Developer Embark Studios launched a limited-time player-versus-environment matchmaking toggle for ARC Raiders on October 13, 2026, alongside the major Frozen Trail update. The test removes direct damage between players, sparking immediate community debate over griefing tactics and whether a permanent pacifist mode could fracture the extraction shooter’s player base.
Embark Studios Launches the Pacifist Toggle Test
The experiment arrived on October 13 following the October 8 debut of the Frozen Trail update, which introduced the wintry northern map Pendola Pass and pushed Steam concurrents to 185,443 players. Console players received the feature as update 1.000.064. The toggle sits right on the map screen after hitting the play button, allowing users to opt into dedicated servers where direct player damage is disabled.
PvE mode is FINALLY coming to ARC Raiders!🔸Embark will test a PvE matchmaking toggle from Oct 13–20.🔸PvE matches will be strictly co-op with ZERO player-to-player damage.🔸Overall loot value will be reduced to prevent exploitation.🔸ARCs will still be able to damage you… pic.twitter.com/dS7WDOfPiD
Executive producer Aleksander Grøndal explained that the studio noticed friendly communities organically forming on standard servers over the history of the game. Rather than guessing what casual participants needed, the team opened a matchmaking test to gather live data before making permanent alterations. Internal discussions at Embark were far from unanimous, with developers voicing legitimate concerns about loot economies and battlefield tension.
The testing window runs from October 13 at 11 a.m. to October 20 at 11 a.m. CEST. During this period, the selector offers a choice between the standard PvPvE experience and PvE servers that disable damage between players.
We kind of got to the point where it’s like, these friendly servers, they are almost playing out like they don’t have PvP in them at all, and people seem to be enjoying that.
Aleksander Grøndal, executive producer via GamesRadar+
Griefers Exploit Passive Lobbies With Lure Grenades
While pacifist servers protect participants from direct weapon fire, the lack of player damage created unexpected exploits. Players quickly discovered workarounds to harass others without breaking the game’s rules. Trolls use abilities like the Bull Rush to shove extracting players directly into mechanical enemies, while others fling lure grenades to draw aggressive shredder robots toward unsuspecting groups. Once a player goes down, mechanical threats can re-engage after an eight-second grace period if movement is detected. Throwable items, including those that cause stuns or fire, do not work on other players, but physical interaction items like barricades and ziplines remain unaffected.
Loot rooms also turned into competitive race tracks. Without the threat of lethal force to clear out contesting teams, players rush to claim supplies or camp locked doors waiting for someone else with a key to show up. Community reactions split sharply between participants celebrating the calm exploration of Pendola Pass and veterans warning that the experiment compromises the extraction genre’s core identity.
Weighing Community Feedback and the Seven-Year Development Pivot
The current debate highlights an ironic history for the project. When ARC Raiders was first conceived roughly seven years ago, developers envisioned a raid-based PvE co-op game built around looting. After internal testing showed those early concepts lacked sufficient tension, Embark completely overhauled the project into a high-stakes PvPvE extraction adventure.
- 37 percent of the community prefer friendly co-op gameplay.
- 34 percent play strictly for player-versus-player combat.
- 27 percent fluctuate between cooperative sessions and hostile encounters.
- 51 percent of the surveyed player base expressed interest in a dedicated PvE option.
Beyond player behavior, choosing pacifist servers carries concrete gameplay penalties. Overall loot value is reduced on PvE servers, squad separation is not prioritized, and major map conditions like Night Raids, Hidden Bunkers, and Frigates remain restricted to standard playlists.
Evaluating Permanent Changes Before the October 20 Deadline
The limited-time test concludes on October 20, leaving developers with a short window to review telemetry and questionnaires sent to participants. Grøndal acknowledged that splitting the game into two distinct experiences remains a possibility if player demand warrants it, though he emphasized that the current trial carries no promises of a permanent mode.
Whether Embark can balance the demands of casual players seeking low-stress exploration against an aggressive PvP community remains undetermined as the final days of the testing window tick down.