PC Gamer writer Elie makes the case that Embark should have included a PvE-only mode in Arc Raiders from the very beginning. Her argument traces back to the game’s early days, when players bonded over cooperative raids against high-value arcs, producing genuinely funny moments along the way. The fun encounters began to dwindle later on, pushing players away.
Early Raids Were the Highlight
When Arc Raiders first came out, players had to team up to take down high-value arcs, and that teamwork gave rise to some truly funny moments. Elie remembers being stuck in a bunker at Spaceport with three others, going after a Rocketeer. They succeeded in killing it, but then a second Rocketeer appeared, and the group barely had any ammo left.
“It was a slightly bizarre situation to be found in with strangers,” she writes. “But it led to some very impressive strategy and coordination, and certainly a memorable experience, as we broke off into duos and ran in opposite directions, taking it in turns to distract the Rocketeer so we could all make a successful break for the extraction point.”
Friendly Lobbies and Shared Watch
Elie was already playing with friends in private sessions before the official friendly lobbies ever appeared. Then Shared Watch showed up, letting players share screens and watch each other play. It gave her just a hint of what a PvE-only mode could be.
“I am very excited at the prospect of an Arc Raiders PvE-only mode,” she writes. “I have been ever since I got a tiny taste of what it could be like in Shared Watch, and even before that while playing in friendly lobbies.”
The Decline of Fun Encounters
The number of fun encounters fell as more people departed from Arc Raiders, leaving her mostly interacting with liars, assholes, or cheaters instead. Spending free time that way hardly qualifies as enjoyable.
“If there had been a PvE mode this is when I would’ve transferred over to that,” she says. “I probably would have even played Arc Raiders relatively frequently in said mode from there on, as I’m sure others who enjoy the simplicity of fun social interactions and taking down arcs would have as well.”
For now, she stepped back from her raider. The alternative was a growing number of PvP lobbies that were increasingly unpleasant.
PvP Still Had Its Moments
Elie enjoyed the early days of trio PvP lobbies for good reason. The strain and cunning involved felt unlike anything else in Arc Raiders’ ecosystem. Being watchful of both arcs and fellow players made matches busier, yet there was a greater reward when the whole group escaped together with a generous haul.
This could result in equally amusing situations. She recalls spotting another team from a distance during a match in Dam Battlegrounds, where they appeared to be attempting a surprise manoeuvre against her group. The only issue was that they had no cover whatsoever, and seemed unaware that if they could spot her, she could spot them too. Their attempt at a surprise attack failed quickly, and she ended up explaining to them how line of sight works as she guided them to extraction so they could return to Speranza.
“The weird and funny social moments that Arc Raiders did so well isn’t exclusive to PvE or PvP lobbies. But PvE offers a guarantee that PvP can’t: your games won’t get ruined by assholes who lie or extract camp.”
Why a PvE Mode Makes Sense
Elie thinks that cooperative play was the main draw that pulled a lot of people into Arc Raiders, and it was also what kept her hooked for so long, even after she finished all the expeditions and quests. The problem came when more people started leaving, and that caused the fun encounters to drop.
PvE offers a guarantee that PvP cannot provide. Your games won’t get ruined by assholes who lie or extract camp. With no sign of the huge anticheat overhaul PvP would need to get fixed, she can’t see things changing anytime soon.
“So with that in mind I’d prefer something rather than nothing, because the world of Arc Raiders is simply too cool to watch waste away,” she writes.
What Embark Has Said
Embark has already acknowledged that a significant portion of the Arc Raiders playerbase plays for story reasons rather than combat against other players. Elie wouldn’t be surprised if a good number of players returned simply to see what story-focused lobbies might be like.
The Test That May Not Stick
There’s no promise that this trial against enemy forces will result in a lasting addition at all. Still, she plans to stop by just to sample what it might feel like. An easygoing Arc Raiders interlude would certainly be enjoyable right now.
The Verdict on the Verdict
Elie’s argument rests on a few key points:
- The early cooperative raids were the highlight of Arc Raiders
- Friendly lobbies and Shared Watch showed what a PvE mode could look like
- The decline of fun encounters drove players away
- PvP still had its moments, but the problems outweighed them
- A PvE mode would offer a guaranteed better experience
- Embark has already acknowledged the PvE playerbase exists
She presents her exit as sensible rather than bitter, and her prose carries a warmth that makes the argument without raising its voice. She is simply grateful that the game had a moment that was truly special, and she wants to see it kept.
It would be a shame to let the world of Arc Raiders fade away without a fight. That feeling holds true no matter how the trial ends up.
Source material: “Embark should've implemented a PvE mode into Arc Raiders a long time ago,” PC Gamer.
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