Embark Studios, the Swedish video game developer behind massive hits such as The Finals and Arc Raiders, has recently announced a new testing period for an all-new game mode in the company's extraction shooter, Arc Raiders.
While Arc Raiders typically involves PvPvE gameplay that sees players competing against others to find valuable resources, take down Arc (Non-player enemies) and loot useful components and make it out alive, all while dodging other Raiders (players), the new gamemode test removes the threat of other players, focusing entirely on cooperative PvE gameplay.
This mode will be selectable from the main lobby where players can choose to play against either players and Arc, or just Arc, and can go in either solo, duo, or as a trio. This test period will run for one week from October 13th to October 20th, and then will be removed pending Embark's data collection and decision. As of this point in time, Embark notes that the mode is not a definitive 'new mode' and may not return following this test period, so players are encouraged to engage with the mode if they want to see it succeed and remain as a permanent option.
Image Credit: Embark Studios
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Cooperative Extraction Modes
- PvE-only extraction formats reduce competitive friction while preserving loot-driven progression, creating space for broader player retention and more accessible session design.
- Limited-time Gameplay Tests
- Temporary mode rollouts give studios measurable engagement data before committing resources, turning live experimentation into a lower-risk product development model.
- Player-choice Difficulty
- Selectable PvPvE and PvE pathways reflect growing demand for flexible challenge structures that let different audience segments share the same game ecosystem.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Video Game Development
- Live-service studios can use modular mode testing to refine content roadmaps around observed player behavior rather than fixed launch assumptions.
- Interactive Entertainment
- Audience-driven format variation expands engagement potential by supporting both competitive and cooperative motivations within a single entertainment property.
- Gaming Analytics
- Short-duration gameplay experiments create valuable behavioral datasets that can inform matchmaking, monetization, retention, and future content investment decisions.
