Embark Studios has announced that it will be testing a PvE mode for Arc Raiders next month.
From October 13 to October 20, Arc Raiders will have a PvE toggle, allowing you to seamlessly switch between lobbies where you can fight other players and lobbies where players can’t do damage to you. The aim is to give players more choice and test the ability to let players completely disengage from PvP gameplay. As a result, loot in PvE will be lower-valued because the mode has lower stakes. Additionally, ARCs will target downed players to create some form of tension, but if players stay still, they will be ignored by AI foes.
Embark will be monitoring the player economy and matchmaking times during this period. The team has noted that “it’s possible that this will not work,” meaning PvE may not actually make its way into the game permanently. This is a test to see how well they can make it’ll operate, rather than some kind of stress test.
“It’s important to mention that this is not a risk-free test,” said the studio. “The first, unlaunched iteration of ARC Raiders was conceived as a PvE game, and we have been hesitant to return to that concept. There is a risk that introducing a PvE matchmaking toggle could reduce some of the tension that the game was built around. At the same time, we have to respect that some players want to enjoy the game in their own way, and we can’t ignore what the data is telling us.
“As creators, we design a game with an intention for how we think it should be played; but after launch, it becomes the players’ game. This is one of the unique and wonderful things about making games; we build something with a specific vision, and then we get to see players finding their own ways to enjoy it.”
The reason for the test is that Embark Studios’ data demonstrated that a sizable amount of players ignored or tried to avoid combat against other players. They were more interested in a co-op, social experience rather than one where they had to fight real humans. You can view some of the data directly from Embark below.
- 37% Friendly co-op players (this player group has grown consistently since launch).
- 27% Mixed players.
- 34% Pure PvP players (this player group has remained stable since launch).
- Over 70% of Friendly players and even 40% of PvP players express a desire for fewer hostile encounters and 51% of the surveyed player base has expressed an interest in a dedicated PvE option.
It’ll be interesting to see what comes of this test and it’s refreshing to see a studio experimenting with something so publicly, even if it doesn’t result in any permanent changes. Either way, the community will have to show whether it wants Arc Raiders to have PvE or not and provide actionable feedback to make it feasible.
Cade Onder
Freelance Writer
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.