Does ARC Raiders Need PvE Only Mode? Here’s Why It Doesn’t
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Why ARC Raiders Doesn’t Need a PvE Only Mode: What PvP Adds to the Experience
ARC Raiders has been out for a couple of weeks now, and a common discussion keeps popping up in the community: will the game eventually turn into nonstop PvP? As players finish questing and looting, many believe solo play will become more hostile, filled with kill-on-sight encounters, extraction campers, and backstabs.
To be fair, those moments do exist. We’ve all seen the clips of players getting betrayed at extraction or shot in the back. But those videos represent a very small sample size of what most players are actually experiencing.
My solo experience in ARC Raiders has been the complete opposite. It’s been surprisingly wholesome, social, and friendly—and that’s exactly why I don’t believe ARC Raiders needs a PvE only mode.
If you’re a fan of the game and the community around it, you can also check out our ARC Raiders merch collection, featuring game-inspired shirts and apparel designed for extraction shooter fans.
The PvE Only Mode Debate in ARC Raiders
There’s been a lot of discussion around whether ARC Raiders should introduce a PvE only mode—especially for players who don’t enjoy PvP and just want a cooperative experience.
This debate makes sense. Back in 2021, ARC Raiders was originally shown as a PvE-focused game. Early trailers highlighted raiders fighting massive ARC machines together, and many players expected a purely cooperative experience. When PvP was later integrated into development, some players were understandably disappointed.
But PvP is what makes ARC Raiders special—and removing it would fundamentally change the game.
Everything You Do in ARC Raiders Is Intentional
What makes ARC Raiders unique isn’t just player interaction—it’s the decisions leading up to those interactions.
Every action you take has weight. Before shooting an ARC, you have to ask yourself: Is this worth it? Gunshots don’t just alert enemies—they alert other players. That single decision could draw in friendly raiders, opportunists, or someone looking for a fight.
This creates constant tension and decision-making. Without PvP, that tension disappears. You’d shoot anything without hesitation because there’s no risk of attracting another player.
PvP adds layers of thought, caution, and adrenaline. Every shot matters.
Community-Created Social Etiquette
When two players meet in ARC Raiders, there’s an unspoken language that immediately kicks in.
You know it:
- Throwing up the “Don’t shoot” emote
- Saying “Friendly” over voice chat
- Holstering your weapon
- Not walking directly behind someone
These social customs weren’t designed by the developers—they were created by the community. They exist because PvP exists.
In a PvE-only environment, these interactions wouldn’t matter. Players would simply run past each other with no risk, no tension, and no reason to communicate. PvP gives meaning to these social cues and builds camaraderie when trust is earned.
Trust Always Comes With Risk
Even when you decide to team up, there’s always an element of uncertainty.
Will this player turn on you while looting? Will they shoot you if you turn your back? That uncertainty keeps you engaged and immersed in the world of ARC Raiders. You’re scavenging in a dangerous environment, not just fighting AI.
This constant evaluation of trust mirrors real-life decision-making—and it’s a big reason why every raid feels different.
Every Raid Is a Unique Experience
As time goes on, players will naturally get better at fighting the AI. We’ll learn patterns, strategies, and ways to optimize encounters with ARC enemies.
But player interactions will always remain unpredictable.
You never know who you’re going to meet, how they’ll respond, or what kind of story will come out of that raid. That unpredictability is what keeps ARC Raiders fresh and replayable.
ARC Raiders Brings Back Social Gaming
For me, ARC Raiders brought back something I haven’t felt since games like Halo 3—organic social interaction.
Randomly teaming up with other solo players, fighting Bastions together, reviving each other, and barely making it to extraction creates moments you simply can’t script. Those shared victories feel earned because the risk was real.
Without PvP, those moments wouldn’t carry the same weight.
Bad Actors Will Always Exist
Let’s be honest—bad actors exist in every game.
Whether it’s PvE or PvP, someone will always find a way to ruin the experience for others. Removing PvP doesn’t remove toxic behavior; it just changes how it shows up.
In ARC Raiders, PvP at least gives you the tools to respond. You don’t have to shoot first—but you can defend yourself. And when things go wrong, you learn from it, just like in real life.
Final Thoughts: PvP Is What Makes ARC Raiders Special
At the end of the day, ARC Raiders doesn’t need a PvE only mode. PvP isn’t just combat—it’s tension, communication, trust, risk, and community-driven etiquette.
Removing PvP would mean redesigning the entire game and stripping away what makes every raid feel meaningful.
If ARC Raiders is your go-to extraction shooter, explore our ARC Raiders collection for shirts and apparel inspired by the game and its community.
If you enjoyed this discussion and want more deep dives like this, let me know in the comments. Stay safe out there, and I’ll see you topside.