January 08, 2026
ARC Raiders Confirms a Controversial Feature May Never Arrive — And the Community Is Divided
🎯 PvP vs PvE: A Delicate Balance
:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} has walked a careful line since launch, blending extraction-style tension with accessible PvE-focused gameplay. While the game includes PvP encounters, its growing popularity has largely come from players who enjoy scavenging, exploration, and cooperation rather than constant combat.
This balance has not come easily. A noticeable divide has formed within the community, with one side advocating for stronger PvP incentives and the other preferring a more PvE-first experience. To address this, the developers introduced aggression-based matchmaking, allowing more combat-focused players to encounter one another while minimizing disruption for those leaning toward PvE.
🧠 Why a PvP Leaderboard Is Likely Off the Table
In a recent interview, Embark leadership explained that a traditional PvP kill leaderboard is unlikely to ever be added to the game. The reasoning is straightforward: public leaderboards tend to shift player behavior. Highlighting kill counts and rankings would naturally push the community toward more aggressive play, undermining the carefully tuned balance ARC Raiders currently maintains.
Recent balance changes, such as nerfs to popular PvP-focused weapons, reinforce this philosophy. The goal appears to be keeping PvP as a meaningful but optional part of the experience, rather than the primary driver of progression or prestige.
🏆 Potential Benefits of a Leaderboard
Supporters of PvP leaderboards argue that the feature could enhance long-term engagement without harming PvE-focused players. Common points include:
- Many extraction shooters already track PvP performance through rankings or stat boards
- Leaderboards give competitive players a clear reason to return and improve
- ARC Raiders already uses leaderboards for Trials, showing the system can work in PvE contexts
Because aggression-based matchmaking already separates playstyles to some degree, proponents believe a PvP leaderboard could exist without heavily impacting cooperative players.
⚠️ The Risks Embark Is Avoiding
There are also strong arguments against adding PvP leaderboards, especially in a game with a split community:
- Public rankings could encourage excessive PvP hunting at the expense of exploration
- Leaderboards often attract cheaters who dominate top positions and discourage fair play
- Competitive pressure could bleed into lower-aggression lobbies over time
ARC Raiders already allows players to track personal combat stats through its Codex system. Expanding this into a global ranking could amplify competition in ways that current matchmaking systems may struggle to contain.
🧩 What This Means for the Future
For now, Embark appears committed to protecting ARC Raiders’ identity as a flexible experience rather than a purely competitive one. While a full PvP leaderboard seems unlikely, there’s still room for alternative solutions, such as limited stat tracking or seasonal challenges that reward combat without publicly ranking players.
This approach keeps the door open for PvP fans while avoiding drastic shifts that could alienate the PvE-focused portion of the community.
📝 Final Thoughts
The decision to avoid PvP leaderboards reflects a broader design philosophy focused on balance and accessibility. While not everyone will agree with the choice, it highlights Embark’s commitment to preserving what makes ARC Raiders unique. Whether future compromises emerge remains to be seen, but for now, the game continues to prioritize harmony over hierarchy.