ARC Raiders PvE Toggle Goes Live October 13: Exact Times, Rules and What Changes Tomorrow

The switch flips tomorrow. In a new brief posted October 12, Embark Studios confirmed the exact window for the ARC Raiders PvE matchmaking toggle test and spelled out the rules that apply once you queue into a PvE server. The test starts Tuesday, October 13 at 11:00 CEST and ends Tuesday, October 20 at 11:00 CEST.

We covered the original announcement and Embark's comments on a possible permanent split in our earlier PvE test article. This is the practical, day-before version: what actually changes when you hit that toggle.

Exact start and end times

The official post lists 11:00 CEST for both the start and the end. For players in the US, that converts to:

• Eastern: 5:00 AM ET, Oct 13 to 5:00 AM ET, Oct 20
• Central: 4:00 AM CT
• Pacific: 2:00 AM PT

That gives you a full seven days of PvE matchmaking, including next weekend.

The PvE rules, one by one

Embark says the toggle lets you move between the standard PvPvE mode and the new PvE servers. Inside PvE, according to the studio:

• No player-to-player damage at all. Other Raiders can't hurt you, and you can't hurt them.
• Throwables won't touch other players. Stun and fire items have no effect on fellow Raiders.
• Barricades and ziplines still work normally. Other physical interaction items are unaffected.
• Loot is worth less. Overall loot value on PvE servers is lowered.
• Mixed squad sizes meet more often. Squad separation isn't prioritized, so a solo can run into a trio.

Downed? Count to eight

This is the rule worth remembering. After you go down, there's an eight-second grace period where ARC enemies won't acquire you. Once that window ends, ARC "may attack if they catch you moving," Embark writes. In short: stay still and wait for your squad, especially in the first seconds.

Maps and conditions without PvE

Some major map conditions won't offer PvE as an option. The new list names Night Raid, Locked Gate, Hidden Bunker, Frigate and Redirection. Redirection wasn't in the original announcement, so expect to queue in regular PvPvE if you want to play it this week.

Matchmaking and queue times

Embark warns that queue times may be longer in low-population regions and during quiet hours, and says it will watch this closely. Regular PvPvE sessions keep standard matchmaking during the test. The studio says it wants clean data on how a PvE option affects PvPvE before it makes "any sweeping changes."

What's next

• Oct 13, 5:00 AM ET: the PvE toggle goes live.
• Oct 13–20: play both modes and send feedback. Embark wants input from PvE fans and from players who stick to PvPvE.
• Oct 20, 5:00 AM ET: the test ends.
• After the test: Embark will send out a survey to collect detailed feedback and opinions on where PvE should go next.

Embark also recommends reading its earlier explainer on why it's running the test now. While you wait, check our Trials Season 6 guide for this week's challenges.