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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallARC Raiders’ PvE matchmaking test is live from October 13 through October 20, 2026, but it is too early to say players are already using it to practice PvP. One early player reaction says access to PvE could make that player more willing to play PvP. That is an expectation—not evidence of widespread practice or measured changes in player behavior.
What the ARC Raiders PvE test changes
Embark Studios’ limited test adds a matchmaking choice: players can queue for the standard PvPvE experience or for PvE matchmaking. PvE removes player-to-player damage, leaving Raiders to cooperate against ARC threats without being able to damage one another. It is an alternative way to play during the test, not a confirmed permanent mode.
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Embark says the test is intended to offer an alternative to PvP encounters, gather feedback, and study how the toggle affects both PvE and PvPvE sessions. The studio has not described the feature as a PvP training mode. Its stated intent is to test an alternative to PvP encounters, not new PvE difficulty or progression. Read Embark’s announcement.
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The evidence supports a narrower claim than the headline’s wording. At least one player said the PvE option would make them play PvP more. That is a plausible personal response: a lower-pressure way to learn the maps, extraction flow, and combat basics could make the standard queue feel less daunting. But there is no credible count showing how many players have that goal, and no evidence establishing that PvE is already being used broadly to practice fights against other players.
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There is also a practical limit to the idea: PvE disables damage between players. It can let someone get familiar with the game’s PvE encounters and general match rhythm, but it does not recreate the threat, tactics, or consequences of fighting another Raider. Treat “PvE as PvP practice” as an individual expectation, not a proven feature or established player trend.
PvE and PvPvE matchmaking compared
| Feature | PvE matchmaking | Standard PvPvE |
|---|---|---|
| Player-to-player damage | Disabled. Stun and fire throwables also do not work on other players. | Player combat is part of the experience. |
| Physical interaction items | Barricades, ziplines, and other physical interaction items remain unaffected. | Not separately specified in the test announcement. |
| Loot value | Overall loot value is reduced. | The test announcement does not state a change to standard-session loot value. |
| Squad sizes | Different squad sizes will meet more often; squad separation is not prioritized. | Not separately specified in the test announcement. |
| Map conditions | No PvE option for Night Raid, Locked Gate, Hidden Bunker, Frigate, or Redirection. | These conditions are among those without a PvE option. |
| PvPvE matchmaking rating | Playing PvE does not affect PvPvE matchmaking rating, according to Embark. | Rating is not changed by playing PvE sessions. |
These rules come from Embark’s test details and its announcement and FAQ. Because PvE brings different squad sizes together more often, it is not simply the same matchmaking with friendly fire switched off. Embark also warns that queues may be affected in quieter regions or at less-populated hours.
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What Embark’s player figures do—and do not—show
Embark reported that 37% of players were classified as friendly co-op players, 27% as mixed players, and 34% as pure PvP players. The studio also said 51% of its surveyed player base expressed interest in a dedicated PvE option. These are company-reported survey figures published in 2026; the cited announcement does not state the sample size or methodology. They indicate reported interest and player classifications, not how anyone is using the new test or whether it increases PvP participation. See Embark’s figures.
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Not yet. Embark has described this as a limited October 13–20 test and says it will consider player feedback and data afterward. That is not a commitment to keep the toggle or split the game into permanent PvE and PvPvE versions.
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In an October 9 interview, executive producer Aleksander Grøndal said the studio had wondered whether opening that door was the right choice. Asked about a possible long-term split between PvE and PvPvE versions, he said it was “very possible.” His comment describes a possibility, not a confirmed roadmap. Read the interview.
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