ARC Raiders considers splitting in two: pure PvE on one side, PvPvE on the other

ARC Raiders is going through one of its best moments. Thanks to Frozen Trail, the biggest update it has received so far, Embark Studios' extraction shooter is back in the spotlight on PS5, Xbox Series and PC. Far from standing still, the studio is preparing an experiment that could change the direction of the game: starting October 13, a test opens for a PvE-only mode in which players team up against the ARC machines without the risk of another squad gunning them down for their loot.

What really matters isn't the test itself, but what could come after it. As reported by Vandal, based on an interview Aleksander Grøndal, the game's executive producer, gave to GamesRadar, Embark considers it "very possible" that ARC Raiders will end up split into two separate experiences: one focused on co-op and another that keeps the current PvPvE formula. For a genre that thrives on tension between players, that would be a huge decision.

What you need to know

• A test of a PvE-only mode kicks off in ARC Raiders on October 13.
• For now, it's a one-week experiment.
• Embark isn't ruling out splitting the game into two distinct experiences: co-op and PvPvE.
• The studio acknowledges that its community is made up of two types of players with different expectations.
• It all comes in the middle of the game's resurgence following Frozen Trail, its biggest update yet.

What changes and who it affects

Until now, ARC Raiders has been defined by mixing two threats in the same match: AI-controlled machines and other players. That combination creates the most memorable moments in the genre, but it also drives away those who just want to explore, loot and fight the AI without feeling like prey for more organized squads.

The PvE test aims to measure exactly how many people fall into that second group. If the response is massive, Embark would have good reason to establish a dedicated co-op mode instead of treating it as a one-off event.

A precedent in the genre

This isn't the first time an extraction shooter has faced this dilemma. The community has long been asking for more relaxed options in games where losing everything to another player is part of the design. The underlying question is always the same: does splitting the community make it happier, or does it weaken it by spreading players across two queues?

Our take

Here at Underworld Lordz, we're clear on this: the essence of ARC Raiders lies in the uncertainty of not knowing whether the next noise is a machine or a rival squad. That tension is what turns every extraction into a mini final, and it's also what fuels the clips, the streams and the plays shared on social media. A PvE mode can be a great entry point, but if it ends up draining the PvPvE side, the game would lose exactly what makes it competitive.

That said, it would be unfair to ignore the players who have quit out of frustration. A co-op space can be useful for learning maps, understanding ARC patterns and practicing routes without the penalty of losing your gear. For content creators, it also opens up new formats: slower-paced guides, co-op challenges and streams that rely less on luck. The key will be how progression is handled: if loot and rewards are shared between both modes, PvE could become a farm that throws the competitive side off balance.

Our bet is that the test will do well in terms of numbers, because the demand is there. What we're asking of Embark is transparency: publish the findings from the experiment and protect the PvPvE mode with clear incentives so it remains the heart of the game.

What do you think?

This week we'll be trying out the PvE mode as a team, and we want to hear about your experience. Do you think splitting ARC Raiders into two experiences will make it bigger, or will it end up killing the tension that makes it special? Drop by the team chat or our Discord and tell us which side you're on.