ARC Raiders Unleashed: A Community Guide to Arc Raiders’ PvP, Co-Op, and Beyond
Discover Arc Raiders—an extraction shooter with PvP, Co-Op, quests, feats, and deep gear customization. Explore 2025’s roadmap for new maps, community events, and seasonal updates. Join the action and build your raider legacy today!
Arc Raiders is making waves in 2025 as a community-driven extraction shooter, blending PvPvE gameplay, rewarding quests, deep gear systems, and flexible playstyles for both PvP and Co-Op fans. The game's post-apocalyptic Italy setting, topped off with frequent updates and events, ensures there's always something new for Raiders to discover and share with friends.
PvP, Co-Op, and Game Modes
PvE status checked October 22, 2026. If you’ve come back looking for the PvE matchmaking toggle, the October test is over. It ran from October 13 to October 20, ending at 11:00 CEST (09:00 UTC). The toggle was temporary, with standard PvPvE matchmaking returning after the test.
That means fighting ARC together and playing without PvP are different things. You can cooperate with other Raiders, but you should still plan for encounters with hostile players. A friendly squad or a quiet run doesn’t turn the session into a PvE-only lobby.
What was different during the PvE test?
The test switched off player-to-player damage and lowered the overall value of loot in PvE sessions. It also mixed squad sizes more freely. Those were test conditions, not a permanent set of rules you can select now.
If you’re returning to finish quests, start with the objectives and prerequisites on your current quest stage rather than planning around the old toggle. Quest help and co-op play don’t provide access to a PvE-only lobby.
Will PvE come back?
Embark hasn’t announced a return date or committed to a permanent PvE mode. The team is reviewing the test and expects to share more information in November. That’s a window for an update, not a launch date. For now, plan your next run around the normal PvPvE experience.
Quests and Feats
Quests are a cornerstone of progression—offering Raider Coins, XP, gear, and a diverse spread of objectives:
- Daily tasks range from looting ARC probe sites ("A Bad Feeling"), repairing antennas ("Off The Radar"), to taking down special enemies in multi-stage challenges ("The Right Tool" and "Safe Passage").
- Questlines are tied to traders scattered throughout Speranza, rewarding teamwork as well as strategy. Some quests even grant gear up front, making completion easier for those tackling new content.
- Community-unlock events and seasonal quests are regularly added, ensuring group play leads to special gear and global progress for everyone involved.
Gear: Weapons, Augments, and More
Gear is all about customizing your Raider and surviving the topside:
- Weapons come in many forms, with crafting benches, loot drops, and recycling allowing you to collect, upgrade, and rework your arsenal. Handling weight, inventory space, and augments is critical to success in extraction missions.
- Augments boost carrying capacity, shield compatibility, and grant unique perks, but must be set before each raid.
- Shields, quick use items, grenades, and traps take center stage in combat, helping you tackle ARC threats, defend against surprise attacks, and conquer difficult PvP scraps.
- Healing items keep you fighting longer; some restore health, others recharge shields or stamina.
Roadmap: What’s Next for Arc Raiders
The developers at Embark Studios have set out a packed roadmap for the remainder of 2025, highlighting their strong commitment to keeping Arc Raiders fresh for the whole community. There are major updates coming every month, starting with November’s “North Line” update and followed by December’s “Cold Snap”.
Highlights from the roadmap include:
- New Map: “Stella Montis” expands the Rust Belt this November, adding new terrain to explore and fresh strategic opportunities for PvP and Co-Op squads.
- Community Events: Both November and December bring themed community events designed to rally Raiders together towards shared goals and unlock new rewards.
- ARC Machines: Expect more formidable ARC enemies, including the Matriarch and Shredder, which will force teams to adapt their tactics and gear.
- Quests and Feats: Each update packs in new quests, feats, and trials to test your skills and provide new ways to progress—alongside additional gear and gadgets for your loadout.
- Seasonal Features: December’s “Cold Snap” rolls out the game’s first snowfall map condition, the Flickering Flames event, and introduces the Expedition departure window, which acts as a prestige or optional character reset for dedicated players.
- Quality of Life: Ongoing improvements include bug fixes, gameplay balancing, and interface upgrades, all shaped by direct community feedback.
This active roadmap means there will be new challenges, gear, and community features almost every month, keeping Arc Raiders vibrant and rewarding whether you play solo, with friends, or as part of an organized squad. The developers make clear: this is just the beginning, and they’re counting on the community to help shape the future of the game together.
Whether you're raiding with friends, going solo, or tracking every quest for legendary gear, Arc Raiders offers a vibrant, growing world built on the spirit of community. Jump in, grab your gear, and join the adventure—there's always someone ready to lend a hand or challenge your skills topside!
