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If ARC Raiders sits on “In Queue” or takes unusually long to find a raid, the message does not always mean the same thing. During major service incidents, Embark used it for a temporary login queue that could block access to Topside, inventory, and hub activities. In ordinary play, a long wait is more likely to be matchmaking taking longer to satisfy its current search rules—or a party, region, crossplay, or clock setting narrowing the player pool.
As of August 7, 2026, the latest listed release is Store Update 1.40.0, published August 4. That update says Embark is investigating PC launch error codes, but it does not announce a general matchmaking outage. The latest gameplay patch is Live Update 1.39.0, dated July 28.
What “In Queue” actually means
The wording has been used during more than one kind of delay:
| What you see | Most likely meaning | What it affects |
|---|---|---|
| In Queue before you can use the hub | A login or service-access queue during an incident | Topside access, inventory, party formation, voice channels, and other hub functions |
| A long search after selecting a raid | Normal matchmaking is still looking for a suitable match | Finding a raid, particularly during low-population periods or with restrictive settings |
| The game will not launch and shows an error code | A PC launch problem, not ordinary matchmaking | Starting the game before matchmaking begins |
The historical login queues documented after launch occurred during specific incidents in November 2025 and on March 2, 2026. Embark introduced a temporary queue to mitigate problems involving party formation and voice channels; longer matchmaking was a side effect. The message did not provide a queue position or countdown.
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That history should not be treated as proof of a current global outage. Embark’s current news page, including Store Update 1.40.0, does not identify a universal login queue as of August 7, 2026.
Why ordinary matchmaking can take longer now
Embark said in Store Update 1.38.0, published July 21, that it was testing matchmaking changes intended to improve match quality. The system may search longer when it is trying to find a better match during:
- low-population hours;
- quiet regions;
- particular map conditions; or
- other situations where the available player pool is small.
The delay is therefore not automatically a fault. A longer search can mean the algorithm is being more selective rather than failing to run.
The matchmaking system considers squad size, latency, and historical playstyle—including how players have engaged with other Raiders. It looks for similarity, but it does not create two fixed categories such as “friendly lobbies” and “aggressive lobbies.” Playstyle is a continuous scale, not a strict PvE/PvP switch.
Since Live Update 1.36.0 on July 7, playstyle tracking is separate for Solo, Duo, and Trio rounds. A player’s solo behavior is not simply carried over as one shared profile for every squad size. Live Update 1.39.0 also began testing a narrower rule: fights started by your squad affect its playstyle estimate, while defending against a squad that damaged, downed, or knocked out one of your members does not affect the estimate during the test. Joining an existing fight as a third party counts as starting a fight.
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Check the settings that most often lengthen the wait
1. Turn Server back to Automatic
A manually selected or unsuitable region can leave you searching in a much smaller pool. Use the official menu path for your platform:
- PC: From the main screen, select the gear icon at the bottom right.
- Open Gameplay.
- Open Server.
- Set it to Automatic.
On console:
- Open the Social menu.
- Select the gear icon on the left side of the screen.
- Open Gameplay, then Server.
- Set the server to Automatic.
Automatic selection gives the game room to use a suitable available region instead of forcing a low-population location.
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2. Check Crossplay for everyone in the party
Embark’s support guidance says the most common reason matchmaking feels slow is that Crossplay is turned off. Crossplay increases the available pool, so disabling it can make searches take longer—especially outside peak hours.
There is an important party edge case: the most restrictive player’s Crossplay setting applies to the whole party. You can have Crossplay enabled on your own account and still enter a Crossplay-off search if another party member has it disabled. Have everyone check the setting, then leave and recreate the party if the status does not update.
Crossplay does not determine whether a lobby will be cooperative. Turning it off can change the pool’s size and composition, and therefore the wait time, but it does not guarantee a less aggressive raid.
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3. Synchronize the device clock
Embark specifically recommends synchronizing the device clock if you cannot find a match, or if standard maps work but map conditions do not. An incorrect system time can interfere with time-sensitive matchmaking data.
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A practical troubleshooting sequence
- Identify where the delay occurs. If you cannot reach the hub and see “In Queue,” it may be service access. If you are already selecting a map or raid, it is a matchmaking wait.
- Check the official ARC Raiders news page. Look for a current incident notice rather than assuming an old queue event is happening again.
- Set Server to Automatic using the PC or console path above.
- Ask every party member to check Crossplay. The most restrictive setting controls the party search.
- Synchronize the device clock, especially if only certain map conditions fail.
- Test a different squad size. Try a solo search if you are in a party, or recreate the party. Solo, Duo, and Trio playstyle tracking is separate, and a party also changes the available matchmaking pool.
- Try again at a busier time. Low population, a quiet region, or a specific map condition can all produce a legitimate longer search under the newer quality-focused system.
- Restart only after checking the basics. A restart can clear a stuck client session, but it will not enlarge a Crossplay-disabled pool or solve a regional population shortage.
What not to infer from a long wait
- It does not prove there are “friendly” and “aggressive” lobby queues. Playstyle matching uses a continuous estimate.
- One kill does not immediately reclassify you. Embark describes the system as evaluating patterns over time.
- There are no PvE-only servers. Every Topside round retains the risk that other Raiders can attack.
- Your loadout is not the matchmaking difficulty setting. The system does not scale lobby difficulty according to kit cost.
- The squad leader does not decide the lobby. Each squad member influences the squad profile; the leader receives no special matchmaking weight.
- The end-of-round survey does not select your next lobby. Embark uses survey responses for trend analysis and design decisions, not as a next-match lever.
When the problem is not matchmaking
Store Update 1.40.0 says Embark is investigating error codes encountered when launching ARC Raiders on PC. If the game fails before you reach the main screen, troubleshoot that as a launch issue rather than changing matchmaking settings.
Console players should also distinguish a crash from a search delay. Live Update 1.39.0 lists an ongoing issue affecting some Xbox players, particularly on Xbox Series S, where the game can crash. A crash or return to the dashboard is not evidence that the matchmaking queue is stuck.
There is also no verified command-line cure in Embark’s current matchmaking guidance. Be cautious with posts recommending random Steam launch options, DNS commands, or cache-deletion commands as universal fixes. The official steps currently focus on the in-game Server setting, Crossplay behavior, and device-clock synchronization.
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Bottom line
If “In Queue” prevents you from entering the hub, check Embark’s current service notices; that wording has historically referred to a temporary login queue during major incidents. If you are simply waiting for a raid, start with Server: Automatic, confirm Crossplay with every party member, synchronize the device clock, and allow for longer searches during low-population hours or unusual map conditions.
A long wait does not establish that ARC Raiders has gone down, that you have been placed in a special PvP category, or that your expensive kit caused the delay. As of August 7, 2026, the documented current situation is a more selective matchmaking test—not a confirmed universal outage.
FAQ
Is ARC Raiders currently down if I see “In Queue”?
Not necessarily. The message was used during documented login-queue incidents, but as of August 7, 2026, Embark’s current news does not identify a universal login queue. Check the official ARC Raiders news page before treating it as an outage.
Why is ARC Raiders matchmaking taking so long?
Possible causes include Crossplay being disabled, another party member forcing Crossplay off, a non-automatic server region, an unsynchronized device clock, low population, a regional or map-condition shortage, or Embark’s newer quality-focused matchmaking algorithm taking longer to find a suitable match.
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From the main screen, click the gear icon at the bottom right, choose Gameplay, open Server, and set it to Automatic.
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How do I change the server region on console?
Open Social, select the gear icon on the left side, choose Gameplay, open Server, and set it to Automatic.
Can one party member make Crossplay effectively turn off?
Yes. Embark says the most restrictive player’s Crossplay setting applies to the entire party. Check the setting for every member, not just the party leader.
Does aggressive play put me into permanent PvP lobbies?
No. ARC Raiders uses a continuous playstyle estimate and looks at patterns over time. There are no PvE-only servers, and every Topside round retains PvP risk.
The Bottom Line
Start with the distinction: “In Queue” can describe service access during an incident, while a long raid search is usually matchmaking. Set Server to Automatic, verify Crossplay across the party, synchronize the device clock, and check official notices before assuming ARC Raiders is experiencing a global outage.
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