Embark Studios’ PvE matchmaking test in ARC Raiders starts on October 13 at 11:00 CEST (09:00 UTC, 5:00 AM EDT) and ends on October 20 at the same time, the studio confirmed on October 12, 2026 in a pre-test post on the official site. The dates match Embark’s September announcement, but the new post adds exact times and rewrites several of the rules.
What Changed Since September
The basics hold: PvE servers have zero player-to-player damage, overall loot value is lower than in PvPvE, and queue times may rise in low-population regions and quiet hours. The new details:
- Throwables do not affect other players. Stun and fire items will not work on other raiders in PvE. Barricades, ziplines and other physical interaction items are unaffected.
- Redirection is excluded. It joins Night Raid, Locked Gate, Hidden Bunker and Frigate as major map conditions with no PvE option.
- Downed raiders get a grace period. In September, Embark said ARC might re-acquire a raider crawling while downed but would ignore one who stayed still. The new rule gives an eight-second window after being downed in which ARC will not target you; after that, they may attack if they catch you moving.
- Group sizes mix more. Squad separation will not be prioritized, so solos, duos and trios will meet more often.
- PvPvE matchmaking is unchanged. Standard matchmaking keeps running in PvPvE sessions so Embark can measure how the toggle affects them before making “any sweeping changes.”
A survey follows the test. The September warning still stands: the toggle is removed when the week ends.
Trials Season 6 Is Already Running
Embark also posted the details of Trials Season 6, “Frozen Trials,” on October 12. The season began with the Frozen Trail update on October 8 and ends on January 12, 2027. The grand prize is the Maestro Outfit, with its Yellow and Red colors unlocked at the Hotshot and Cantina Legend ranks. Final placement also pays out cosmetics, including the Pumped Dance emote and a Pop Helmet outfit for Scrappy. New challenges include dealing damage with Skulker Turrets and the Bully Cluster Grenade, and scavenging new hotspots in Pendola Pass.
What This Means for Players
If other raiders are the reason you stopped playing, this week is the cleanest chance yet to try the Rust Belt on your own terms. Plan around the excluded conditions, and save stun and fire throwables for the ARC. The free weekend that opened Frozen Trail ended on October 12, so the test is for owners only.
PvP players should keep queuing too, since Embark wants their data on how the toggle affects PvPvE sessions. Trials run alongside the Frozen Trail reward pass, whose premium track we broke down, and standard raids now come with permanent cheater bans. For more team-up games, see our best PC co-op games of 2026.
Source: Embark Studios, “PvE Toggle Beta Test: October 13-20” and “Trials Season 6: Frozen Trials,” arcraiders.com, October 12, 2026.