ARC Raiders’ PvE test removes player damage, with explicit reward tradeoffs.

The window and the protection

Embark’s announced PvE-toggle test runs October 13–20, 2026, starting and ending at 11:00 CEST (UTC+2), equivalent to 09:00 UTC or 05:00 EDT in New York. Players can select PvE servers instead of the standard PvPvE experience.

PvE disables player-to-player damage, including throwable fire and stun effects against players. Barricades, ziplines and other physical interaction items still function. The standard matchmaking rules continue in PvPvE sessions.

What the toggle gives up

Overall loot value is lower in PvE. Matchmaking does not prioritize separating squad sizes, and Night Raid, Locked Gate, Hidden Bunker, Frigate and Redirection do not offer PvE. ARC enemies can reacquire moving downed players after an eight-second grace period.

Embark warns that low-population regions and quiet hours may see matchmaking effects. It requests feedback from both audiences and plans a survey after the test. No permanent availability, future reward rate or extension is confirmed in this announcement.

Our analysis: compare the whole run

For a player who dislikes losing a run to another squad, the meaningful benefit is removing that source of damage. It does not establish equal rewards, access to every condition or safety after being downed. Those differences make the experiment more substantial than switching off a single combat setting.

A useful comparison records the selected mode, squad size, map condition and queue time. A quieter run with a lower-value haul can be a good personal tradeoff without showing that the two modes are economically equivalent. Players remaining in PvPvE can also report whether sessions feel different while part of the population tests the alternative.

Those are suggestions for evaluating the test, not results from our own play. Whether the option persists depends on a later decision; the October announcement supplies a window for gathering evidence.