News Tag: ARC Raiders Matchmaking

Recently, the CEO of Embark Studios gave a one-and-a-half-hour interview and gameplay demonstration. In this interview, he revealed some very important information, especially confirming how the matchmaking mechanism in ARC Raiders works. If you don't have time to watch the full interview, then check out this article, where we've extracted some of the most interesting parts.

Aggression-Based Matchmaking

First, let's start with the aggression-based matchmaking mechanism and the developers' perspective on it.

Since ARC Raiders burst onto the scene in 2025, the game's matchmaking system has been a hot topic of discussion. After all, it's a PvPvE game, and its unique tension stems not only from the ever-present threat of ARC Raider patrols, but also from the actual risk of betrayal between you and your teammates. Many even believe that the game experience wouldn't work without the constant threat of PvP.

Therefore, the player community has been speculating that the matchmaking mechanism's influencing factors, in addition to player skill level, solo or team mode, and participation in PvP/PvE content, also include an assessment of player aggression, which affects the lobbies and opponents they will be matched with.

Fortunately, this aggression-based matchmaking system was finally confirmed in this developer interview, meaning players have the opportunity to customize their game experience according to their preferences.

Simply put, if you like PvP, ambushing opponents and looting their spoils, then go for it, and you'll encounter more PvP scenarios; but if you prefer exploring the world, scavenging resources, and finding ARC Raiders blueprints, you can choose to be friendly with other players and avoid shooting them, making it more likely that you'll be matched with other players who play similarly.

Matchmaking Priority

However, in practice, this mechanism is far more complex than we imagined. Of course, no online game's matchmaking system is a simple on/off switch; it involves many different factors.

Based on what the developers have revealed so far, the underlying logic of the matchmaking mechanism in ARC Raiders is primarily skill-based. They will match you based on your skill level in the game.

Although we're not entirely sure how they measure skill - whether it's based on your statistics or player level - I imagine they'll never want you to know, because the more they reveal, the easier it is for players to exploit and game the system, which is definitely not a good thing.

The next factor influencing matchmaking results is whether you're playing solo or in a team. In the game demo shown during this interview, they were playing in a three-person team mode, but they encountered a solo player.

Although the developers stated that they will primarily try to match solo players with solo players and team players with team players, this isn't entirely absolute.

Finally, there's a system they've already implemented based on aggression or behavior. This system isn't just based on your aggression, but also considers your tendency to engage in PvP. In my opinion, this means they'll also consider the damage you inflict on other players in a match, not just the damage you inflict on the environment.

In addition, they may also consider other factors, such as the frequency with which you use specific gestures, the frequency with which you use your microphone, the average amount of damage you inflict on the environment in the game, the average amount of damage you inflict on other players in the game, and so on.

Again, they haven't revealed the specific details. You just need to know that if you play the game naturally in your preferred style and engage with other players, the game will eventually learn and match you with appropriate opponents.

More new maps and cut-scenes are waiting to be added!

During this interview, they also revealed an interesting little detail: all the maps in ARC Raiders are actually based on real-world locations that they are interested in. They use Google Maps and other tools to view the areas they're interested in and then recreate them.

He also stated that they are working hard to expand these backstories. So, the development team is still constantly improving the world of ARC Raiders, and these stories will become richer over time.

In my opinion, this is good news because it means the game content isn't static. Even if the current content is fixed, they already have plans for future content releases and game development.

Not only that, the CEO also confirmed that they will be adding more cutscenes. Creating cutscenes is relatively easy for them, so they plan to add more of this content to deepen the game's backstory and make you more invested.

Player Trading Functionality

The next part sounds very interesting: player-to-player trading and a market system, which they expressed great interest in during this interview. So, perhaps in the future, as more systems are added, developed, and incorporated into the game, some kind of trading system will definitely be on the agenda.

The addition and optimization of trading features have been a consistent request from players since the game's release. This would not only enhance community interaction and establish an in-game economic system but also provide an alternative gameplay progression, especially regarding cosmetic and duplicate items, making the game world feel more realistic.

However, some players oppose this, fearing it would weaken the core loot-collecting fun, encourage bots or cheaters, and potentially disrupt the game's survival shooter experience. Therefore, finding the right balance is a crucial issue for the studio to consider.

New Nemesis System

Finally, they also mentioned a major announcement: ARC Raiders will probably add a Nemesis System in the future.

While the game doesn't encourage indiscriminate killing, imagine how frustrating it would be if someone unfairly killed you, and you had no way to find them or seek revenge.

Nemesis System allows players to track specific players who killed them or were killed by them, encountering them again in subsequent matches, thus fostering personal rivalries and enhancing replayability.

For example, when you repeatedly lose to a specific type of opponent or a particular ARC, it becomes a significant threat, almost becoming your personal nemesis. This Nemesis System transforms fleeting PvP moments into ongoing personal narratives, rewarding players' exploration and skill with satisfying revenge opportunities, making both defeat and victory meaningful.

In short, these are all the noteworthy details revealed during Embark Studios CEO's interview. As 2026 begins, ARC Raiders is gradually taking positive steps in the right direction. We look forward to it!

ARC Raiders is an extraction game that includes both PvP and PvE modes, but players are basically divided into two camps, each with their own preferences. Players who prefer PvE don't want to be involved in PvP.

However, since Arc Raiders' official release and even its tech test, the game's matchmaking mechanism has remained a mystery to players. Is matchmaking based on combat power or player behavior? And how can players get a good matchmaking experience?

ARC Raiders Matchmaking Mechanism

Regarding the matchmaking mechanism, the official stance has been one of silence, only officially denying the use of a gear-based matchmaking system.

The player community, through observation, speculates that Arc Raiders uses an aggression-based matchmaking system. Players who choose to avoid PvP, focus on looting, or cooperate against large ARC players seem to be matched into more relaxed matches. Players who immediately engage in combat (shoot on sight) are matched into extremely aggressive PvP matches.

Some players, by refraining from firing at others for approximately 15 consecutive matches and expressing a dislike for PvP in their post-match surveys, successfully entered matches primarily focused on PvE.

An art director from the game developer also revealed information about the matchmaking system in an interview with the media. He acknowledged that the matchmaking system is quite complex and stated that they do analyze player behavior and match players accordingly.

How To Enter Friendly Matches?

Assuming the above matchmaking conditions are met, we can figure out how to enter the matches we want. By avoiding PvP as much as possible, you can enter friendly matchmaking where players generally cooperate and there is very little direct confrontation.

Game Settings

If you are a PC player, it is recommended to turn off cross play in the settings, as community testing suggests that players in purely PC matches may be more inclined to cooperate. However, this is not mandatory, because it is possible to cooperate with players from other platforms.

Regarding servers, it depends on your language, as players who can communicate are more likely to cooperate through Proximity Chat. For example, if you are a native English speaker, you should prioritize North America servers. On EU servers, language barriers may lead to communication difficulties and even conflicts.

No Firing

This is the strictest rule. Regardless of whether you are being attacked by other players, you must never retaliate or initiate attacks. Damaging other players appears to be a key algorithmic basis for the matchmaking system to remove you from friendly matches. Even joking shots during retreat can have negative consequences.

Equipment Selection

When attempting to enter this mode, it is recommended to use Free Loadouts or not carry valuable items, focusing on collecting ARC Raiders Blueprints. You might lose equipment due to being killed before successfully entering the game because of the no firing rule above.

Active Communication

You need to actively use Proximity Chat at all times. When you enter a point of interest or hear other players, you should proactively communicate to show that you have no hostility or intention to cooperate. This greatly reduces tension among other players and avoids firefights caused by misunderstandings. Lack of communication, even if you have no malicious intent, can lead to you being attacked first by wary players.

Entering a friendly match may require multiple attempts, and the number of matches needed varies from person to person, potentially several or even a dozen, depending on your previous gameplay. If you prefer PvP, you may need to persist through even more matches.

Furthermore, the time it takes to successfully enter a match may be affected by factors such as Time of Day and Weekends, as the player base differs at different times. However, the core rules remain valid. As long as you adhere to the rules, you will eventually be able to enter.

How To Determine If A Match Is Friendly?

The system will not send you an email when you are removed from a PvP match, so you need to judge the nature of the match you are entering yourself.

The most obvious sign is that almost all Points of Interest on the map are quickly looted early in the game. This is because players in the match are focused on PvE and looting, moving and looting quickly without restraint, whereas in a normal match these resource points might go untouched.

The Uses And Benefits Of Friendly Matchmaking

This type of matchmaking is one of the easiest ways to complete Trials, quickly earn coins, or collect rare Resources and ARC Raiders Blueprints to craft high-level gear. It also provides a PvE environment for players who don't like PvP.

On Stella Montis, a map that usually sees intense PvP, entering a friendly matchmaking game transforms it into a pure PvE server where players help each other, fight Arc together, and loot resources.

Using player behavior as a matchmaking rule is a very good method, allowing players to find players with similar preferences. If you want to move away from PvP and have a more cooperative and relaxed gaming experience, then trying to be nice might be a strategy.