What the PvE toggle in ARC Raiders is
The official name is "PvE matchmaking toggle". It is not a separate mode with new content: before a raid you choose whether to play standard PvPvE or on the new PvE servers.
Embark says the goal of the test is not harder PvE or a new progression system, but to give players "an alternative to PvP encounters". That is why this article talks about a PvE toggle (a test), not a permanent PvE mode. Players argue about this too: the Steam thread "PvE is a toggle not a mode" has 50 replies.
| Stage | When |
|---|---|
| Announcement (Aleks, Executive Producer) | September 24, 2026 |
| Test details from Embark | October 12, 2026 |
| Test start (Update 2.1) | October 13, 2026, 11:00 CEST (09:00 UTC) |
| Hotfix 2.1.1 (nothing about PvE) | October 16, 2026 |
| Test end | October 20, 2026, 11:00 CEST (09:00 UTC) |
According to How To Video Game, the test covers all platforms, and after the free weekend (until October 12, 2026) you need to own the game. What else patch 2.1 brought is covered in what's new in the latest update.
How to turn on PvE mode
Embark only described the principle: the system is meant to allow "seamless switching" between PvE and PvPvE. It has not officially said where the toggle sits in the menu. Steps according to the How To Video Game guide and McBread's video:
- Update the game to Update 2.1.
- Before a raid, go to the destination (map) selection screen.
- Turn on the PvE toggle. In McBread's video it's a "PvE only" switch in the bottom left corner; it stays on until you turn it off.
- Queue solo or with your squad. You can switch back to PvPvE before every raid.
The exact location and label of the toggle come from a single video (McBread). Embark has not shown a screenshot of the menu, so the label may look different for you.
Can't see the toggle? Most often the destination has an excluded map condition (for example Night Raid or Frigate), your game doesn't have Update 2.1 yet, or the test is over.
PvE server rules: what affects other players
Embark lists three rules: "Zero player-to-player damage", throwable stun and fire items don't work on other players, and barricades, ziplines and other physical items work as usual. Players tested the rest.
| What | Affects other players? | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Gunfire | No, no damage and no hit markers | Embark, McBread's test |
| Stun and fire grenades | No (Blaze Grenade and Showstopper have no effect) | Embark, The Gaming Merchant's test |
| Barricades, ziplines | Yes, they work as usual and can block paths | Embark |
| Bull Rush (knockback) | Yes, it pushes players without damage | players; Embark doesn't mention it |
| Lure Grenade | Doesn't affect players, but pulls ARC that attack them | player reports |
| Your own grenade | hurts you | McBread's test |
| Death | you still lose your gear | McBread's test |
The loudest complaints are about the Bull Rush skill from the skill tree. Players say others push them off loot, interrupt their container searches and block extraction. There are requests on Steam and Reddit to disable Bull Rush in PvE. The second complaint: Lure grenades thrown near downed players pull ARC onto them. As of October 19, 2026, Embark has not publicly addressed either issue.
Excluded map conditions
Embark: "Certain major map conditions will not offer PvE as an option". The list from October 12, 2026 includes:
- Night Raid
- Locked Gate
- Hidden Bunker
- Frigate
- Redirection
Embark's reason: these conditions are designed for higher tension and the uncertainty of who you'll run into. Redirection was added to the list later, and Embark uses the word "including", so the list may not be complete.
According to players, you can play the Matriarch condition, Harvester fights, the raid on the downed Emperor and the new Pendola Pass map in PvE. More about conditions: maps and map conditions.
Lower loot in PvE
Embark: "Overall loot value in PvE servers will be lowered." It didn't say by how much. During the test, PvPvE sessions get "slightly higher baseline loot values" instead, because friendly players (and so PvE sessions) extract more often and earn more value.
How much lower is only a player estimate:
- McBread: according to people who ran the same spots in both modes, loot is somewhere between a tenth and a fifth lower.
- The Gaming Merchant: noticeably fewer containers, but similar contents.
- Some players disagree: a popular Reddit thread shows a very large haul from a single PvE raid.
Loot from large ARC goes to whoever reaches the wreck first, not to whoever dealt the most damage.
Matchmaking: solos, duos and trios together
- PvE sessions mix solos, duos and trios in the same match. Squad separation is not a priority here, so you'll meet groups of a different size more often.
- Playing PvE does not affect your PvPvE matchmaking rating.
- Standard matchmaking still applies in PvPvE during the test.
- Queues may be longer in low-population regions and at quiet hours.
Embark has not said how many players are in a PvE match.
Getting downed and ARC: 8 seconds of grace
After you're downed, you have 8 seconds during which ARC won't acquire you. After that, they may attack if they catch you moving. Embark explained that it wants to keep some tension to make up for the missing PvP threat.
In practice, players advise lying still and waiting for the ARC to leave; crawling draws them back. The popular thread "if you downed in PvE mode, ARC still attacking you" therefore describes intended behavior, not a bug.
Queue bug: players in a PvE lobby
Players describe a bug: if you start searching for a PvPvE match, cancel, switch to PvE and queue again on the same map, the game may put you into a PvPvE lobby. That explains some of the "killed by players in a PvE lobby" reports.
Players' advice: when switching modes, change the destination (map) as well, then turn on PvE.
That Embark called this a lobby selection bug is known only from a YouTube video and Reddit comments. We could not find Embark's original statement.
Progression: shared between PvE and PvPvE (according to players)
Embark has not announced a separate character or a separate stash. It only says that in PvE you can scavenge, complete quests and explore in relative safety.
According to players, progression is shared: the same character, stash and items in both modes, quests count once you return to Speranza, and XP, Trials and the Reward Pass progress in PvE too. This has not been officially confirmed. Some players want them separated, because they worry about gear being carried over from PvE to PvPvE.
What happens after October 20
- The toggle goes away. Embark: "When the test ends, the toggle will be removed and matchmaking will return to normal."
- A survey. After the test Embark will send out a PvE survey; according to its X post from October 16, 2026 it is coming the following week.
- A decision based on data. In the Update 2.1 notes, Embark says player feedback and in-game data will help decide whether the toggle becomes permanent.
- It may look different. A future version could look very different from the test, and Embark will share findings and plans "sometime after the test".
Why test at all? According to Embark, 51% of surveyed players wanted a dedicated PvE option. Aleksander Grøndal (Executive Producer) told GamesRadar the studio wants to learn from the test "without making any promises".
FAQ
Is PvE mode staying?
Nobody knows yet. As of October 19, 2026, Embark has not announced that PvE mode is staying. The Steam thread "IT'S OFFICIAL PVE MODE IS STAYING" has no basis at all: the entire post reads "Debate me". Officially, the test "is not a promise that there will be a PvE mode in the future", and the decision comes after Embark reviews the data and the survey.
How do I turn on PvE in ARC Raiders?
Before a raid, on the destination screen, turn on the PvE toggle (according to McBread's video: "PvE only" in the bottom left corner). It only works until October 20, 2026, 11:00 CEST, and not on excluded map conditions.
Do I lose my gear if I die in PvE?
Yes. Other players can't damage you, but ARC can still kill you, and according to player tests you lose your gear just like in PvPvE.
Why is there no PvE on Frigate?
Embark excluded Frigate from PvE, like Night Raid, Locked Gate, Hidden Bunker and Redirection, because these conditions are designed for higher tension and encounters with a variety of players.
Does PvE affect my PvPvE rating?
No. Embark: "Your PvPvE matchmaking rating will not be affected while playing in PvE sessions."
