-week matchmaking option that removes all player-to-player damage from a raid.
It runs October 13-20, 2026, and sits alongside classic PvPvE instead of replacing it.
Embark announced it on September 24 in an official blog post and calls it a beta test, not a new game mode.
The test starts after the Frozen Trail update lands on October 8, so everything below comes from Embark’s own post, plus our read on the open questions.
| Detail | PvE sessions | PvPvE sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Player damage | None | Normal |
| Squad sizes | Solos, duos and trios in the same session | Standard matchmaking |
| Loot value | Lowered overall | Slightly higher baseline during the test |
| Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate, Frigate | Excluded | Available |
| PvPvE matchmaking rating | Not affected by PvE play | Standard |
How the PvE toggle works
You choose between PvE and PvPvE matchmaking, and PvE sessions mix solos, duos and trios together.
Other Raiders are still on the map, but nobody can damage anyone.
A solo queue in PvE is therefore a shared session, not a private one.
Embark describes the goal as giving players an alternative to PvP encounters.
The studio says it is not testing harder PvE or new PvE progression.
You can still scavenge, complete quests and explore, which means the raid loop itself stays the same.
Two rules matter for planning:
- Rating protection: your PvPvE matchmaking rating is not affected while you play PvE, so a week in the toggle should not change who you meet when you return to classic lobbies.
- Limited run: when the test ends, the toggle is removed and matchmaking returns to normal.
On timing, the announcement body gives dates only.
ArcRaiders.gg reports that Embark’s FAQ lists an 11:00 CEST start, which is 5:00 AM EDT or 2:00 AM PDT, and Beebom gives the same conversion.
Other outlets say no time has been announced, so check the in-game timer before you plan around it.
Loot is the trade-off
PvE sessions carry lower overall loot value, and PvPvE sessions get slightly higher baseline loot during the test.
Embark has not published percentages for either change.
The studio says friendly players extract more often and earn more value, so it is adjusting both queues to keep the economy balanced.
That second half is easy to miss.
A common first reading is that PvE loot simply gets cut, but Embark is pulling two levers: PvE goes down and PvPvE goes up.
The cut still divides commentators, and the two camps have clear arguments.
The case against a loot cut.
Players who simply want to avoid being camped at extract are not asking for an easier game.
Their fix is to keep loot tables equal and raise the difficulty of the ARC instead, with more hit points and more missiles from machines like the Rocketeer.
Crafting and upgrade materials, they argue, should not sit behind a mode that some players never want to touch.
The case for it.
If safe runs paid the same as risky ones, nobody would queue PvPvE.
This camp points to The Division, where safer play and riskier zones pay differently, and says a lower payout is fair compensation for losing the human threat.
That comparison is their characterization of the other game, not something we checked.
Embark has settled one part of the argument.
The post says the test is not about making PvE more challenging, so the difficulty lever is not being tried this week.
Feedback after the test could change that.
The cleanest way to settle it for yourself is to measure.
Note your stash value before the test, then compare what a few PvE runs add against a few PvPvE runs on the same map.
The crawling rule changes revives
If an ARC downs you in PvE, moving can make it re-target you, and staying still makes it ignore you.
Embark added the rule to keep some tension in a mode with no player threat.
In practice, the old habit of crawling straight to a hatch or a teammate is the one to drop.
Wait for a revive, or have your squad clear nearby machines first.
Squads that know their ARC enemies will have an easier time deciding which threats to remove before a revive.
What the PvE queue leaves out
Four conditions are excluded from PvE: Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate and the Frigate.
Embark says they are designed around higher tension and the uncertainty of meeting other players.
The Frigate matters most for returning players.
It is the large ARC vessel arriving with Frozen Trail, and Embark’s Frozen Trail preview says Raiders aboard will have to collaborate or cut through each other.
If the Frigate is your reason to return, you will be queuing PvPvE.
Why Embark is testing PvE now
Embark’s player data shows a population split almost evenly between friendly and hostile styles.
The post lists 37% friendly co-op players, 27% mixed players and 34% pure PvP players.
The friendly group has grown consistently since launch, while the PvP group has stayed stable.
The post adds that over 70% of friendly players and 40% of PvP players want fewer hostile encounters, and 51% of the surveyed playerbase is interested in a dedicated PvE option.
Embark also names ratting and camping as friction points.
There is history here too.
Embark has said ARC Raiders began as a raid-based PvE co-op game before the studio reset it into the PvPvE extraction game players know today.
In February, the Shared Watch event paid out Merits for ARC kills, but PvP stayed on.
According to the community ARC Raiders wiki, PvP encounters earned no Merits.
The toggle goes further because it removes player damage entirely.
What Embark has not confirmed
Several details are still open, and the announcement does not settle them:
- Loot numbers: no percentages for the PvE cut or the PvPvE bump.
- Trials: the post does not describe how Trials scoring works in PvE.
- Death rules: Embark has announced no change to gear loss, so assume the usual extraction rules apply and verify in-game.
- Exact start and end times: the post gives dates, and the FAQ time is reported secondhand.
- Future plans: Embark says the test is not a promise of a permanent PvE mode, though it calls it a sign the studio is seriously considering one. Any later version could look very different.
How the toggle could affect PvPvE lobbies
Embark says queue times may rise slightly in low-population regions or during off hours.
A large PvE turnout may also change the quality of some PvPvE sessions.
The slightly higher PvPvE loot is part of the studio’s answer.
Raiders who hunt other players may find fewer easy targets if friendly players move over.
That is an expectation, not a confirmed result, and the test will show whether it holds.
For background on how lobbies are built today, see how matchmaking works.
How to prepare for the test week
- Decide your goal. Pick PvE for consistent farming and calmer quest runs. Pick PvPvE for the Frigate, Night Raids and the higher baseline loot.
- Record your baseline. Check your stash value before October 13 so you can compare queues.
- Plan your route. Use our loot map to pick areas worth farming in a calmer session.
- Practice the exit. Brush up on how to extract, since PvE players extract more often.
- Returning after a break? Our beginner guide covers what has changed.
- Send feedback. Embark says it will share findings after the test, and player feedback shapes the result.
The toggle test starts five days after Frozen Trail itself launches, so you will likely be settling into the new Outpost and leveling the new reward pass at the same time. Calmer PvE runs are a reasonable way to knock out early Feats before the PvPvE grind resumes.
We will update this page with real loot numbers once the test is live.
7. Key Takeaways
- The PvE toggle runs October 13-20, 2026 as a limited beta, not a permanent mode.
- PvE sessions have zero player-to-player damage and mix solos, duos and trios.
- Overall loot is lower in PvE, and PvPvE gets slightly higher baseline loot during the test.
- Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate and the Frigate are PvPvE only.
- ARC can re-target you if you crawl while downed, so stay still.
- Your PvPvE rating is not affected by PvE play.
- Embark has not promised a permanent PvE mode.
8. FAQ
When is the ARC Raiders PvE toggle test?
The test runs from October 13 to October 20, 2026.
Embark’s post gives dates only.
ArcRaiders.gg reports an 11:00 CEST start from the FAQ, which is 2:00 AM PDT, so confirm in-game.
Is the ARC Raiders PvE mode permanent?
No. Embark says the toggle is removed when the test ends and that the test is not a promise of a future PvE mode.
The studio calls it a sign it is seriously considering one.
A later version could look different.
Can other players damage me in PvE?
No. PvE sessions have zero player-to-player damage.
Other Raiders still share the map and can reach loot before you.
Can I play solo in the PvE toggle?
Yes, but solos, duos and trios share the same PvE session.
You are not placed in a private raid.
Embark has not announced private raids for this test.
Is loot worse in PvE?
Yes. Embark lowers overall loot value in PvE to offset the relative safety.
PvPvE sessions get slightly higher baseline loot during the test, and Embark has not shared exact figures.
Does PvE affect my PvPvE matchmaking rating?
No. Embark confirms your PvPvE matchmaking rating is not affected while you play PvE sessions.
You can switch back to classic lobbies without a penalty from your PvE time.
Can I fight the Frigate in PvE?
No. The Frigate is excluded from PvE, along with Night Raids, Hidden Bunker and Locked Gate.
Those conditions rely on the uncertainty of meeting other players, so they stay in PvPvE.
What happens if an ARC downs me in PvE?
ARC can re-target you if you move while downed and will ignore you if you stay still.
Embark added this to keep tension without a human threat.
Wait for a revive instead of crawling.
Why is Embark testing PvE now?
Embark’s data shows 37% of players are friendly co-op players and 51% of surveyed players are interested in a PvE option.
The studio also cites frustration with ratting and camping.
It says it cannot ignore what the data shows.
