If a new map condition in Arc Raiders‘ Chinese beta is any indication, developer Embark Studios may be testing the waters for a widespread PvE-only mode in its popular extraction shooter.
As revealed via social media posts, the Chinese version of Arc Raiders, which is currently in closed beta, contains multiple modes focused on PvE, including one called “Rebellion Incident” that imposes immediate consequences on those who opt to shoot another player. Known as map conditions, these modes join other rotating events–typically available for an hour or so at a time–that change up the game by adding new modifications to the maps or rules.
“Rebellion Incident” has PvP turned off by default, requiring players to press a button to declare themselves hostile before they can damage other players. In doing so, these traitors become permanently exposed on the map and compass, opening themselves up for other players to band together and kill them for their transgressions.
Meanwhile, another mode adds either a King or Queen to the map alongside a Matriarch, unleashing absolute mayhem that indirectly incentivizes players to work together against the chaos. While players can still easily (and sneakily) kill each other in this mode, the fact that it facilitates cooperative play seems to be testing how the game’s community reacts to one another when the PvE threats are so intense.
At this time, Embark Studios has not expressed any intentions of bringing these PvE-centric modes to other regions, so they could be beta-exclusive map conditions designed for general testing purposes. That being said, it’s equally plausible that the developer is specifically gauging interest in cooperative game modes.
It’s uncertain how the Arc Raiders community would ultimately react to the long-rumored addition of PvE modes in the main client, especially considering it appears fairly evenly split between PvE and PvP playstyles. Embark Studios told The Guardian that 30% of players seek exclusively peaceful lobbies, while another 30% actively seek out PvP encounters. Meanwhile, 40% engage in a mix of PvE and PvP.
Either way, it could be some time before Embark Studios adds any substantial changes to the main game anyway, as it has recently announced a move to bi-annual updates.
