# ARC Raiders PvE test retrospective: source catalog

Research date: October 20, 2026. Sources include official publications, analyst estimates, selected player accounts and creator commentary. This is not a player survey.

## Source pages
1. https://arcraiders.com/news/pve-toggle-what-to-know
2. https://arcraiders.com/news/pve-test-thanks-for-playing
3. https://arcraiders.com/news/store-update-2-2-0
4. https://steamcommunity.com/app/1808500/allnews/
5. https://arcraiders.com/news/pve-toggle-beta-test
6. https://arcraiders.com/news/play-for-free-weekend
7. https://arcraiders.com/news/frozen-trail-2-0-update
8. https://alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/two-october-2025-games-popped-off
9. https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xag8zx/rip_101326_102026/
10. https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xarz2f/pve_test_feedback_from_someone_who_wanted_pve/
11. https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xa3nf8/pve_thoughts_after_this_weekend/
12. https://www.reddit.com/r/ARC_Raiders/comments/1xa11ln/thank_you_for_pve/
13. https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1x8c6wd/ohhh_yeah_pve_loot_is_truly_nerfed/
14. https://www.reddit.com/r/ARC_Raiders/comments/1xan50k/embark_pve_matchmaking_toggle_test_thanks_for/
15. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02rT4K4q6waJoH5itEAWJQouDaxuUhHQspMzAa7Ev7XYqXhAQ284bE1DDQssTgYtvYl&id=61577390977493
16. https://x.com/falloutplays/status/2112630472417165342
17. https://x.com/LoochyTV/status/2110077241912644080
18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzYcbeoLOXo
19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b955GTwiMQU
20. https://insider-gaming.com/arc-raiders-pve-study-asked-1100-players-what-they-think/

## Individual Reddit accounts
- AmEn-MiNii: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xag8zx/comment/phtizmu/ (reported experience; expensive gear and changed opinion)
- flippant_burgers: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xag8zx/comment/phtuknl/ (reported experience; family duos)
- Impossible_Hand_934: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xa3nf8/pve_thoughts_after_this_weekend/ (reported experience; returning evening player)
- SB_5259: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xa3nf8/comment/phqost1/ (reported experience; lost tension and different return motive)
- oraclejames: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xa3nf8/comment/phqu3fj/ (concern and proposal; separate economy)
- MarkWashingtonsBeard: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1x8c6wd/comment/phbby9o/ (reported experience; loot satisfaction)
- wvtarheel: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1x8c6wd/comment/phbl26q/ (reported experience; loot scarcity)
- APartyInMyPants: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1x8c6wd/comment/phbgbny/ (interpretation; shared loot competition)
- virtual133: https://www.reddit.com/r/ARC_Raiders/comments/1xa11ln/comment/phpy2ly/ (proposal after positive experience; key room priority and player collision)
- Lucepticon: https://www.reddit.com/r/ARC_Raiders/comments/1xa11ln/thank_you_for_pve/ (reported experience and proposal; body blocking, missing alternate content and lag)
- Individual_Tap_6319: https://www.reddit.com/r/ARC_Raiders/comments/1xa11ln/comment/phq233z/ (reported experience; friendly regular solo lobbies)
- cecco77: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xarz2f/pve_test_feedback_from_someone_who_wanted_pve/ (reported experience; excluded Frigate and Redirection)
- cecco77: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xarz2f/pve_test_feedback_from_someone_who_wanted_pve/ (proposal; separate realm and independent progression)
- ksmooth47: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xarz2f/comment/phwdbjt/ (opposing preference; no restart and alternative inventory separation)
- cecco77: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xarz2f/pve_test_feedback_from_someone_who_wanted_pve/ (proposal and preference; fewer raiders rather than artificial difficulty)
- cecco77: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xarz2f/pve_test_feedback_from_someone_who_wanted_pve/ (proposal; corpse loot and participation rewards)
- cecco77: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xarz2f/pve_test_feedback_from_someone_who_wanted_pve/ (proposal; seasonal goals and resets)
- nogeeksland: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xarz2f/comment/phw3juw/ (opposing preference; no forced wipes)
- nogeeksland: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xarz2f/comment/phwm830/ (proposal and preference; new maps, enemies, items and lore)
- DustinChecketts: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1xa3nf8/comment/phqnpej/ (proposal; optional more difficult mode)
- BomboclatiusMattius: https://www.reddit.com/r/ARC_Raiders/comments/1xan50k/comment/phuz0nl/ (reported experience and proposal; fewer players, ARC respawns and indoor threats)
- Kingkarlos123: https://www.reddit.com/r/ARC_Raiders/comments/1xan50k/comment/phv5hio/ (reported experience; PvE newcomer who moved into regular mode)
- Marxvision: https://www.reddit.com/r/ARC_Raiders/comments/1xan50k/comment/phuxkgj/ (reported problem and proposal; blocking downed players)
- MedditRin: https://www.reddit.com/r/ARC_Raiders/comments/1xan50k/comment/19re2jikh41r7/ (reported experience; shove perk interfering with looting)
- tanis38: https://www.reddit.com/r/ARC_Raiders/comments/1xan50k/comment/19re0g4w1i3fm/ (proposal; phase-through blockers and smaller lobbies)

## Public Facebook comments
- Esteban Villalobos, 2026-10-20: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02rT4K4q6waJoH5itEAWJQouDaxuUhHQspMzAa7Ev7XYqXhAQ284bE1DDQssTgYtvYl&id=61577390977493&comment_id=1809548190163967
- Justin McVey, 2026-10-20: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02rT4K4q6waJoH5itEAWJQouDaxuUhHQspMzAa7Ev7XYqXhAQ284bE1DDQssTgYtvYl&id=61577390977493&comment_id=1613325280569076
- Zak Federation, 2026-10-20: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02rT4K4q6waJoH5itEAWJQouDaxuUhHQspMzAa7Ev7XYqXhAQ284bE1DDQssTgYtvYl&id=61577390977493&comment_id=3803601473112860

## Video timestamps
- SeanHensleyOnline, 1:21-1:25: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzYcbeoLOXo&t=81s (Firsthand personal account)
- SeanHensleyOnline, 2:50-3:08: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzYcbeoLOXo&t=170s (Personal experience and preference)
- SeanHensleyOnline, 3:13-3:29: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzYcbeoLOXo&t=193s (Design request)
- EUTOPIA, 4:28-5:13: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b955GTwiMQU&t=268s (Creator synthesis of community reports and design reasoning)
- EUTOPIA, 6:18-6:37: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b955GTwiMQU&t=378s (Creator opinion)
- EUTOPIA, 7:31-7:51: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b955GTwiMQU&t=451s (Evidence limitation)

## Interpretation
Embark reports more than 30 million PvE rounds, not unique players. Alinea reports estimates for the whole game. Reddit, Facebook and creator accounts show individual experiences and requests, not population shares. Facebook Most relevant sorting and selected Reddit discussions introduce selection limits. No numerical griefing rate, sentiment percentage or causal PvE population estimate is inferred.