ARC Raiders PvE Toggle Beta: Dates, Loot and Player Reactions
Embark confirms an October 13–20 PvE test with no player damage. Here are the loot changes, excluded encounters, and reactions from Reddit.
ARC Raiders is getting a PvE toggle beta test from October 13 to 20, 2026. Players who choose it will enter shared raids with player-to-player damage disabled. You can fight ARC, scavenge, and complete quests without another Raider shooting you. Embark confirmed the test on September 24, with lower loot values and several encounters excluded, including the Frigate.
The toggle arrives five days after the October 8 Frozen Trail update, and Embark will remove it when the test ends. A permanent mode is still undecided.
September 24, 2026 | Based on Embark's beta announcement and linked player comments.
Key takeaways
- The PvE beta runs October 13–20. Embark's FAQ lists 11 a.m. CEST, which is 5 a.m. EDT or 2 a.m. PDT.
- Solo players, duos, and trios share PvE sessions. Players cannot damage each other, and playing PvE won't affect your PvPvE matchmaking rating.
- PvE has lower overall loot value. Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate, and Frigate are excluded from the test.
- The toggle will be removed after the beta. Embark will use feedback and play data to decide what happens next.
How does the ARC Raiders PvE toggle work?
During the beta, you can choose PvE or the usual PvPvE matchmaking. In its official PvE toggle announcement, Embark confirms that PvE sessions disable all player-to-player damage and mix solos, duos, and trios in the same session.
Other Raiders will still be there. This is a shared co-op option, so choosing solo doesn't give you a private map. The change removes the possibility of another player damaging you while you explore or work through a quest.
Your PvPvE matchmaking rating stays unchanged while you play PvE. Spending the week in the beta won't lower that rating before you return to the regular queue. Our aggression-based matchmaking guide explains the system used for the existing experience.
What changes between PvE and PvPvE?
| During the beta | PvE sessions | PvPvE sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Player damage | Disabled | Remains part of the game |
| Squad sizes | Solos, duos, and trios together | Existing matchmaking |
| Loot value | Lower overall value | Slightly higher baseline values, according to Embark |
| Major conditions | Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate, and Frigate excluded | Available through regular PvPvE |
| PvPvE rating | Unchanged by PvE play | Regular matchmaking applies |
The loot adjustment is about how often players get out alive. Embark says friendly players extract more frequently and earn more value. Its announced response is lower overall loot value in PvE and slightly higher baseline loot values in PvPvE during the test. Exact percentages have not been announced.
Can you fight the Frigate in PvE?
No. Frigate is one of the named exclusions, alongside Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, and Locked Gate. Embark says those conditions depend on the uncertainty of meeting other players.
If the new boarding encounter is your main reason to return, plan to play it through the regular experience. Our Frozen Trail first look and official teaser covers the Frigate, Pendola Pass, Outposts, and weapon amplification. Frozen Trail launches October 8; the PvE test follows on October 13.
What happens when ARC knocks you down?
Moving while downed can make ARC target you again in PvE. Embark says the machines will ignore you if you stay still, but crawling can draw their attention back to you.
That gives you a reason to pause before crawling toward a teammate. Player gunfire is disabled, but the machines can still punish movement. Keep the ARC machine guide handy if you're returning after a break.
Embark also says this test isn't intended to introduce harder PvE or a new progression system. Its immediate purpose is to offer raids without PvP encounters. Requests for more dangerous machines are feedback for the test, rather than a confirmed difficulty overhaul.
What are players saying on Reddit?
Early comments in PvE Toggle Incoming and Opinions on PvE? show enthusiasm about returning, alongside concern about losing unpredictable encounters. These are individual reactions posted on September 24, not a survey of all players.
For some, the toggle is a reason to reinstall. In the first thread, u/kuz_929 wrote:
This actually might make me come back. I would come back to play pve only
Others see it as a way to bring less experienced friends along. In the second discussion, u/CremeDeLaPants said:
I think this would make it way easier as a seasoned player to bring new people to the game to play squads with.
The objection is often about the uncertainty of meeting a stranger. u/johnthebadger put that appeal plainly:
Knowing that anyone can turn on me or attack at any given moment is where the fun comes from
There are also calls to make machines more threatening. u/ILikeToTinker wrote:
This but with Arc aggression and AI tuned up even more.
Rocketeers should strike fear in the hearts of every raider.
Could the toggle change regular PvPvE lobbies?
Embark says queue times could increase in quieter regions or outside busy hours. It will also monitor the quality of PvPvE sessions as players move between the options.
The Gaming Merchant raises a related concern in his PvE beta discussion, around 5:40. He worries that friendly players choosing PvE could leave regular sessions more aggressive. Later in the video, he points to co-op duos and trios as players who could benefit from the option. Those are his expectations, not confirmed changes to the matchmaking rules.
Embark reports that 51% of surveyed players expressed interest in a dedicated PvE option. That describes interest among respondents; it doesn't tell us how many will choose PvE regularly or return for the beta.
PvE toggle FAQ
Is the PvE toggle available now?
No. It was announced September 24 for a test running October 13–20, 2026. It isn't part of Frozen Trail's October 8 launch day.
Is this a permanent PvE mode?
No permanent mode has been promised. Embark will remove the toggle at the end of the test and review the results. A future version could work differently, or the feature might not return.
Can I switch back to PvPvE?
Yes. The test is designed to let players choose either matchmaking option. Time spent in PvE won't change your PvPvE rating.
Can I play alone without any other Raiders?
Choosing solo still puts you in a shared PvE session with other solos, duos, and trios. Embark has not announced private raids as part of this test.
What about Trials, loot percentages, or a separate stash?
The announcement doesn't specify Trials scoring, exact loot reductions, or a separate PvE inventory. Treat those details as unconfirmed until Embark explains them.
Planning to try the toggle, or staying with PvPvE? Tell us what you want to test in the ArcRaiders.gg forums. Embark is asking players to try the beta and send feedback on what works and what needs changing.