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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThe ARC Raiders PvE matchmaking test is scheduled to run from October 13 through October 20, 2026. It will let players choose a co-op session focused on fighting ARC instead of the usual PvPvE experience, with player-to-player damage disabled. Embark describes this as a limited test, not a confirmed permanent mode; the studio says it will use feedback and data to decide what comes next.
When does the ARC Raiders PvE test start?
Embark Studios announced the test for October 13–20, 2026. As of October 7, 2026, those dates are still upcoming. The test uses a matchmaking toggle so players can choose between standard PvPvE and the PvE option. Embark says it is designing the switch to be seamless. Embark’s September 24 announcement gives the schedule and test details.
What changes in the PvE test?
The PvE option removes player-to-player damage and centers sessions on cooperating against ARC. Solo, duo, and trio players will be mixed together in those sessions. Playing PvE will not affect a player’s PvPvE matchmaking rating. Embark’s announcement says the test is intended as an alternative to hostile player encounters, not as a test of more difficult PvE or a new PvE progression system.
Conditions that are excluded
Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate, and Frigate will not be available in PvE. Embark says those conditions are built around the uncertainty of meeting different players and are intended to create higher tension.
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![ARC Raiders Deluxe - PC Steam [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51I3Aj2PM0L._SL160_.jpg)
- ARC Raiders Deluxe Edition includes the base game and the following content: The Wanderer Set, including the following cosmetic items: “Valente” Outfit" “Pathfinder” Backpack,“Blanket Roll” Backpack Attachment.
- Plus: Character Cosmetic, Finger Gun Rapid Fire Emote, Cowboy Scrappy Body Type and Skin, 2 400 Raider Tokens.
Loot and the game economy
Loot values will be adjusted to reflect the relative safety of PvE sessions: overall loot value will be lower in PvE, while PvPvE sessions will have slightly higher baseline loot values during the test. Embark says it will monitor the effect on the player economy. The studio’s announcement does not specify numerical loot values.
One danger remains when you are downed
ARC may reacquire a downed player who crawls. Embark says ARC will ignore a downed player who stays still.
How is PvE different from standard PvPvE?
| Feature | Standard PvPvE | Limited PvE test |
|---|---|---|
| Player damage | Player encounters can include hostile damage. | Player-to-player damage is disabled. |
| Who shares sessions | Standard matchmaking. | Solo, duo, and trio players are mixed together. |
| Loot value | Slightly higher baseline loot values during the test. | Overall loot value is lowered to account for relative safety. |
| Conditions | Standard experience; the named high-tension conditions remain part of its availability. | Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate, and Frigate are excluded. |
| Matchmaking rating | Standard PvPvE rating applies. | PvE play does not affect PvPvE matchmaking rating. |
| Availability | Standard experience. | Scheduled for October 13–20, 2026; the toggle is to be removed afterward. |
These differences are based on Embark’s test announcement. It does not provide a numerical comparison of loot amounts.
Is ARC Raiders getting a permanent PvE mode?
There is no permanent PvE launch date announced in Embark’s September 24, 2026 statement. The studio says the toggle will be removed after the limited test and matchmaking will return to normal. It plans to use player feedback and data to inform future decisions and share its plans and findings sometime after the test. A lasting mode is not guaranteed, and any future version may differ from the test.
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- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dyno herd
- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety, and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game
- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
- Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes, and styles
- Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout
Why is Embark testing PvE?
Embark says ARC Raiders began as a raid-based co-op PvE game with looting before the team reset it as a PvPvE extraction adventure. The studio now sees a sizable group playing mainly for co-op and ARC encounters, and says it wants to learn how to support those players while preserving the game’s core principles.
To explain that interest, Embark shared player-preference figures in its announcement: 37% were categorized as friendly co-op players, 27% as mixed players, and 34% as pure PvP players. It also said more than 70% of friendly players and 40% of PvP players wanted fewer hostile encounters, while 51% of the surveyed playerbase expressed interest in a dedicated PvE option. Embark did not state the sample size or methodology, so these are studio-reported figures, not an independently audited survey. The announcement also acknowledges that adding a PvE toggle could reduce some of the tension the game was designed around.
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- Use cunning strategy and tactics to tame, train, ride and breed the 100+ dinosaurs and other primeval creatures roaming the dynamic, persistent ecosystems across land, sea, air, and even underground Build your character's strengths and gain items, skills, and pet creatures using in-depth role-playing systems
- Start a tribe with hundreds of other players to survive and dominate competing tribes...and ultimately discover ARK's true purpose
- Build a fire or shelter, then craft customizable clothing & armors to help protect against damage and extreme temperatures on your way to unlocking advanced technologies and equipment
- Chop down trees and mine metal and other precious resources to build massive multi-leveled structures composed of complex snap-linked parts
Could matchmaking queues change?
Embark warns that queues could become slightly longer in low-population regions or during off-hours. This is an anticipated risk, not a confirmed effect. The studio says it will monitor queue times and the quality of both PvE and PvPvE sessions. Its announcement does not report actual queue results, since the test has not yet taken place as of October 7, 2026.
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