Arc Raiders will test PvE-only servers for one week from Oct. 13; Embark says it has not decided whether they will return. A GameSpot writer argues that removing PvP risk could undercut the voluntary trust that makes cooperation rewarding.
Embark cited a player survey in which 51% of respondents said they would be interested in PvE servers. The writer says he waited 120 hours before first trying to kill another player and has killed only three more in the 100 hours since. He believes the game’s aggression-based matchmaking eventually paired him with like-minded players because he consistently avoided combat.
The writer says occasional attacks and betrayals keep the stakes alive even in mostly peaceful lobbies: players can choose violence but often cooperate instead. He worries a permanent PvE option could sort players by preference, concentrating PvP-leaning players in standard matches and reducing chances for unexpected cooperation.
