ARC Raiders PvE Mode: The October Toggle Test, Rules and Dates
How the ARC Raiders PvE matchmaking toggle works, when the October 2026 test runs, what changes, and whether a permanent PvE mode is coming.
Applies to: The ARC Raiders PvE matchmaking toggle and its October 13–20, 2026 beta test, quoted from Embark Studios, checked on October 15, 2026
Quick answer
Embark Studios is testing a PvE matchmaking toggle from October 13 (11:00 CEST) to October 20 (11:00 CEST), 2026. Turning it on switches you from the standard PvPvE experience to dedicated PvE servers where player-to-player damage is disabled and offensive throwables do not affect other players, but loot value is lowered and several map conditions (Night Raid, Locked Gate, Hidden Bunker, Frigate, Redirection) are excluded. It is a limited test, not a confirmed permanent mode — Embark says it will decide what happens next after collecting feedback.
At a glance
ARC Raiders is testing a PvE matchmaking toggle from October 13 (11:00 CEST) to October 20 (11:00 CEST), 2026. Switch it on and you are matched into dedicated PvE servers where other Raiders cannot damage you; switch it off and you are back in the standard PvPvE pool. It is a limited test, not a permanent mode.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Starts | October 13, 2026 · 11:00 CEST |
| Ends | October 20, 2026 · 11:00 CEST |
| Where | All players; a toggle on the map screen |
| Platforms | Regular game client — no separate build or key |
| Permanent | Not confirmed |
How to enable PvE
The toggle sits on the map screen before you queue. Turn it on and matchmaking places you into PvE servers; turn it off and you are back in the normal pool. Embark Studios designed it as a switch, so you can move between the two experiences between raids. No special client, invite or access key is required — every player has the option during the test window.
What changes on PvE servers
Removing the player-versus-player threat changes more than just who can shoot whom. These are the rules Embark Studios published, quoted rather than paraphrased.
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Zero player-to-player damage | Raiders cannot hurt or down each other. |
| Throwables do not affect players | Stun and fire items will not work on other players. |
| Physical interaction items still work | Barricades, ziplines and similar are unaffected. |
| Lower loot value | Overall loot value in PvE servers is reduced. |
| Mixed squad sizes | Squad separation is not prioritised, so solos meet duos and trios more often. |
| ARC downed behaviour | ARC enemies may re-acquire downed players after an eight-second grace period. |
Excluded map conditions
Some map conditions were designed around the tension of other players, so Embark Studios excluded them from PvE during the test. You cannot select PvE for Night Raid, Locked Gate, Hidden Bunker, Frigate or Redirection. If you specifically want one of those, you have to play the standard PvPvE pool while it is active.
Matchmaking and the PvPvE pool
Embark Studios says matchmaking times may be longer in low-population regions and during quiet hours, and that it will monitor this. It also states that standard matchmaking keeps running during PvPvE sessions, so the studio can compare how the toggle affects normal lobbies before making any sweeping changes. PvE sessions are described as not affecting your standard PvPvE matchmaking rating.
Will PvE become permanent
Not confirmed. Embark Studios calls the October feature a test and says it will gather player feedback and data before deciding what happens next; even if a PvE option returns, the studio says the final version could differ from this test. Treat any page claiming a permanent PvE mode as ahead of the official position.
Sources and review scope
- Embark Studios — "PvE Toggle Beta Test: October 13-20" — the primary source for the dates, the rules, the excluded map conditions, the matchmaking notes and the fact that the mode is a test. Quoted rather than paraphrased.
- Embark Studios — ARC Raiders news — confirms the PvE toggle post on the developer's own feed, checked on October 15, 2026.
- Steam — ARC Raiders news — the same announcement cross-checked on the developer's Steam feed.
Checked on October 15, 2026, during the test window. The test had not concluded at the time of this check, so the outcome and any permanent decision are unknown and are marked as such. Because the test runs for one week, this page's "at a glance" will need updating once it ends.
Checked on October 15, 2026 against the Steam store listing and the Steam Web API app-details, current-players, review-summary and news endpoints for ARC Raiders, and Embark Studios' own posts on arcraiders.com. Live figures such as the concurrent-player count and the review total are timestamped snapshots that keep moving and are labelled as such. Game-internal details that Embark Studios has not published come from the community-run ARC Raiders Wiki and are labelled third-party, not official. Player-tested values are marked as such. Anything neither source states is written as unconfirmed rather than guessed.
Not independently play-tested. This is not a claim that every platform or game version was tested. Source review: Oct 15, 2026.
More ARC Raiders Guides
ARC RaidersARC Raiders Maps and Map Conditions: The Current Rotation
Every ARC Raiders map and map condition named on the official map-conditions page, how the hourly rotation works, and what each condition means.
ARC RaidersARC Raiders Skill Tree: Branches, Tiers and Respec Cost
How the ARC Raiders skill tree is built — three branches, how points are earned, the tier thresholds and the respec cost — with the Frozen Trail overhaul noted.
ARC RaidersARC Raiders Enemy Types: The ARC Machines and How to Fight Them
The ARC machine types in ARC Raiders — from Ticks and Wasps to Bastions, Leapers and Queens — with what the community wiki records for each.
ARC RaidersARC Raiders Outpost and Research Station: How to Unlock It
The ARC Raiders Outpost added in Frozen Trail — how to unlock it through the Sheltered Retreat project, what the Research Station does, and what Embark has not confirmed.
ARC RaidersARC Raiders Materials and Crafting Items: How to Find Them
How materials work in ARC Raiders, the items players ask about most, and why exact spawn locations are not something any official source publishes.
ARC RaidersARC Raiders Quests: How the Quest Line Works
How the ARC Raiders quest line is structured, who hands out quests, and how to tell a quest from an item or event when a search term is confusing.