Arc Raiders could eventually be split into separate PvE and PvP modes, according to executive producer Aleksander Grøndal. Speaking to GamesRadar+ ahead of Embark Studios’ limited PvE test launching next week, Grøndal said the idea of a more peaceful extraction experience is “quite possible”.
The admission marks a significant shift for a game that launched as a strictly PvPvE extraction shooter, where players could damage each other at any time. Now, seven years into development, Embark is acknowledging that the community has divided itself along playstyle lines — and the studio is prepared to adapt.
Community Already Split
“I mean, the community is already split along those lines,” Grøndal said. “If the game eventually will represent that? Quite possibly. I think it’s important to respect how the players want to enjoy the game, even if it doesn’t necessarily fully gel with what we thought the game was initially or how we designed the game to be initially.”
The upcoming test, running from 13th to 20th October, introduces a toggle that allows players to opt into PvE matchmaking where Raiders cannot damage each other. Solos, duos, and trios will be matched into the same sessions, though Night Raids and the upcoming Frigate event are excluded from the test.
Player data: Embark’s internal research shows 37% of players are friendly co-op types, 34% are pure PvP, and 27% mix both. Over 70% of friendly players and 40% of PvP players want fewer hostile encounters.
Grøndal acknowledged the test creates technical challenges. “We need to figure out what we really mean by that,” he said, noting the test is “somewhat limited around some of the higher-end stuff” because it “has a chance of affecting” the overall experience for other players.
From PvE Origins to PvPvE Reality
The potential split represents a full-circle moment for Arc Raiders. A blog post from Embark reveals that when the game was conceived seven years ago, it was originally envisioned as a raid-based PvE co-op game with looting mechanics. The concept showed promise but ran into significant challenges, leading the team to reset and build the high-tension PvPvE extraction adventure that launched.
Now the studio is reconsidering that pivot. Embark’s player data shows clear demand: 51% of the surveyed playerbase has expressed interest in a dedicated PvE option. The numbers suggest that a significant portion of the community wants the cooperative extraction experience without the constant threat of being shot by another player.
“We originally envisioned a raid-based PvE Co-op game with looting mechanics. While the concept showed promise, we ran into significant challenges, and eventually decided to reset the game and build the high-tension PvPvE Extraction adventure that you know today.” — Embark Studios blog post
Caveats and Expectations
Embark is careful to manage expectations. The studio states plainly that “it’s possible that this will not work” and that the test “is not a promise that there will be a PvE mode in the future.” However, they add: “Take this as an indication that we are seriously considering it.”
The test will help Embark identify how best to implement PvE without breaking the game’s economy or undermining the tension that defines the extraction genre. Questions remain about how separate PvE and PvP pools would work in practice — would they share loot tables, progression, and rewards? Or would they become effectively different games?
These are the challenges Grøndal referenced when discussing the technical complexity. Separating player pools risks fragmenting the community and creating queue time issues. Keeping them together while toggling damage requires careful matchmaking and balance work.
Beyond the Game
Arc Raiders’ cultural footprint continues to expand beyond the game itself. Earlier this week, it was announced that film and TV adaptations of both Arc Raiders and The Finals are in development. Embark is collaborating with Chernin Entertainment, the production company behind the successful Backrooms horror film.
The entertainment deals suggest Embark sees its games as franchises with broader potential. A successful PvE implementation could strengthen Arc Raiders’ position as a multimedia property, offering different entry points for different audience segments.
For now, players can test the PvE toggle starting 13th October. Whether it becomes a permanent feature depends on the results — and on whether Embark can solve the technical and design challenges that originally led them away from pure PvE seven years ago.
