Recently, ARC Raiders received a sizeable update that introduced a new PvE-focused event named Shared Watch. The point of Shared Watch is to work together with other raiders to take down ARC threats, and by doing so, you unlock a string of rewards, including a new skin, some cosmetics, and some Raider Tokens.
The trick is, you get no progress points (known as ‘Merits’) for this event for killing or maiming other players, stripping focus away from the game’s PvP loop. It’s ambitious on Embark Studios’ part, but the problem is, ARC Raiders feels way too far gone to be a proving ground for a PvE-led event, and players are quickly discovering that.
Shared Watch is Great, But Not Practical
Shared Watch gives incentives for working as a team, either with friends or with strangers, to take down ARC enemies. For every enemy you damage, destroy, or assist in destroying, you earn Merits that push you along a reward path. That path culminates in a nice, new helmet for your rooster, Scrappy, but there are other items to secure along the way.
However, Shared Watch also pushes the PvE agenda a little further, attempting to encourage users to work together and stop slinging lead at one another for five minutes.
Last night, I hopped on ARC Raiders with a friend to participate in Shared Watch, and ten raids later, we’d not had a single successful extraction. We were prioritizing Trials, almost all of which are geared this week around fighting ARC enemies, and trying to crack through that reward path.
On every single occasion, we were met with incoming fire from other raiders, despite rarely opening fire first. Twice, we were pushed at extraction and shot in the back while trying to get out of the map. On another raid, we fought to take down a Leaper for our Trial, learning that a duo sat in the bushes waiting for us to secure the kill so they could, subsequently, laser us to death.
This is the go-to standard in ARC Raiders now. There are videos and guides online geared towards ‘guaranteed entry’ to PvE-focused lobbies, which involve shooting no human enemies for around ten raids, but it’s a loose concept at best. Like the game’s loot model, securing a PvE-focused raid is based on RNG, and it depends entirely on who you’re matched with.
I’ve had some wholesome interactions, sure. Last week, I was downed by a Pop on Stella Montis (don’t ask), and out of nowhere, a German fellow ran to my aid with a defib, before promptly disappearing again after wishing me ‘good luck’. These interactions have fast become exceptional, while on-sight gunfights are the de facto standard in this game.
For a PvE-focused event to work in ARC Raiders, and I mean truly work with a 0% failure rate, Embark Studios has to build servers (even temporary ones) that have raider damage switched off or altered. By that, I mean you cannot take damage from another raider, period. On these servers, only ARC will be a threat.
To capitalize on that and keep things balanced, I’d be willing to see Embark Studios increase the risk from ARC on these servers. Make them tougher, more plentiful, more aggressive, whatever it takes. But the balance is, you can’t be gunned down by ARC enemies.
Embark Studios has said time and again that PvE doesn’t work, despite the game’s original operating model being geared towards just that. But as a limited-time event, a map condition, or even a specific map built only for PvE, I think an entire audience would feel validated and well served.
Do you think ARC Raiders needs a PvE mode? Let us know your thoughts on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
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Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
More from Grant Taylor-Hill
LOL Well sounds like you need to play some solos if you dont want to be shot at by other raiders
I agree 100%. PVP hard ons are literally trolling on purpose because they dont want PVE to work… So YES! Let’s all get fully kitted up to go kill the queen, only for a RAT to shoot us in the back and take it from us… Every. Stinking. Match.
The loss of equipment is DEFINITELY not outweighed by the rewards. 🙄 And before we hear all of the “gEt GoOd!” Arguements… If you are shooting people in the back or camping extracta… you arent anywhere near “good”. You’re lame… and a parasite who is going to end up killing the game.
I’m happy to shoot you solo!
Same thought I had, play solos. Arc does still have feats for damage dealt to other raiders which of course does still make you wanna shoot the occasional random but I personally have enjoyed the hell out of shared watch. The change of pace is quite nice.
Run solos trios and duos are a blood bath. Last night seeing solo lobbies come together to take down the queen and matriarch and extract together been some of the the best experiences so far topside. Please stop spreading false lies
It’s very important to note that Arc has aggression-based match making, meaning people that actively shoot people are placed in matches with people known to shoot others. Play a few rounds avoiding people and you’ll get the friendly matches where people help each other and even help randoms fight aggressive players.
Its also very important to note that this isnt how it works despite the thousands of anecdotal stories and the game is still PvPvE. You can “avoid” pvp insomuch as yes, the game will eventually place you in calmer lobbies but its never going to be a crime-free utopia. All this does is make you all the more sour when you get shot for “no reason” one day in your perfect hugbox friendly lobbies.
Im starting to think there was no point revealing any facet of the matchmaking because the playerbase is now split between literally just playing the game and trying to argue ethics and societal structure and the chatacter of the people who attack others in videogames.
It’s simply not true .. you’ll eventually be in a match with someone who will shoot you on sight or is being a rat.
it’s still a pvpve game, they did this as to not force pve and leave it a choice. keeping the tension. they just tried to tip the balance towards pve, and may need to try further.
Solo = like minded friendly lobbies
Duos= mix bag but more pvp leaning
Trios= all out pvp with people shooting you in the back even if they call out “friendly”
90% of my solo experience is super cooperative and I love it. The minute I hop on to trios it goes absolutely bonkers.
I played in a duo last night and we had quite the opposit experience. Everyone we ran into, several were teams as well, was very friendly and helpful. We ran 4 different maps on multiple runs. We were never shot at once. /shrug
I’m a PVE focused player, and typically only engage in murderous activity in self-defense. While this tactic doesn’t usually work in my favor, I think if PVP wasn’t a factor at all, it would negatively impact the overall game. It’s the risk involved by allowing player choice that makes the game special in my opinion.
The PVP drove me away from the game. I spent a lot of time getting to 50+ and progressing the quests, workbenches and expedition. However less and less often would I venture out with my best gear after losing it multiple times over. I never once, not a single time, initiated a fight. In fact I think I only ever shot at someone a couple times when I just got sick of standing there knowing I was going to die again.
PVP inherently isn’t bad – the game just gives no situations where it’s meaningful so players just gank others at exfil or hide in corners for cheap thrills. That’s not fun for anyone – so I moved on.
Your last paragraph and few sentences are the key. It’s a negative reinforcing loop, get shot in the back a few times and ganked at exfil because people want your good stuff. But you want good stuff. So to get it (after repeatedly being robbed) you do the same. But that guy wants good stuff also. Soooo he does the same. Only time this doesn’t happen is if one of the links in the chain just simply refuses to do that. So they keep getting ranked or quit the game. This is the issue.
We need PVE only option. That’s what makes the game unique and special and fun. PVPrs will just run it into the ground, because they are typical toxic, unimaginative, and regressive. They will eat it up until there’s nothing left, and then flock in droves to the newest thing. At this rate, likely GTA6. PVE is what will keep this game interesting and going.
Agree 👍. Same for me. I will wait for a pve mode or play something else.
Squads always ends in bloodshed for me. You’d have a better experience with solos in trying to complete this event. Sad, but true👍
That’s An Absolute Beautiful Idea!
They Should Have An In-Game Option That Players Can Click On Yes Or No To Inflict Damage On Other Raiders.
I’ve replied to embark in game every single time that I get PvP’ed in a lobby. I hardly ever shoot back, I just think it is a negative reinforcement loop as someone pointed out above. GTA has a passive mode, so it’s not like this would be some groundbreaking concept. I honestly think Embark doesn’t understand the larger number of PvE focused players that don’t need and don’t want the threat of being backstabbed as a source of tension. We deal with that enough in real life. If you think you need to have to worry about some idiot spawn or extraction camping to have fun in a game, YOU are the problem.
I wholeheartedly agree with the previous post. Arc Raiders is nothing more than a cheap thrill and a fad of a game that is already showing that it lacks long-term appeal. In it’s current state and as unrewarding of an experience that it offers, it clearly should have been a free-to-play game.
I do agree and think adding a non PvP mode could work, although I understand it makes it a very different game, but I say try it and see. I expect it will be VERY popular for a certain demographic, so let when eat PVE cake!
I’ve had nothing but good experiences in solos so far. I give a lot too. Try to help others out as much as I can and they do the same.
I just really wish that all of the people chasing PvP would go play CoD, Battlefield, Overwatch, Marvel Rivals… Any other game that offers PvP. I wanna play my extraction shooter with other people looking for loot and willing to kill for it.
It’s one thing to kill for loot and another to kill for the sake of killing. I’m tired of getting shot in the back while looting a Bastion I just spent five minutes on, all to get shit-talked while I watch them loot the kill I just worked for. If they’d just finish me and move on, I wouldn’t be mad- I should’ve been more aware. But it’s a completely different thing for them to sit there and say, “thanks for the loot, […].” “You’re so trash, kid.”
Sorry that I hardcore ranted, but I think someone might sympathize with all that.
This game isn’t going to last long, pretty soon its just going to be strictly pvp because of the vast amount of people who are sick of getting shot in the back by rats every game. I try to be helpful with others and give defibs when they are downed by arcs just for them to shoot me in the back a few mins later. Also ive never been called the N word so many times in my life by a bunch of white kids who think its funny to drop the word 10 times in one sentence screaming into their mic. To all you actual good raiders out there stay strong and watch your backs, I know i have zero trust in anyone in this game anymore.
Their numbers are already dropping rapidly. This game would probably be in the PvP gutter by now if it hadn’t been for the “holiday influx”, of which myself, brother, and son were 3. The average user base is shrinking rapidly and hearing people talk about how the game was awesome when it first came out, then became Tarkov basically, to have a renaissance over the holiday, and now to be rapidly shrinking again, yeah, it’s obvious. So is the attempted solo squad lobbies and now the PvE “focused” event. This is a case of game devs so locked in their theory of how the game was supposed to work that they can’t make the one fix which will save their sinking ship. I wish I could get my money back at this point, to be honest.
Yall have said that since it came out. You get dunked on loose all your gear and cry on the internet. Your not even willing to fight for it of course someones gonna take it. Its rented anyways. Numbers arent dropping its never left the top 3 spot the only people crying are pve people.
The player count has dropped substantially despite your claims that it hasn’t. The way they compounded the servers to continental regions rather than by country and the gradually increasing wait times for a lobby are proof enough of that.
I managed to get the event done in a day had some great lobbies.
I feel like arc raiders was a test and humanity failed. I wanted to get it but the idea of being shot in the back by a douche after working hard to obtain gear made me rage and I hadn’t even bought the game. If a pve only game mode came out I would buy it in a heartbeat
I only lose my gear to rats this way, hasn’t stopped me from being a normal honorable player. It’s annoying and fills me with rage for 12 seconds; I have 4mil in cash and endless weapons etc in my stash. My buddy and I win most of the fair fights we get into.
Crazy how the only people complaining non stop are pve players. Pvp people are having a blast and love the game. When you KNOW your being hunted and shoot first you dont get ratted 1/10th as often and theres no lingering worry if someones gonna turn on you. Dont expect pve in anything but solos to begin with. There will never be a real pve event theres no way to do that it would make all the loot meaningless. Thinking your loot is yours to begin with and crying so hard that you quit the game when you lose it is ridiculous. Especially when you only even use it to shoot arc which all can be taken out in under 2 minutes except matriarch or queen. Only like 3 guns have heavy arc penetration so why even most of the guns if thats all you do? Yall been saying the same stuff since it came out nothings changing. Yall are the ones always whining and not having fun like us. Go play solos or a coop game or expect ro get shot on sight and thirsted every fight and adapt
PvE players aren’t playing the game wrong. They’re engaging with the core loop: loot, survive, extract, craft, progress. That’s a legitimate way to experience the game. The satisfaction comes from building, upgrading, and completing objectives like Arc kills and bosses. That’s part of the design.
PvP players enjoy the tension and combat. That’s also valid. But the existence of PvE-focused players doesn’t diminish PvP. It just means different people value different parts of the sandbox.
Not everyone wants constant paranoia. Some players enjoy the survival and progression loop more than the ambush loop. Wanting optional PvE modes or softer PvP environments isn’t “crying.” It’s asking for more ways to engage with the same world.
Lame. PvP players and people that want to play this game like COD are trash. Whats the endgame? IQt doesnt track your K/D. You dont get extra experience or loot. All you get is occasionally some good gear/weapons and a bunch of crafting materials that may be meaningless to you.
I mean i literally will run naked loadouts. Just load into the game and the oerson that loaded at closeSt spawn, see me calls “friendly” then shoots me in the back.
Its hilarious to me. I love cackling and calling them dumbasses bc i literally have NOTHJNG.
You got a free load out. And want to kill someone for an augment andnor weapon. You cant craft and might not be able to repair?
Lol good luck. And have fun with that weak stuff!
I agree I stopped playing arc because it felt a little like gta. Almost every player will shoot you or plan their betrayal. PvE modes with no damage to other players is a Great idea. Helldiver’s did it and is still going strong. I like that the lead player can kick a nimwits that just wants to shoot other players for fun.
Wait…the new update for PvE doesnt lock it to PvE?! What’s the point then?! It’s just normal arc raiders with some added incentive points for shooting arc? Dumbest event, ever.
I think you can deincentivize pvp by giving out credits and xp only if you havent engaged in pvp during the game. And giving more rewards if you kept it pve. Turning pvp damage off i think just decharacterizes the game, since the fear of getting ratted is actually part of the experience even though getting ratted sucks
All they need is a penalty system for killing other raiders and a reward system for raiders who revive each other (not ones they got downed) that’s it!
I’m at 99.2 hours, level 56, and I genuinely haven’t fired a single shot at another raider. Not once. I’ve been killed twice by other raiders. First was my very first round and the other was maybe 20 hours in. I’ve had a couple shoot or even knock me during extraction, just to be a d***, but aside from those few interactions it has largely cooperative and friendly.