ARC Raiders Could Get a Permanent PvE Mode as Embark Weighs Three Options

Embark Studios is considering adding a permanent PvE mode to ARC Raiders. After a test week in which players completed more than 30 million PvE rounds, the studio is analyzing the results and deciding what form the mode could take if it returns. There’s no final decision yet, though.

As a reminder, the PvE matchmaking toggle test ran for a week and ended on October 20, alongside the release of update 2.2. During the test, players could join raids against ARC only, without running into other Raiders. Now, Embark Studios executive producer Aleksander Grøndal told MP1st that the studio is considering three possible PvE formats:

• a casual mode you can play between intense PvPvE raids;
• a challenge mode where players test their skills against ARC;
• a full, standalone PvE version of the game.

According to Grøndal, each of these options would affect how the studio builds future updates differently.

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At first, the studio was skeptical about a PvE mode. Embark had previously dropped PvE co-op because, according to the developers, the game’s overall recipe didn’t work at the time. So the main question now, Grøndal says, is how to add PvE without undermining the very premise of ARC Raiders. At the same time, the test showed that the game could potentially appeal to more types of players.

Interestingly, the idea for the test came from so-called “dad gamers.” That’s what Grøndal called them in a chat with GamesRadar+: players who want to spend a few hours fighting ARC and making progress without the stress of PvP. He admitted he’s one of them himself. On top of that, Embark noticed that plenty of players were already avoiding fights with other Raiders on friendly servers.

For now, Embark is digging into the test results, and since October 22, it has been sending surveys to some players. The studio promises to share more about the future of PvE mode in November.