The one-week public test of the PvE matchmaking toggle for "ARC Raiders" has ended, and Embark Studios is now focusing on analyzing test data and community feedback. Player opinions on the pure PvE direction are clearly divided, and it remains uncertain whether this mode will be permanently retained. The team expects to announce further information in November.
Executive Producer Aleksander Grøndal stated that the studio had previously been hesitant about introducing such modes, which was related to the project's development history. "ARC Raiders" originally started as a pure PvE cooperative looter game, but the overall approach at the time could not stably realize the team's vision, leading the project to shift toward a PvPvE structure centered around extraction gameplay.
This test showed that some players wish to experience the game in an environment without competitive pressure, indicating that the current system could attract a wider variety of players. The issue Embark Studios needs to address is how to respond to this demand without undermining the game's core premise.
The team still needs to confirm whether players truly want a casual side mode between high-intensity matches, AI challenges to test their skills, or a complete pure PvE experience. These three directions will have different impacts on future updates and content production. Therefore, until the requirements are clarified, the studio will not commit to a subsequent content pipeline and will prioritize the overall health and playability of the game.