Arc Raiders PvE and PvP Split Is Being Considered, Dev Says

Embark Studios is weighing a formal split of Arc Raiders into distinct PvE and PvP modes, with executive producer Aleksander Grøndal telling press the idea is “quite possibly” on the table as the studio prepares a limited PvE test running October 13 through 20.

A Community Already Divided

According to Eurogamer, Embark’s own player data reveals a striking split in how people prefer to engage with Arc Raiders. Thirty-seven percent of the player base falls into the friendly co-op camp, 34 percent lean toward pure PvP, and 27 percent move between both styles. More telling, over 70 percent of friendly players and even 40 percent of PvP-focused players have expressed a desire for fewer hostile encounters. A full 51 percent of surveyed players said they want a dedicated PvE option.

Grøndal acknowledged that tension between playstyles directly during press conversations ahead of the test. “The community is already split along those lines,” he said. “If the game eventually will represent that? Quite possibly.” He added that respecting how players want to enjoy the game matters even when it diverges from the original design intent, though he also noted a mode split “creates some challenges” that the team still needs to work through.

What the October Test Actually Covers

The upcoming test toggles an opt-in PvE matchmaking option that prevents Raiders from damaging one another. Solo, duo, and trio players will be placed into shared sessions under this ruleset. However, as Eurogamer reports, Night Raids and the forthcoming Frigate feature are excluded from the test window. Grøndal described the trial as “somewhat limited around some of the higher-end stuff” because including those elements carries a risk of disrupting the broader player experience.

Embark was transparent about the stakes in an accompanying blog post, writing plainly that “it’s possible that this will not work” and clarifying the test “is not a promise that there will be a PvE mode in the future.” The studio did frame it as a serious signal of intent, however, calling it an indication they are actively considering the option.

How Arc Raiders Got Here

The blog post also shed light on the game’s longer development arc. Embark originally conceived Arc Raiders seven years ago as a raid-based PvE co-op game with looting mechanics. After running into significant design challenges, the studio reset the project and rebuilt it as the PvPvE extraction experience that launched into testing. The current debate over a mode split is in some ways a return to questions the team wrestled with from the start.

Arc Raiders is available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Separately, Embark Studios is working with Chernin Entertainment on film and TV adaptations of both Arc Raiders and The Finals.

Sources: Eurogamer