Frozen Trail is a success for ARC Raiders, leading to the highest Steam player count since March. For how long is anyone’s guess, but in the meantime, Embark Studios is trying something different. Starting today, a PvE toggle is available as a separate matchmaking option, complete with its own servers.
In a PvE lobby, you’ll be pitted against the ARC alongside other players who can’t hurt each other, and that applies to everything in their arsenal, including stun grenades, incendiaries, etc. Barricades and ziplines still work as intended, and solos can meet duos and trios.
Of course, lower risk means some caveats. Loot value is lower, and you won’t find conditions like the new Frigate and Redirection available. Even Hidden Bunker, Night Raid and Locked Gate are out. Embark also notes that matchmaking times could be affected, though it’s “monitoring” the situation to ensure “everyone is served good sessions.”
PvEvP matchmaking is still available, and players are invited to share their experience if anything feels off. The PvE beta ends on October 20th for all platforms, so even if it’s just for a trial run, it’s worth checking. However, if you really care about PvE and want more of this in the future, “we need you to help us understand what is and isn’t working.”
