Does Arc Raiders Need a PvE Only Mode?

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ARC Raiders is a game that naturally sparks strong opinions. Its combination of risky gameplay, where you try to escape with valuable items, and unpredictable interactions with other players creates truly tense and sometimes overwhelming moments. This intensity is also why the game has quickly become a hot topic of discussion, as players try to figure out exactly what ARC Raiders is becoming as it changes and develops.

Recently, players have been focusing on whether ARC Raiders should include a mode just for playing against the environment, without player-versus-player combat. Many are asking for this to make the game more accessible, avoid frustrating fights with other players, or simply enjoy a more relaxed experience. However, other players strongly believe that player-versus-player combat is essential to the game’s identity. While it’s a complex issue, adding a PvE-only mode could fundamentally change what ARC Raiders is all about and ultimately isn’t the right direction for the game.

ARC Raiders Was Built Around Tension, Not Comfort

The game ARC Raiders thrives on keeping players on edge. Each time you venture into the world, you risk encountering another player, potentially turning a simple resource gathering trip into a life-or-death struggle. This constant tension is central to how the game works. Without the possibility of player-versus-player combat, the game loses the underlying sense of danger that makes every choice – like how long to stay in one spot or whether to engage in a fight – feel important.

The idea that ARC Raiders should be purely player-versus-environment also doesn’t hold up well. The game’s enemies, how quickly things escalate, and the map layouts are all designed with the assumption that other players pose a danger too. The AI is meant to wear you down and create noise that attracts attention. That’s why staying hidden is so important – almost everything you do is loud, and avoiding unwanted attention is crucial for success. Without the risk of player conflict, these encounters become predictable and less threatening, making the game world feel less alive and dangerous. As we’ve said, ARC Raiders excels at creating a tense and unsettling atmosphere, and that’s what keeps players engaged. Removing the player-versus-player element would diminish that feeling.

The game’s creators have admitted they initially explored a version of ARC Raiders focused solely on playing against the environment (PvE). However, they found it wasn’t fun and ultimately scrapped the idea. This is important because it explains why the game currently focuses on player-versus-player combat. It wasn’t a forgotten feature – they actively tried it, but it removed the exciting, tense atmosphere that makes ARC Raiders unique.

A PvE Only Mode Risks Diluting What Makes ARC Raiders Work

Many suggest adding a player-versus-environment (PvE) mode as a simple choice for players, one that wouldn’t impact those who prefer other modes. However, for a game like ARC Raiders, this isn’t so straightforward. A PvE mode would fundamentally change the game, going much further than just offering a different way to play.

Dividing players is always risky for games that are constantly updated, and adding this new mode could create that problem. We also need to think about how players expect to advance and how balanced the game will be. The current threats in the game aren’t very challenging when you don’t have to worry about other players. Even shooting at enemies from far away currently warns everyone nearby, which impacts how you play. Creating a separate area just for playing against the environment will eventually require updates and design choices that could ultimately reduce the amount of new content for everyone.

Progression and rewards are another key concern. Extraction shooters depend on balancing risk and reward, and player-versus-player combat (PvP) naturally provides the highest stakes. A mode focused solely on player-versus-environment (PvE) would be difficult to balance. Lowering the rewards would feel unfulfilling, while offering similar rewards to PvP would diminish the excitement of the main game. Both options would likely create more problems and complaints. Achieving fairness in a PvE-only mode would be extremely challenging for developers, and it’s not a worthwhile effort given the game’s current success.

A key point often overlooked when discussing a PvE mode for ARC Raiders is that the game is being built according to the developers’ vision. While players have a right to share their thoughts and ask questions about design choices, the final decisions rest with the development team. Our feedback can be helpful, but ultimately, we’re experiencing the game Embark intends to create. They explored a PvE mode previously and decided it didn’t fit their goals, so we should respect their decision not to include a dedicated PvE mode.

The discussion surrounding a PvE-only mode is revealing. Requests for it usually stem from temporary annoyance rather than a considered plan for the game’s future. While those frustrations are understandable – ARC Raiders is intentionally challenging and can feel unfair, especially when you lose valuable loot or during extraction – removing that difficulty would make the game less exciting and memorable. This debate actually points to a larger question: should ARC Raiders prioritize player comfort and become more generic, or stay true to its unique, challenging identity? Adding a PvE-only mode would be a significant mistake, and Embark was right to reject the idea, at least for now.

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2025-12-31 18:46