ARC Raiders PvE Test Starts October 13: What Players Need to Know

ARC Raiders players are about to get a different way to explore the Rust Belt. On October 13, Embark Studios will begin a limited test of a PvE matchmaking option, allowing players to face the game's robotic ARC enemies without dealing player-to-player damage.

The test runs until October 20, 2026. It gives players who prefer exploration, quests, looting, and cooperative gameplay a chance to experience ARC Raiders with less pressure from hostile players.

But this is not simply the normal game with PvP switched off. Loot values will be lower, several high-tension conditions will be unavailable, and the ARC machines will remain dangerous.

Here is what players should know before jumping into the ARC Raiders PvE test.

When Does the ARC Raiders PvE Test Start?

The official test dates are October 13–20, 2026.

During this period, players will be able to choose between the traditional PvPvE experience and the new PvE matchmaking option. Embark describes the test as a limited experiment designed to explore different ways of playing ARC Raiders.

The studio has not promised that PvE matchmaking will become a permanent feature. Its future will depend partly on the information and player feedback collected during the test.

Important: October 20 is the announced end date for this test, not a confirmed date for a permanent PvE release.

1. What Changes in the PvE Mode?

The biggest difference is straightforward: there will be zero player-to-player damage in PvE sessions.

Instead of worrying about hostile Raiders attacking during an expedition, players can concentrate on fighting ARC machines, searching for resources, completing quests, and exploring the environment.

This could make the mode particularly appealing to players who enjoy the world and progression systems but find unpredictable PvP encounters frustrating.

However, PvE does not mean that every expedition will be safe. The robotic enemies remain a threat, and players will still need to manage their health, equipment, ammunition, and extraction plans.

Think of this as a different style of survival—not a mode where danger disappears.

2. Solos, Duos, and Trios Will Share PvE Sessions

One important matchmaking detail is easy to overlook.

Embark says PvE sessions will include solos, duos, and trios in the same session. This means the test is not described as an exclusively solo experience.

If you usually play alone, you can use PvE to focus on quests or explore without player-to-player damage. If you prefer playing with friends, cooperative squads can concentrate on fighting ARC enemies together.

Our recommendation: Decide what you want to accomplish before starting your first raid. A focused scavenging run, a quest objective, and a difficult ARC encounter may require very different equipment and priorities.

Do not assume the PvE option automatically means a private, single-player lobby. The announced design is a shared PvE experience with other Raiders.

3. Loot Will Be Worth Less Than in Normal Matches

This is probably the most important detail for players who care about progression and the in-game economy.

Embark has confirmed that overall loot value will be lower in PvE sessions to compensate for the relative safety of not taking player-to-player damage.

The studio also says normal PvPvE sessions will have slightly higher baseline loot values as part of its approach to balancing the economy.

What does this mean for you?

If your priority is collecting resources and completing objectives with less pressure from hostile players, PvE may be attractive even with the reduced loot value.

But if your main goal is maximizing the value extracted from every run, you should not automatically assume PvE is the most efficient option.

Choose the mode based on your objective, not just the apparent reduction in risk.

4. These Map Conditions Will Be Excluded

The PvE test will not include every major condition available in the standard experience.

Embark has specifically named four exclusions:

Night Raids

Hidden Bunker

Locked Gate

Frigate

These conditions are designed around higher tension and the uncertainty of encountering different players. Their exclusion helps preserve the distinction between the experimental PvE experience and the traditional PvPvE mode.

For players, the practical takeaway is simple: do not plan your test around activities that require these conditions to be available.

If a particular objective depends on one of them, the regular PvPvE experience may be the more appropriate choice during the test.

5. Your Normal PvPvE Matchmaking Rating Will Not Be Affected

Worried about experimenting with PvE and damaging your normal matchmaking standing?

Embark has confirmed that your PvPvE matchmaking rating will not be affected while you play PvE sessions.

This makes the test an opportunity to explore a different playstyle without changing that particular rating through your PvE matches.

However, there is an important distinction: this statement concerns your PvPvE matchmaking rating. It should not be interpreted as confirmation of every possible progression or inventory rule. The studio has not presented this experiment as a new PvE progression system.

6. The ARC Can Still Punish You for Moving While Downed

Here is a gameplay detail players should remember once the fighting starts.

Embark says that if you are downed by ARC enemies, crawling around can cause them to reacquire you as a target. According to the studio, they will ignore you if you stay still.

That makes your reaction after being downed especially important.

A useful rule for the test:

If an ARC enemy downs you, do not immediately assume crawling away is the safest move. Pay attention to whether the enemy can still see or target you, and remember that staying still is the specific behavior Embark has identified for avoiding reacquisition in this situation.

PvE removes damage from other players. It does not remove the need to understand enemy behavior.

7. What Should You Do Before Your First PvE Raid?

Use this simple checklist when the test becomes available.

Before entering:

Check for the latest game update so you are running the appropriate version.

Decide whether you are prioritizing quests, resource collection, exploration, or combat against ARC enemies.

Choose equipment suited to your objective rather than assuming every encounter will be easy.

Remember that overall loot value is reduced in PvE sessions.

Avoid planning around Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate, or Frigate during this test.

If you are downed by ARC enemies, remember Embark's warning about crawling and staying still.

After your first few sessions, compare the experience with normal PvPvE. Is it easier to complete objectives? Do the lower loot values feel fair? Does removing hostile-player damage make the game more enjoyable—or remove too much of its tension?

Those are exactly the kinds of questions that will matter as Embark evaluates the test.

Why Is Embark Testing a PvE Option Now?

The announcement is notable because it addresses a real difference in how players approach ARC Raiders.

Embark reported that 51% of the player base it surveyed expressed interest in a dedicated PvE option. Its breakdown also identified friendly co-op players, mixed-style players, and players who primarily enjoy PvP.

The studio is therefore testing whether these different preferences can be supported within the same game.

That does not mean ARC Raiders is becoming a PvE game. Embark has been clear that the test could end without a permanent mode being introduced.

Instead, October's experiment will give the developers more information about player behavior, the in-game economy, matchmaking, and the long-term appeal of a PvE option.

Will ARC Raiders Get a Permanent PvE Mode?

It is too early to say.

The October 13–20 test is temporary, and Embark has not guaranteed that the toggle will return permanently. The studio plans to review feedback and gameplay data before deciding what comes next.

For players who have wanted a more cooperative experience, this is an opportunity to try the feature and provide meaningful feedback. For those who prefer the tension of PvPvE, the experiment will also help reveal how a separate option affects the wider experience.

The most useful feedback will be specific: whether the mode is enjoyable, how the reduced loot feels, whether ARC encounters remain challenging, and whether matchmaking performs well.

Final Verdict

The ARC Raiders PvE test is worth watching because it changes one of the game's central risk factors without removing its robotic enemies or scavenging objectives.

Starting October 13, players can experiment with a more cooperative experience, complete quests with less pressure from hostile Raiders, and see whether PvE suits their playstyle.

Just remember the three biggest details: the test is temporary, loot values are lower, and the ARC remains dangerous.

Whether this becomes a permanent feature depends on what Embark learns from the test and the feedback players provide.