{ "topic": "ARC Raiders October 13 to 20, 2026 PvE test retrospective", "researched": "2026-10-20", "methodology": "Official publications, original analyst estimates and selected dated player and creator accounts. Qualitative selection for differing experiences, not a representative sample. Record counts are not participant counts. Same-publisher reposts and creator retellings are not independent confirmation.", "facts": [ { "fact_id": "OFF01", "claim": "The PvE test ran October 13 to October 20, 2026, from 11:00 CEST to 11:00 CEST, ending at 5 a.m. EDT on October 20.", "value": { "start_utc": "2026-10-13T09:00:00Z", "end_utc": "2026-10-20T09:00:00Z", "end_eastern": "2026-10-20T05:00:00-04:00" }, "source_name": "PvE Toggle Beta Test: October 13-20", "source_url": "https://arcraiders.com/news/pve-toggle-what-to-know", "source_publication_date": "2026-10-12", "date_of_data": "2026-10-13/2026-10-20", "source_type": "Developer rules, primary", "verification_status": "single-source", "notes": "End date also confirmed by October 20 closure announcement. This is the published schedule, not a measured second-by-second server shutdown time." }, { "fact_id": "OFF02", "claim": "Embark reported that more than 30 million PvE rounds were played during the test.", "value": ">30,000,000 PvE rounds", "source_name": "PvE Matchmaking Toggle Test: Thanks for taking part!", "source_url": "https://arcraiders.com/news/pve-test-thanks-for-playing", "source_publication_date": "2026-10-20", "date_of_data": "2026-10-13/2026-10-20", "source_type": "Developer-reported telemetry, primary announcement", "verification_status": "single-source", "notes": "Publicly announced developer figure, not independently audited analytics. The source does not define round as a unique server match or an individual player's round participation. Retain the word rounds. It is not a unique-user count, mode share, support percentage, or retention result." }, { "fact_id": "OFF03", "claim": "Embark said the test had ended and that it still needed to analyze the data; no outcome of that analysis had been established in its closing statement.", "value": "Analysis pending as of October 20, 2026", "source_name": "PvE Matchmaking Toggle Test: Thanks for taking part!", "source_url": "https://arcraiders.com/news/pve-test-thanks-for-playing", "source_publication_date": "2026-10-20", "date_of_data": "2026-10-20", "source_type": "Developer announcement, primary", "verification_status": "single-source", "notes": "Developer describes reactions as polarizing without reporting support or opposition percentages. Store Update 2.2.0 and its official Steam repost corroborate closure, but are the same publisher, not independent analytics." }, { "fact_id": "OFF04", "claim": "Embark plans to send a survey to a representative sample of ARC Raiders players starting October 22.", "value": "Survey invitations begin 2026-10-22", "source_name": "PvE Matchmaking Toggle Test: Thanks for taking part!", "source_url": "https://arcraiders.com/news/pve-test-thanks-for-playing", "source_publication_date": "2026-10-20", "date_of_data": "Planned from 2026-10-22", "source_type": "Developer announcement, primary", "verification_status": "single-source", "notes": "Not an invitation promise for every player, and not a completed survey. Official Discord feedback channel: https://discord.com/channels/1107589599045361695/1559498786290663585 . No Discord comment access was claimed." }, { "fact_id": "OFF05", "claim": "Embark expects to share further information in November after reviewing the data and feedback.", "value": "Expected information update: November 2026", "source_name": "PvE Matchmaking Toggle Test: Thanks for taking part!", "source_url": "https://arcraiders.com/news/pve-test-thanks-for-playing", "source_publication_date": "2026-10-20", "date_of_data": "Planned November 2026", "source_type": "Developer announcement, primary", "verification_status": "single-source", "notes": "Not a promised mode return date, release date, or final decision on a specified day." }, { "fact_id": "OFF06", "claim": "The tested PvE servers disabled damage between players and stun/fire throwable effects against other players, while physical interaction items such as barricades and ziplines remained usable.", "value": "Player damage disabled; physical interactions retained", "source_name": "PvE Toggle Beta Test: October 13-20", "source_url": "https://arcraiders.com/news/pve-toggle-what-to-know", "source_publication_date": "2026-10-12", "date_of_data": "2026-10-13/2026-10-20", "source_type": "Developer rules, primary", "verification_status": "single-source", "notes": "Explains why no player damage does not mean every form of interference was disabled. Does not by itself verify any alleged griefing incident." }, { "fact_id": "OFF07", "claim": "PvE's overall loot value was lower and squad-size separation was not prioritized, allowing solos, duos and trios to meet in the same sessions.", "value": "Lower overall loot value; mixed squad sizes", "source_name": "PvE Toggle Beta Test: October 13-20", "source_url": "https://arcraiders.com/news/pve-toggle-what-to-know", "source_publication_date": "2026-10-12", "date_of_data": "2026-10-13/2026-10-20", "source_type": "Developer rules, primary", "verification_status": "single-source", "notes": "No public numeric loot-reduction percentage in these sources. Solo/duo/trio inclusion is explicit in September announcement. Do not estimate reduction from anecdotes." }, { "fact_id": "OFF08", "claim": "Night Raid, Locked Gate, Hidden Bunker, Frigate and Redirection did not offer the PvE option during this test.", "value": [ "Night Raid", "Locked Gate", "Hidden Bunker", "Frigate", "Redirection" ], "source_name": "PvE Toggle Beta Test: October 13-20", "source_url": "https://arcraiders.com/news/pve-toggle-what-to-know", "source_publication_date": "2026-10-12", "date_of_data": "2026-10-13/2026-10-20", "source_type": "Developer rules, primary", "verification_status": "single-source", "notes": "Use latest October rule list, which includes Redirection; September announcement's list omitted it. These are major map conditions, not five removed maps." }, { "fact_id": "OFF09", "claim": "After a Raider was downed, ARC had an eight-second grace period before potentially targeting that player again if it saw them moving.", "value": "8 seconds", "source_name": "PvE Toggle Beta Test: October 13-20", "source_url": "https://arcraiders.com/news/pve-toggle-what-to-know", "source_publication_date": "2026-10-12", "date_of_data": "2026-10-13/2026-10-20", "source_type": "Developer rules, primary", "verification_status": "single-source", "notes": "Grace concerns ARC acquiring the downed player. Do not describe as eight seconds of invulnerability from all damage." }, { "fact_id": "OFF10", "claim": "Embark said this experiment tested an alternative to PvP encounters, rather than harder PvE or a new PvE progression system.", "value": "Limited toggle experiment, not a new progression or difficulty test", "source_name": "We're testing a PvE Toggle: here's what it means for you", "source_url": "https://arcraiders.com/news/pve-toggle-beta-test", "source_publication_date": "2026-09-24", "date_of_data": "Experiment announced September 24; tested October 13 to 20, 2026", "source_type": "Developer statement of intent, primary", "verification_status": "single-source", "notes": "The announcement also says the toggle would be removed after the test and did not guarantee permanent PvE. Harder ARC, different rewards or new PvE activities can be framed as future requests, not promises this test failed to deliver." }, { "fact_id": "OFF11", "claim": "Frozen Trail launched October 8 alongside free access lasting until October 12; the PvE experiment began October 13, after free access ended.", "value": { "frozen_trail_launch": "2026-10-08", "free_access_start_utc": "2026-10-08T09:00:00Z", "free_access_end_utc": "2026-10-12T08:00:00Z", "pve_start_utc": "2026-10-13T09:00:00Z" }, "source_name": "Play ARC Raiders for free: October 8 - 12", "source_url": "https://arcraiders.com/news/play-for-free-weekend", "source_publication_date": "2026-10-02", "date_of_data": "2026-10-08/2026-10-13", "source_type": "Developer schedule and patch notes, primary", "verification_status": "single-source", "notes": "Primary chronology, several same-developer posts. Establishes overlapping content and promotion context. Does not isolate their relative causal contribution to engagement." }, { "fact_id": "OFF12", "claim": "Alinea Analytics estimated ARC Raiders reached 1.7 million cross-platform daily active users on October 14, following around 1.6 million over and after the free weekend.", "value": "Estimated 1.7 million total-game cross-platform DAU on 2026-10-14", "source_name": "Two October 2025 games popped off again", "source_url": "https://alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/two-october-2025-games-popped-off", "source_publication_date": "2026-10-16", "date_of_data": "2026-10-14", "source_type": "Analyst's own industry estimate, primary estimate", "verification_status": "single-source", "notes": "Optional context only. Total-game DAU, not PvE participants and not concurrent users. Public article does not supply mode split, reproducible model, error bounds, or causal design. Report itself describes combined update, free access, discount and PvE test. Do not state PvE caused the rebound. Its unquantified Steam sentiment statement is excluded from the measured findings." } ], "player_accounts": [ { "id": "E01", "source": "R1", "author": "AmEn-MiNii", "type": "reported experience", "topic": "expensive gear and changed opinion", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xag8zx/comment/phtizmu/", "exact_excerpt": "me and my buddy went and killed a bunch of arc with wildly expensive loadouts and it was genuinely some of the most fun and chill gaming we’ve done in awhile.", "safe_use": "A former critic said expensive ARC loadouts with a friend became some of their most enjoyable recent gaming.", "recommended_quote": true }, { "id": "E02", "source": "R1", "author": "flippant_burgers", "type": "reported experience", "topic": "family duos", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xag8zx/comment/phtuknl/", "exact_excerpt": "I got to play with my kid in duos finally. He was able to bring his fav energy weapons without being a target of pvp.", "safe_use": "One parent described bringing a child into duos and using favorite energy weapons without player attacks.", "recommended_quote": true }, { "id": "E03", "source": "R3", "author": "Impossible_Hand_934", "type": "reported experience", "topic": "returning evening player", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xa3nf8/pve_thoughts_after_this_weekend/", "exact_excerpt": "I redownloaded for the PvE week and I for one was a big fan of it.", "safe_use": "The original poster said the test brought them back for evening sessions and that they had not encountered the griefing shown by streamers.", "recommended_quote": false }, { "id": "E04", "source": "R3", "author": "SB_5259", "type": "reported experience", "topic": "lost tension and different return motive", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xa3nf8/comment/phqost1/", "exact_excerpt": "I logged back on after months because of the update as a whole, not PvE mode specifically. Only ran a handful of PvE raids. The game felt hollow and empty.", "safe_use": "Another returner credited the overall content update and found PvE repetitive and lacking tension.", "recommended_quote": true }, { "id": "E05", "source": "R3", "author": "oraclejames", "type": "concern and proposal", "topic": "separate economy", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xa3nf8/comment/phqu3fj/", "exact_excerpt": "Because you can’t farm easy resources in PvE to then take into PvP? Losing kits in PvP is basically inconsequential with PvE toggle available.", "safe_use": "The commenter objects to players farming in PvE and transferring resources to PvPvE. This is an economy concern, not measured inflation or proven kit-loss effect.", "recommended_quote": false }, { "id": "E06", "source": "R5", "author": "MarkWashingtonsBeard", "type": "reported experience", "topic": "loot satisfaction", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1x8c6wd/comment/phbby9o/", "exact_excerpt": "Yeah I have not been disappointed with the loot at all, honestly.", "safe_use": "One participant was satisfied with loot.", "recommended_quote": true }, { "id": "E07", "source": "R5", "author": "wvtarheel", "type": "reported experience", "topic": "loot scarcity", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1x8c6wd/comment/phbl26q/", "exact_excerpt": "Pattern house and dam apartments were empty empty in PvE mode", "safe_use": "Another participant described the Pattern House and Dam apartments as empty.", "recommended_quote": true }, { "id": "E08", "source": "R5", "author": "APartyInMyPants", "type": "interpretation", "topic": "shared loot competition", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1x8c6wd/comment/phbgbny/", "exact_excerpt": "But you’re also competing with 20 other players on a map all looting the same pool of finite, reduced containers.", "safe_use": "The commenter attributes scarcity to competition for shared containers. Omit the unverified exact player count and reduction mechanism.", "recommended_quote": false }, { "id": "E09", "source": "R4", "author": "virtual133", "type": "proposal after positive experience", "topic": "key room priority and player collision", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ARC_Raiders/comments/1xa11ln/comment/phpy2ly/", "exact_excerpt": "Had an absolute blast (especially playing with family). They just need to (1) make key rooms have a cool down or a lock behind you, and (2) turn player collision off.", "safe_use": "The commenter asks for key-room access priority and collision removal after enjoying family play.", "recommended_quote": true }, { "id": "E10", "source": "R4", "author": "Lucepticon", "type": "reported experience and proposal", "topic": "body blocking, missing alternate content and lag", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ARC_Raiders/comments/1xa11ln/thank_you_for_pve/", "exact_excerpt": "Wish there are more alternate modes like Hidden Bunker in the future.", "safe_use": "The original poster reported lag spikes and wants players able to pass through blockers and more alternate content such as Hidden Bunker.", "recommended_quote": false }, { "id": "E11", "source": "R4", "author": "Individual_Tap_6319", "type": "reported experience", "topic": "friendly regular solo lobbies", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ARC_Raiders/comments/1xa11ln/comment/phq233z/", "exact_excerpt": "I went back to PvPvE after a couple days and the players are just as I remembered—friendly, using mics, no loot goblins.", "safe_use": "One solo player preferred returning to regular lobbies and described friendly interactions. Do not claim all solo lobbies are safe.", "recommended_quote": false }, { "id": "E12", "source": "R2", "author": "cecco77", "type": "reported experience", "topic": "excluded Frigate and Redirection", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xarz2f/pve_test_feedback_from_someone_who_wanted_pve/", "exact_excerpt": "Was it frustrating that I couldn't progress with things I actually needed, like Frigate and Redirection? Absolutely.", "safe_use": "The poster loved PvE but found encounter exclusions frustrating. Pair with official test rules for confirmation of the exclusions.", "recommended_quote": true }, { "id": "E13", "source": "R2", "author": "cecco77", "type": "proposal", "topic": "separate realm and independent progression", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xarz2f/pve_test_feedback_from_someone_who_wanted_pve/", "exact_excerpt": "I'd much rather see two separate realms, with independent characters, progression, inventories, and economies. The only thing shared across the account should be cosmetics.", "safe_use": "The poster proposes independent characters and economies with shared cosmetics. This is a player's design proposal.", "recommended_quote": false }, { "id": "E14", "source": "R2", "author": "ksmooth47", "type": "opposing preference", "topic": "no restart and alternative inventory separation", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xarz2f/comment/phwdbjt/", "exact_excerpt": "I agree with some of these points but I don’t want to restart a character in PVE mode.", "safe_use": "A reply rejects rebuilding a character and instead considers inventory-only separation.", "recommended_quote": false }, { "id": "E15", "source": "R2", "author": "cecco77", "type": "proposal and preference", "topic": "fewer raiders rather than artificial difficulty", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xarz2f/pve_test_feedback_from_someone_who_wanted_pve/", "exact_excerpt": "I don't particularly want PvE to become some entirely different game with endless waves of enemies or artificially inflated difficulty just to compensate for the absence of PvP.", "safe_use": "The poster suggests slightly fewer raiders per map and rejects turning PvE into endless waves or inflated difficulty. Proposed numerical settings are not tested balance values.", "recommended_quote": false }, { "id": "E16", "source": "R2", "author": "cecco77", "type": "proposal", "topic": "corpse loot and participation rewards", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xarz2f/pve_test_feedback_from_someone_who_wanted_pve/", "exact_excerpt": "Other players shouldn't be able to loot a dead raider.", "safe_use": "The poster proposes preventing corpse looting and extra rewards for key users or boss contributors, while keeping normal map loot shared. Do not present as current game behavior.", "recommended_quote": false }, { "id": "E17", "source": "R2", "author": "cecco77", "type": "proposal", "topic": "seasonal goals and resets", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xarz2f/pve_test_feedback_from_someone_who_wanted_pve/", "exact_excerpt": "Give me a season, a meaningful progression track, challenges to work towards, and a reason to return for the next one.", "safe_use": "The poster wants seasonal progression with a clear end and fresh start.", "recommended_quote": false }, { "id": "E18", "source": "R2", "author": "nogeeksland", "type": "opposing preference", "topic": "no forced wipes", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xarz2f/comment/phw3juw/", "exact_excerpt": "My gaming time is limited and I will never go for a wiping system.", "safe_use": "Another participant rejects wipes because of limited playtime.", "recommended_quote": true }, { "id": "E19", "source": "R2", "author": "nogeeksland", "type": "proposal and preference", "topic": "new maps, enemies, items and lore", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xarz2f/comment/phwm830/", "exact_excerpt": "I still rather go with New map > New items > New enemies with a free/paid cosmetic battlepass and evolving lore.", "safe_use": "The same participant favors fresh maps, items, enemies and evolving lore over reset-based progression.", "recommended_quote": false }, { "id": "E20", "source": "R3", "author": "DustinChecketts", "type": "proposal", "topic": "optional more difficult mode", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xa3nf8/comment/phqnpej/", "exact_excerpt": "I think the ARC were more aggressive and died a few times. I still think it could be tuned more difficult though.", "safe_use": "The commenter wants greater challenge and sketches a survival variant with fewer players and a shared extraction window. ARC aggression change is a player impression; only official rules establish actual changes.", "recommended_quote": false }, { "id": "E21", "source": "S10", "author": "BomboclatiusMattius", "type": "reported experience and proposal", "topic": "fewer players, ARC respawns and indoor threats", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ARC_Raiders/comments/1xan50k/comment/phuz0nl/", "exact_excerpt": "More arcs present or new arc type in closed structures, maybe the androids from stella montis ? Or something similar.", "safe_use": "The player enjoyed returning after work but wants fewer raiders, more frequent ARC respawns and threats indoors. Their loot timing is personal experience, not a measured lobby-wide average.", "recommended_quote": true }, { "id": "E22", "source": "S10", "author": "Kingkarlos123", "type": "reported experience", "topic": "PvE newcomer who moved into regular mode", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ARC_Raiders/comments/1xan50k/comment/phv5hio/", "exact_excerpt": "I will keep playing and exploring the world You have provided; but I do hope the choice of bring back PvE mode as a toggle for those chill gaming sessions before diving in to the full experience.", "safe_use": "The newcomer says PvE let them learn and build inventory, then they enjoyed trying regular PvPvE and plan to keep playing. This is a useful counterexample to claims that every PvE player will leave.", "recommended_quote": true }, { "id": "E23", "source": "S10", "author": "Marxvision", "type": "reported problem and proposal", "topic": "blocking downed players", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ARC_Raiders/comments/1xan50k/comment/phuxkgj/", "exact_excerpt": "You gotta come up with some way to discourage people from grief blocking downed raiders in PvE, because it seems to be the biggest problem. And loot goblins, omg the loot goblins", "safe_use": "A player raises blocking downed raiders as a problem. Do not convert 'biggest' into a verified ranking. This excerpt supports blocking, not a detailed verified animation-cancel or revive exploit.", "recommended_quote": false }, { "id": "E24", "source": "S10", "author": "MedditRin", "type": "reported experience", "topic": "shove perk interfering with looting", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ARC_Raiders/comments/1xan50k/comment/19re2jikh41r7/", "exact_excerpt": "I had one griefer who followed me around the map and blocked me from looting everything with the shoving perk. It was one game but weird how people will waste their time and yours just to grief you.", "safe_use": "One player reports a single match of repeated looting interference with the shove perk. Never present this as measured frequency.", "recommended_quote": false }, { "id": "E25", "source": "S10", "author": "tanis38", "type": "proposal", "topic": "phase-through blockers and smaller lobbies", "permalink": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ARC_Raiders/comments/1xan50k/comment/19re0g4w1i3fm/", "exact_excerpt": "Due to the griefing we saw, remove collision detection between players or enable a feature where you can \"phase through\" a player if pushing against them for a few seconds.", "safe_use": "A returner proposes temporary phasing through players as an alternative to removing collision outright, plus fewer raiders to preserve ARC danger.", "recommended_quote": false } ], "facebook": { "source_url": "https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02rT4K4q6waJoH5itEAWJQouDaxuUhHQspMzAa7Ev7XYqXhAQ284bE1DDQssTgYtvYl&id=61577390977493", "post_date": "2026-10-20", "selection_order": "Most relevant; first ten top-level comments visible, three selected", "comments": [ { "id": "FB01", "author": "Esteban Villalobos", "date": "2026-10-20", "displayed_timestamp": "Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 12:06 PM", "timezone": "Interface display; timezone not independently verified", "quote": "Reviving down players, sharing loot.", "quote_word_count": 5, "summary": "Says he returned after months away and valued players fighting ARC, reviving others and sharing rewards; would return if PvE became permanent.", "url": "https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02rT4K4q6waJoH5itEAWJQouDaxuUhHQspMzAa7Ev7XYqXhAQ284bE1DDQssTgYtvYl&id=61577390977493&comment_id=1809548190163967", "verification": "Direct public comment readable in browser; personal account not independently verified." }, { "id": "FB02", "author": "Justin McVey", "date": "2026-10-20", "displayed_timestamp": "Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 1:37 PM", "timezone": "Interface display; timezone not independently verified", "quote": "run around in trios with the boys", "quote_word_count": 7, "summary": "Values relaxed group play similar to his friendly solo PvPvE sessions. His statement about unfriendly regular trios describes his perspective, not all trio lobbies.", "url": "https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02rT4K4q6waJoH5itEAWJQouDaxuUhHQspMzAa7Ev7XYqXhAQ284bE1DDQssTgYtvYl&id=61577390977493&comment_id=1613325280569076", "verification": "Direct public comment readable in browser; personal account not independently verified." }, { "id": "FB03", "author": "Zak Federation", "date": "2026-10-20", "displayed_timestamp": "Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 2:18 PM", "timezone": "Interface display; timezone not independently verified", "quote": "More arc, higher difficulty arc", "quote_word_count": 5, "summary": "Wants denser, harder ARC encounters and purposeful activities or specific modes if PvE returns.", "url": "https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02rT4K4q6waJoH5itEAWJQouDaxuUhHQspMzAa7Ev7XYqXhAQ284bE1DDQssTgYtvYl&id=61577390977493&comment_id=3803601473112860", "verification": "Direct public comment readable in browser; requested design, not announced feature." } ] }, "creator_posts": [ { "id": "X01", "author": "I Am Fallout", "handle": "@falloutplays", "date": "2026-10-20", "timestamp_displayed": "3:42 PM · Oct 20, 2026", "url": "https://x.com/falloutplays/status/2112630472417165342", "summary": "Fallout sees a potential learning space for newcomers, but says his own friendly solo PvPvE sessions already felt similarly safe. He criticizes trolling and the way the test was implemented.", "limits": "His experience cannot establish queue-wide behavior or whether mixed lobbies worsened. Do not treat as independent developer statistics.", "verbatim_words": 0 }, { "id": "X02", "author": "Loochy", "handle": "@LoochyTV", "date": "2026-10-13", "timestamp_displayed": "Last edited 2:36 PM · Oct 13, 2026", "url": "https://x.com/LoochyTV/status/2110077241912644080", "summary": "Loochy found the first few raids short on tension, with ARC dying quickly and players converging on shared loot. He questions whether the existing endgame can sustain pure PvE and prefers uncertain mixed lobbies.", "limits": "Launch-day critique, not a measured full-week retention result. His forecast of boredom is opinion.", "verbatim_words": 0 } ], "videos": [ { "id": "YT01", "author": "SeanHensleyOnline", "title": "The ARC Raiders PVE Test is Over! Here's What's Next", "date": "2026-10-20", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzYcbeoLOXo", "transcript_status": "Actual auto-generated English captions exported and read", "points": [ { "timestamp": "1:21-1:25", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzYcbeoLOXo&t=81s", "summary": "He says his normal PvPvE experience did not change during the test.", "type": "Firsthand personal account" }, { "timestamp": "2:50-3:08", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzYcbeoLOXo&t=170s", "summary": "He describes good and bad days but still hopes PvE returns.", "type": "Personal experience and preference" }, { "timestamp": "3:13-3:29", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzYcbeoLOXo&t=193s", "summary": "He wants design changes that make it much harder for one player to grief another.", "type": "Design request" } ], "verbatim_words": 0, "limitations": "Mostly reads official closing statement. Cite Embark directly for official numbers and plans; creator's anecdote is not separate validation of the same statistics." }, { "id": "YT02", "author": "EUTOPIA", "title": "ARC Raiders PvE Mode Is Ending... What Happens Next?", "date": "2026-10-18", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b955GTwiMQU", "transcript_status": "Actual auto-generated English captions exported and read", "points": [ { "timestamp": "4:28-5:13", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b955GTwiMQU&t=268s", "summary": "He discusses requests for more ARC and fewer Raiders, arguing that environmental threats need adjustment when player combat no longer thins the lobby.", "type": "Creator synthesis of community reports and design reasoning" }, { "timestamp": "6:18-6:37", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b955GTwiMQU&t=378s", "summary": "He personally favors separate progression, stash or characters to manage economy concerns, while acknowledging advantages and drawbacks.", "type": "Creator opinion" }, { "timestamp": "7:31-7:51", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b955GTwiMQU&t=451s", "summary": "He notes conflicting accounts of regular lobbies and labels claims of a harsher PvPvE experience anecdotal rather than established.", "type": "Evidence limitation" } ], "verbatim_words": 0, "limitations": "Aggregates reports, so do not count him and the same Reddit posts as independent incident reports. Discloses Embark partnership around 8:00; paid-promotion flag visible. Auto-captions may misname enemies. At 4:10 captions say hotfix 2.2.1; excluded as unverified and potentially incorrect." } ], "limits": [ "No public unique-player count, mode participation percentage, post-test retention, extraction-rate change, loot-economy result, queue-time delta or completed survey result in the approved official materials.", "Do not convert more than 30 million rounds into a precise 30 million, unique people, server matches or population support.", "September pre-test survey interest figures are not post-test satisfaction; methodology and sample size not disclosed in announcement.", "Same-publisher Steam reposts do not provide independent verification of developer analytics.", "SteamDB.nexus lookalike rejected; exact historical Steam series not recovered from real SteamDB.info in this screening.", "Alinea's unquantified majority-sentiment statement excluded from statistical findings because corpus and coding method were not disclosed." ], "sources": [ "https://arcraiders.com/news/pve-toggle-what-to-know", "https://arcraiders.com/news/pve-test-thanks-for-playing", "https://arcraiders.com/news/store-update-2-2-0", "https://steamcommunity.com/app/1808500/allnews/", "https://arcraiders.com/news/pve-toggle-beta-test", "https://arcraiders.com/news/play-for-free-weekend", "https://arcraiders.com/news/frozen-trail-2-0-update", "https://alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/two-october-2025-games-popped-off", "https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xag8zx/rip_101326_102026/", "https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xarz2f/pve_test_feedback_from_someone_who_wanted_pve/", "https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xa3nf8/pve_thoughts_after_this_weekend/", "https://www.reddit.com/r/ARC_Raiders/comments/1xa11ln/thank_you_for_pve/", "https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1x8c6wd/ohhh_yeah_pve_loot_is_truly_nerfed/", "https://www.reddit.com/r/ARC_Raiders/comments/1xan50k/embark_pve_matchmaking_toggle_test_thanks_for/", "https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02rT4K4q6waJoH5itEAWJQouDaxuUhHQspMzAa7Ev7XYqXhAQ284bE1DDQssTgYtvYl&id=61577390977493", "https://x.com/falloutplays/status/2112630472417165342", "https://x.com/LoochyTV/status/2110077241912644080", "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzYcbeoLOXo", "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b955GTwiMQU", "https://insider-gaming.com/arc-raiders-pve-study-asked-1100-players-what-they-think/" ] }