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As of the latest listed updates—Store Update 1.40.0 on August 4, 2026, and Live Update 1.39.0 on July 28—there is no official confirmation of a universal login queue or matchmaking outage. Update 1.40.0 does mention that Embark is investigating some PC launch error codes, but that is a separate issue.
What “In Queue” means in ARC Raiders
The wording has been used for two situations that are easy to confuse:
- Login queue: During documented incidents in November 2025 and on March 2, 2026, players could see “In Queue” before reaching normal game services. It could prevent them from going Topside, managing inventory, or using hub features. The message did not provide a queue position or countdown. Embark said the temporary queue was introduced to reduce problems with party formation and voice channels, with longer matchmaking as a side effect. Destructoid’s explanation documents those incidents.
- Raid matchmaking: A prolonged search after you choose to play usually means the game is trying to assemble a suitable match. That is not automatically evidence of a global server outage.
The official ARC Raiders news page, current through Store Update 1.40.0, does not identify a current universal login queue. If the message appears before you can access the hub, check Embark’s service announcements first rather than assuming the problem is your matchmaking configuration.
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Why normal matchmaking can take longer now
Embark said in Store Update 1.38.0 that it was testing changes intended to improve match quality, especially during low-population hours, in certain regions, and under specific map conditions. The trade-off is explicit: the algorithm may wait longer while looking for a better match instead of filling a lobby immediately. See the official 1.38.0 notes.
The system considers factors including:
- squad size;
- latency;
- historical playstyle, including how players tend to engage with other Raiders.
Playstyle matching is a continuous scale, not a choice between “friendly” and “aggressive” lobbies. Similar players are more likely to be placed together, but the separation is not guaranteed. There are also no PvE-only servers: every Topside round retains the possibility of PvP. Embark explains the system in its matchmaking overview.
Check these settings first
1. Set Server to Automatic
Embark’s support guidance recommends Automatic so the game can select an appropriate region.
On PC: From the main screen, click the gear icon in the bottom-right corner, then open Gameplay → Server and select Automatic.
On console: Open the Social menu, select the gear icon on the left side, then open Gameplay → Server and select Automatic.
These paths come from Embark’s PC and console matchmaking troubleshooting guide.
2. Check Crossplay for everyone in the party
Embark says Crossplay being disabled is the most common reason matchmaking feels slow. Disabling it reduces the available pool, so it can increase wait times without making a raid safer or more cooperative.
There is an important party-specific edge case: the most restrictive player’s Crossplay setting applies to the whole party. You can have Crossplay enabled and still be placed in a Crossplay-off pool if another party member has it disabled. Have every party member check the setting before searching again.
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Embark specifically recommends synchronizing the device clock if you cannot find a match, or if standard maps work but map conditions do not. The support article links to a separate device-clock procedure; it does not provide a verified command-line fix.
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What your playstyle does—and does not—change
Since Live Update 1.36.0, ARC Raiders tracks playstyle separately for Solo, Duo, and Trio rounds rather than using one shared profile for every squad size. That change remains live in Live Update 1.39.0.
Update 1.39.0 also began testing a narrower defensive-PvP rule: only fights your squad starts affect its playstyle estimate during the test. Defending against a squad that damaged, downed, or eliminated one of your squadmates does not count as starting a fight. Joining an existing fight as a third party does count.
Several common assumptions are incorrect:
- One kill or one shot does not instantly move you into a different lobby type; the system evaluates patterns over time.
- Your loadout does not determine matchmaking or scale lobby difficulty according to the kit’s cost.
- The squad leader does not control the lobby profile; every squad member contributes.
- End-of-round survey answers are used for trend analysis and design decisions, not as a direct next-lobby switch.
- Turning Crossplay off changes the size and composition of the pool, not the expected friendliness of the players you meet.
A practical diagnosis checklist
- Identify where the delay occurs. If you cannot reach the hub and see “In Queue,” treat it as a possible service or login incident. If you are in the hub and waiting for a raid, troubleshoot matchmaking.
- Check official news and status notices. Do not assume an old login-queue incident is happening again.
- Set Server to Automatic. Use the platform-specific path above.
- Check the entire party’s Crossplay settings. One restricted player can limit everyone.
- Synchronize your device clock. This is especially important when map conditions fail while standard maps work.
- Allow for population and timing effects. Low-population hours, certain regions, and particular map conditions can naturally produce longer searches.
- Do not rely on unsupported commands. Embark’s current guidance does not specify a Steam launch option, DNS command, console command, or cache-clearing command as a matchmaking fix.
When the problem is not matchmaking
A failure to launch is different from a long raid search. Store Update 1.40.0 says Embark is investigating PC launch error codes. On console, Live Update 1.39.0 lists ongoing crashes affecting some Xbox players, particularly on Series S. Those issues can prevent play entirely, but they do not prove that a normal matchmaking wait is caused by your settings.
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Likewise, a visible timer or changing interface element should not be used as proof of a specific queue type unless it is confirmed in current official documentation. Third-party changelogs have made claims about matchmaking timers, but Embark’s current support material does not establish a specific timer label or screenshot.
The bottom line
If ARC Raiders says “In Queue” before you can use the hub, it may be a login-service queue like those seen during earlier incidents—but the documented events are not evidence of a current global outage. If you are already searching for a raid, first check Crossplay, the Server setting, and your device clock. If those are correct, a long wait may be intentional: Embark’s current system is willing to search longer for a better match, particularly during quiet periods, in smaller regional pools, or for specific map conditions.
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