The PvP component of Arc Raiders has been a controversial topic in the community since its launch. Now, players are using the new aggression-based matchmaking system to specifically play in peaceful lobbies.
By definition, Arc Raiders is a classic extraction shooter: there’s loot, AI enemies, and other players who can make life difficult for you. However, what makes Arc Raiders special is the “can” part, because unlike its genre competitors Tarkov or Hunt: Showdown, the PvP component in Arc Raiders is optional.
You can fight your fellow players to acquire their loot and achieve an even more action-focused shooter experience. However, you can just as easily cooperate. And it is precisely between these two types of players that there has been a dispute since the launch of Arc Raiders about which style of play is the right one.
Thanks to the new aggression-based matchmaking (ABMM), players have now found a way to divide themselves into servers with their preferred play style.
How does matchmaking work in Arc Raiders?
No one really knows except the Embark developers. Roughly speaking, however, the system works like this: In addition to skill level and group size (solo, duo, trio), the system also weighs whether you are more PvP or PvE-oriented. If you play aggressively and regularly kill other players, the system will prefer to place you in lobbies with other bloodthirsty players.
Players with a low aggression level, on the other hand, are also grouped together in lobbies. This is to ensure that everyone can enjoy their preferred playing style. And it seems that the system is now having an effect: numerous players are sharing images and videos online that prove that the PvE lobbies are indeed largely peaceful.
The type of lobby you get after not shooting someone for 20 games pic.twitter.com/TAYzsiEd6e
— Arc Raiders Intel (@ArcRaidersIntel) January 11, 2026
Retired from PVP lobbys, I thought everyone was exaggerating how good friendly lobbys are
by
u/ShaggedUrSister in
ArcRaiders
Friendly lobbies are one of the most wholesome things in this game
by
u/wolfe_br in
ArcRaiders
Retirement from PvP life
For many players who are more interested in PvE, the new matchmaking system means a real relief, as they no longer have to worry about falling victim to other raiders or so-called rats – players who initially pretend to be friendly, only to shoot you in the back. Instead of attacking each other, players can now focus their energy on working together to defeat large Arc bosses such as the Queen.
User ShaggedUrSister writes on Reddit that he has now even withdrawn completely from PvP lobbies: We defeated a Matriarch, divided the loot evenly, and then danced together as we left. After a week of pure PvP, it’s like a whole new world.
Of course, Arc Raiders can’t control exactly which lobby they end up in. Officially, PvP is part of the game, and the developers wouldn’t be doing themselves any favors by changing that – more on that in the video above by our colleague Paul Aeils.
However, you can influence matchmaking through your play style. If you remain peaceful for several rounds in a row, there is a very high probability that you will end up in PvE-oriented lobbies. If you prefer a more violent atmosphere, you can of course tip the system in the other direction.
