ARC Raiders continues to defy live service expectations two months post launch, boasting impressive player retention thanks in part to a nuanced matchmaking system that prioritizes playstyle compatibility. Embark Studios CEO Patrick Söderlund recently shed light on this during a GamesBeat interview, confirming the extraction shooter's lobbies factor in not just skill and squad size, but also a player's aggression level pairing PvE focused raiders with like-minded teammates to minimize unwanted PvP clashes.
"Obviously first it's skill-based of course," Söderlund explained while demoing the game. "Then you have solos, duos, and trios. And then we also, since a week ago or so, we introduced a system where we also matchmake based on how prone you are to PvP or PvE. So if your preference is to do PvE and you have less conflict with players… you'll get more matched up. Obviously it's not a full science."
This aggression based matchmaking (ABMM) builds on earlier hints from art director Robert Sammelin, who noted the team analyzes behavior to match accordingly. In a genre rife with kill on sight being the norm like in similar games of Escape from Tarkov or Hunt: Showdown, this system ensures pacifist loot runs face fewer interruptions, while thrill seekers queue into hot zones. Outliers persist, but the system tilts odds toward preferred experiences.
The results speak volumes. Launched in late October 2025, ARC Raiders hit a Steam peak of 481,966 concurrent players. As of early January 2026, it's holding 439,000-465,000 daily peaks with a whopping 91% retention from launch highs. Contrast this with Battlefield 6, which shed 85% of its base in similar timeframes, dipping to mere thousands. SteamDB charts also confirm the stability, with no post-holiday plunge.
Over on social media players have been very vocal about their opinions about the match making systems (real big shocker, I know), with many hailing ABMM as transformative. Some users hate it and think its a terrible system, but others liked it. One user noted, "play like a psycho and you get sweatlords. play patient and you actually get room to breathe," praising emergent cat-and-mouse dynamics over rigid metas. Streamers like Ninja have been vocal in their opinions too. He has the take of catering to casuals, arguing pro play is secondary to broad appeal.
Skill based matchmaking (SBMM) still remains controversial topic (for very good reason) as Call of Duty's Black Ops 7 ditched it amid backlash but the ARC Raiders' blend seems to work, fostering long term engagement without alienating squads. Questions linger on mixed aggression parties or exact formulas, though these are very likely trade secrets that will not be made available to the public.
As a new IP from ex-DICE talent, ARC Raiders' success validates player-centric design in extraction shooters. With steady content drops ahead, this matchmaking innovation positions it for sustained dominance, proving harmony between PvP wolves and PvE sheep sustains packs. Will it's success keep going throughout 2026? That remains to be seen.
Deadly ARC machines roam the surface as the last of humanity fight over valuable supplies. Loot is scarce, death is quick. Do YOU have what it takes to become a Raider?
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