ARC Raiders PvE Toggle Rules: Loot, Maps and End Time
The PvE beta is live. Check reduced loot, five excluded map conditions, throwable rules and the eight-second grace period when ARC downs you.
ARC Raiders' PvE toggle beta is live until October 20, 2026, at 11:00 CEST. Player damage is disabled, and stun and fire throwables don't affect other Raiders. Overall loot value is lower, and five map conditions are excluded.
You'll still meet other players. Solos, duos and trios can share a session, with less priority given to separating squad sizes.
October 13, 2026 | Embark confirmed the start in Store Update 2.1.0. These rules follow its October 12 beta notice.
Key takeaways
- The test runs October 13 to 20. Both boundaries are at 11:00 CEST, or 5 a.m. Eastern.
- PvE disables player damage and stun or fire effects against Raiders. Barricades and ziplines still work normally.
- Night Raid, Locked Gate, Hidden Bunker, Frigate and Redirection have no PvE option during the test.
- ARC gives downed players eight seconds before it can re-acquire them. Moving afterward may draw another attack.
How do you turn on PvE in ARC Raiders?
Shady's launch-day video shows the switch in the destination selection menu at 0:13:
- Open the destination selection map.
- On the left, find Limited Time and set PvE Only to On.
- Choose an available destination and queue.
Check the active map condition before you choose. The five excluded conditions still require the regular PvPvE queue.
Open either screenshot for a larger view of the menu.
PvE Off
PvE On
When does the PvE toggle beta start and end?
The beta starts October 13 at 11:00 CEST and ends October 20 at 11:00 CEST. The scheduled window is one week.
On both dates, that converts to 5 a.m. Eastern, 2 a.m. Pacific, 10 a.m. in the UK and 09:00 UTC. European, UK and US clocks are still on summer time for this test.
The original PvE beta announcement covers why Embark chose to test the option and the early player response. This guide covers the rules confirmed for launch.
What do the ARC Raiders PvE toggle rules change?
The toggle places you in shared PvE servers with player damage disabled. ARC remains the enemy, and other Raiders can still use physical interaction items.
| Part of the raid | PvE beta rule |
|---|---|
| Player damage | Disabled between Raiders. |
| Stun and fire | Throwable effects don't work on other players. |
| Physical items | Barricades and ziplines keep their usual behavior. |
| Loot | Lower overall value. |
| Squad sizes | Less separation, so differently sized groups meet more often. |
| Queue times | May be affected in quieter regions or at quieter times of day. |
Lower loot value doesn't come with a published percentage in the new rules. Embark also hasn't specified a blueprint drop-rate change in this notice.
Which map conditions have no PvE option?
Embark names five exclusions for the beta:
- Night Raid
- Locked Gate
- Hidden Bunker
- Frigate
- Redirection
Redirection is included in the October rules alongside Frigate. Both arrived with Frozen Trail 2.0. If either is the reason you're heading Topside, plan a regular PvPvE session.
These restrictions apply to the named conditions. Check the active condition when choosing your next raid, especially if a quest sends you into one of them.
What happens when ARC downs you in PvE?
For eight seconds after you're downed, ARC won't re-acquire you. After that grace period, machines may attack again if they catch you moving.
Pause before automatically crawling toward a teammate. Check where the machine is and where a revive could happen. The timer gives you a short window, but movement after it expires can put you back under fire.
Which queue should you choose this week?
PvE is the option to try if player attacks have been stopping you from exploring or finishing ordinary quests. You can still meet a larger group while playing solo, and machine fights still demand attention.
Choose PvPvE for any of the five excluded conditions or when you want the usual player combat. It keeps standard matchmaking during the test. Embark is watching how the split affects sessions before making broader matchmaking changes.
What does the first PvE gameplay look like?
Shady's October 13 video, ARC Raiders New PvE Mode is NOT What I Expected..., follows a launch-day run through the beta.
At 0:50, he and another Raider test shooting each other. At 16:52, he helps a stranger gather research-bench materials, showing how shared raids can turn into cooperation.
His loot impressions vary. Some finds look familiar; at 7:10 he notices less loot but says the difference doesn't feel large. One video can't establish a reduction percentage or prove drop rates are unchanged.
For the downed timer, use the official eight seconds. Shady mentions six at 26:29, which differs from the announced rule.
Frequently asked questions
Is PvE a private solo mode?
No. It uses shared servers, and different squad sizes can meet. Selecting PvE doesn't reserve the map for you or your friends.
Does PvE change my PvPvE matchmaking rating?
Embark's September announcement says PvE play won't affect that rating. Regular PvPvE matchmaking still applies when you return. Our aggression-based matchmaking guide covers the existing system.
Will the PvE toggle stay after October 20?
The announced plan is to remove the toggle when the beta ends. A permanent option remains undecided, with player feedback and game data informing what comes next.
How will Embark collect feedback?
Embark plans to send a survey after the test. It wants feedback from PvE players and from people staying in PvPvE, including any changes they notice in their sessions.
For community discussion, share your experience in the ARC Raiders forums. Mention the map, active condition and squad size so other Raiders can compare their runs.
Source notes: Embark Studios, PvE Toggle Beta Test: October 13-20 (October 12, 2026); Store Update 2.1.0 (October 13, 2026); PvE Toggle Beta Test (September 24, 2026). Gameplay and menu instructions: Shady's October 13 video embedded above. Local times are converted from the announced CEST schedule.