ARC Raiders could eventually offer separate PvE and PvEvP experiences, with executive producer Aleksander Grøndal saying that such a split is "very possible."
The idea is gaining attention as Embark Studios prepares to test a dedicated PvE experience from October 13 to October 20. During the test, players will be able to fight ARC enemies without having to worry about attacks from other players.
The test could help determine whether a permanent PvE option makes sense for the extraction shooter.
Embark Is Testing How Players Respond to PvE
ARC Raiders originally began development as a cooperative PvE game before the studio changed direction and turned it into a PvEvP extraction shooter.
Since launch, however, some players have shown interest in cooperating rather than constantly fighting one another.
That behavior has encouraged the development team to reconsider whether a separate PvE experience could work alongside the existing structure.
Grøndal said the studio has discussed the issue internally for a long time and understands that introducing a separate mode could fundamentally change how ARC Raiders is structured.
| Detail | Information | |
|---|---|---|
| Game | ARC Raiders | |
| Current format | PvEvP extraction shooter | |
| PvE test dates | October 13 to October 20 | |
| PvE test focus | Players fight ARC without PvP | |
| Permanent PvE mode | Possible, but not confirmed | |
| Platforms | Xbox Series X | S, PS5, PC |
The producer acknowledged that the community is already divided between players who enjoy PvP encounters and those who would prefer to focus on environmental threats.
He said the game may eventually reflect that split more directly.
Separate PvE Could Create New Problems
Adding a permanent PvE mode would not automatically solve every issue.
One of the biggest concerns is matchmaking.
If the existing audience is divided between PvE and PvEvP playlists, both modes could end up with smaller player pools. That could affect matchmaking speed, encounter variety and the overall balance of the game.
Embark also needs to determine how progression, rewards and high level activities would work across two different experiences.
A PvE mode may require different balancing because players would no longer face the same risk from rival squads.
Grøndal said these concerns are one reason the upcoming test has deliberately been limited in scope, particularly around some of the higher level content.
The studio plans to examine both player feedback and internal data before deciding what happens next.
The Studio Is Divided on the Idea
The possibility of a permanent PvE mode is not something the development team unanimously supports.
Grøndal said there were genuine concerns inside the studio when the test was proposed.
That internal debate reflects the larger design question facing ARC Raiders.
The game was built around interactions between players and AI controlled threats, and removing PvP from part of the experience could require changes to progression, encounter design and the overall reward structure.
At the same time, the producer said it is important to respect how players actually want to enjoy the game, even when their preferences do not fully match the original design.
That could become an important part of ARC Raiders' long term direction.
Frozen Trail Has Brought New Attention to the Game
The discussion arrives shortly after the release of Frozen Trail, described as the game's largest update so far.
The update has helped bring renewed attention to ARC Raiders, giving Embark an opportunity to experiment with new ideas while player activity is increasing.
The PvE test is one of the clearest examples of that approach.
Instead of immediately committing to a permanent mode, the studio is using a limited test to understand how players behave when PvP is removed.
The results could determine whether ARC Raiders remains primarily a PvEvP game or evolves into a title that supports two distinct audiences.
For now, a permanent split has not been confirmed.
ARC Raiders remains available on Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PC, while the PvE test scheduled for October 13 to October 20 should give Embark its first substantial data on whether a separate cooperative experience can work alongside the existing extraction format.
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