You load in, you make the treacherous journey towards a quest that you want to do because it’s going to reward you with some useful resources, you fight ARC, and you sneak past players.
You do the impossible to finally get to your destination, and then, it happens. A player you didn’t see in the corner shoots you dead and trash talks you before executing you.
It’s situations like this that are making players ask to be sent to a completely different player pool from players that enjoy PvE, and honestly?
It’s not hard to understand their point of view. In this article we will explore this topic deeply because it’s very interesting. Does it go against the game’s core principles? Is there any other way to circumvent this issue besides splitting the playerbase?
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The Promise of PvPvE – On Paper vs. In Practice
On paper, ARC Raiders’ PvPvE design sounds perfect. Dangerous AI forces you to move carefully. Other players add unpredictability. Every decision carries weight. Every raid feels different.
And sometimes, it really is magic.
You’re sneaking through a ruined district, avoiding an ARC patrol, when you hear footsteps. Another player. Neither of you shoots. You both freeze. A machine stomps past, oblivious. You part ways, silently agreeing that survival matters more than pride.
Those moments are rare – but unforgettable.
The issue is that they aren’t the moments most players experience consistently.
Instead, many runs end the same way: ambushed mid-quest, deleted by a squad running optimized PvP builds, or punished for engaging PvE content that makes noise and paints a target on your back.
The design tension is clear. The question is whether it’s healthy.
When PvP Enhances ARC Raiders?
Let’s get this out of the way: PvP isn’t the villain by default.
Player-versus-player combat is what gives ARC Raiders its edge. It’s why extracting with a full bag feels like a victory instead of a checklist item. It’s why positioning, sound cues, and decision-making matter so much.
Without PvP:
- Loot loses emotional weight
- Maps feel safer, but flatter
- Progression becomes predictable
There’s a reason extraction shooters rely on this formula. Risk makes rewards feel earned. And when PvP encounters are balanced – two sides aware, prepared, and choosing to fight – they can be the best moments the game offers.
The problem isn’t that PvP exists. It’s how it intersects with PvE goals.
Where the Friction Starts?
ARC Raiders asks players to do two very different things at once:
- Engage with PvE systems – quests, machines, scavenging, exploration
- Be ready for high-skill PvP at any moment
Those goals don’t always align.
PvE content often requires:
- Staying in one place
- Making noise
- Fighting AI that drains resources
PvP rewards players:
- Ambushing distracted players
- Avoiding AI altogether
- Running lightweight, optimized builds
So what happens? Players focused on progression become prey. Players focused on PvP optimize around hunting them.
That imbalance fuels frustration – not because PvP is unfair, but because it often feels misaligned with what the game asks you to do.
You’re punished for engaging with the world.
The Casual Player Problem (And Why It Matters)
Not everyone drops into ARC Raiders looking for high-stakes PvP. Some players want to:
- Explore maps
- Learn enemy patterns
- Complete story content
- Play cautiously and survive
When those players repeatedly run into aggressive PvP encounters, they don’t adapt – they leave.
And that’s not hypothetical. If you look at most other extraction shooters, one of the first things you will see is the game losing all of their casual players. Leaving only the most competitive ones to wait for you in every lobby. Good luck getting your ARC Raiders blueprints after that happens…
The irony? PvP-focused players benefit from PvE players being around. They provide unpredictability, variety, and targets that make raids feel alive.
The Case for Separate PvE and PvPvE Modes
This is where the idea of separate modes gains traction.
A PvE-only mode wouldn’t need to replace the core experience. It could:
- Offer reduced loot rewards
- Limit progression speed
- Focus on narrative, exploration, and learning
Meanwhile, the existing PvPvE mode remains untouched for players who want full tension and risk.
The benefits are obvious:
- New players learn systems without constant punishment
- PvE-focused players stay engaged longer
- PvP encounters become more intentional
It’s not about “making the game easier.” It’s about letting players choose how they engage with risk.
The Counterargument: Splitting the Playerbase
Of course, there’s a real concern here.
Separate modes can fracture matchmaking. They can dilute identity. Suddenly the question becomes, “Which mode is the real ARC Raiders?”
There’s also the fear that PvE-only progression could undermine the economy or trivialize achievements earned in PvPvE.
These concerns aren’t wrong. But they’re solvable – with smart design.
Shared progression caps, exclusive PvPvE rewards, or even limited-time PvE access could preserve balance while still welcoming different playstyles.
Other games have walked this line successfully. ARC Raiders doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel – just tune it better.
What Players Are Actually Asking For?
Interestingly, most players aren’t demanding a full split. What they want is fairness and clarity.
They want:
- PvE objectives that don’t feel like bait
- PvP encounters that feel earned, not predatory
- Systems that respect different motivations
The debate isn’t “PvP bad” vs. “PvE boring.” It’s about alignment. About making sure the game doesn’t punish players for playing it as intended.
FAQs
Is ARC Raiders supposed to be this PvP-heavy?
Kind of… but not always. The game is built around PvPvE, so player fights are part of the deal. That said, a lot of players feel PvP currently overshadows the PvE side, especially when quests or machine fights leave you exposed.
Would a PvE-only mode kill the tension?
It might change the tension, but it wouldn’t erase it. Strong AI, limited resources, and extraction pressure can still be stressful. It just swaps “random player ambush” stress for “Can I survive this?” stress.
Why not just get better at PvP?
That’s fair advice – up to a point. But not everyone plays ARC Raiders to out-aim other humans. Some players would rather farm ARC Raiders blueprints or hunt down ARCs for Trials instead of hunting players!
Final Thoughts
ARC Raiders doesn’t need to choose between PvP and PvE. It needs to respect both.
The game shines brightest when tension feels earned, not imposed. When players feel challenged, not tricked. Separate modes – or smarter systems that mimic their benefits – could help ARC Raiders grow without losing what makes it special.
At its best, the game feels like a living world full of danger and opportunity. The goal isn’t to remove risk. It’s to make sure that risk feels fair, purposeful, and worth taking.
Because when ARC Raiders gets that balance right?
That’s when it stops being frustrating – and starts being unforgettable.
