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Choose solo if you prefer making your own decisions and setting your own pace; choose a squad if you want company and coordinated play. Neither option guarantees an easier or more successful run in standard PvPvE matchmaking. As of Embark Studios’ October 8, 2026 update, the former “Solo vs. Squads” matchmaking option is gone. A separate PvE matchmaking beta is scheduled for October 13–20, 2026, with tradeoffs of its own.
The practical question is not which mode is objectively best, but which set of tradeoffs you are comfortable with: independence or coordination, uncertain player encounters or a limited no-player-damage beta, and potentially different queue conditions. Official sources do not publish comparative extraction or survival rates, so use your preferred way to play—not an assumed success-rate advantage—to decide.
Solo or squad: the practical difference
The choice is chiefly about how you want to play, not a proven difference in extraction or survival rates. Embark’s published matchmaking information does not provide comparable performance statistics for solo players and squads, so there is no official basis for saying one approach succeeds more often. A recommendation can still be useful, but it should be based on your priorities rather than a claim that either format guarantees better results.
| Play style | What it suits | What to expect in standard PvPvE |
|---|---|---|
| Solo | Independent decisions, a self-directed pace, or playing without a group available | Other Raiders may be present, and their behavior is uncertain. Equal-size matching is a goal, not a guarantee of a solo-only lobby. |
| Squad | Coordination, shared decisions, and company | Matchmaking tries to prioritize equal squad sizes where possible, but it does not promise a squad-only lobby or that other players will be friendly. |
| PvE beta | Players who want to avoid player-on-player damage during the announced test | There is zero player-to-player damage on PvE servers, but loot value is lower, squad-size separation is not prioritized, and some major map conditions are unavailable. |
ARC Raiders is a multiplayer extraction adventure available across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. Its social play can include going out with other players, but the presence of other Raiders does not make any particular encounter predictable. A solo player and a party should therefore think separately about two questions: whether they prefer to play alone or coordinate with others, and how much uncertainty about other players they are willing to accept in standard matchmaking.
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In short: solo is a preference for independence, not a promise of a solo-only environment. Squad play is a preference for shared decisions and company, not a guarantee of a matched opposing squad or a more successful extraction. If avoiding player-to-player damage is the main priority, consider the PvE beta only during its announced window and weigh its reduced loot value and other limits.
How matchmaking affects solo and squad runs
Embark says its matchmaking aims for fairness and enjoyment while balancing practical constraints such as queue time and latency. It tries to match equal squad sizes where possible and considers past playstyle, particularly how players have engaged with other Raiders. Embark describes playstyle as a continuum rather than a simple friendly-versus-aggressive switch.
That description helps set expectations, but it is not a matchmaking guarantee. Squad-size similarity is something the system tries to prioritize, not a rule that every solo player faces only solos or that every party faces only a party of the same size. Past behavior is also considered as a continuum; the official description does not promise that a particular action will place you in a defined category or determine what happens in the next match.
Similarity can become more likely over time, but it cannot guarantee a particular encounter. In Embark’s words, “Similarity is more likely, not guaranteed.” A standard PvPvE lobby is not a promise that other Raiders will leave you alone; Embark explicitly says there are no standard “PvE-only” lobbies or servers where other Raiders will never attack. This applies whether you queue alone or with others: no one should treat a recent peaceful run as a forecast for the next one.
What matchmaking does not promise or use in the ways players may assume
- A single shot or kill does not immediately place a player into PvP-focused matchmaking.
- The end-of-round survey does not affect the next lobby.
- Loadout cost does not set the difficulty of matchmaking.
- The system does not weigh only the squad leader’s behavior.
- Crossplay changes who is in the matchmaking pool and may affect queue times; it does not establish whether encounters will be cooperative or aggressive.
These details are useful because it is easy to read too much into a matchmaking outcome. One encounter does not tell you that the system has permanently labeled you as aggressive or peaceful. A survey after a run is not a way to request a friendlier next lobby, and spending more on a loadout is not described as a way to change matchmaking difficulty. In a squad, the leader’s behavior is not the only behavior the system considers.
For a solo player, the takeaway is straightforward: choosing solo does not opt you out of PvP in standard matchmaking, and a calm recent history cannot guarantee a calm future lobby. For a squad, having friends alongside you does not mean the game will always find a group of exactly the same size or that other Raiders will welcome an encounter. Matchmaking goals can influence the pool without controlling every interaction.
The old “Solo vs. Squads” option is no longer available
Embark’s Frozen Trail 2.0 update on October 8, 2026, removed “Solo vs. Squads” from the matchmaking options. The update says that “Solo vs. Squads” is no longer available in matchmaking. Advice telling level-40 solo players to turn on the option and enter the Squads queue is therefore out of date as of that update.
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The option had been introduced in the January 27, 2026 Headwinds update for solo Raiders level 40 and above. Historically, it put those players into the Squads queue and awarded a 20% bonus to XP after either a successful extraction or a defeat. That bonus and queue behavior describe the former feature, not a current option. Being level 40 or higher does not make the removed toggle available now.
Embark said it wanted players to have a proper incentive to use available settings and was re-evaluating the feature’s role. The published update confirms its removal; it does not confirm that it will return or specify a replacement for the former option. If you are deciding whether to play alone today, make that choice based on the current standard matchmaking and the separate beta option—not on old instructions for Solo vs. Squads.
What the October PvE matchmaking beta changes
Embark announced a limited PvE matchmaking beta running from October 13 at 11:00 CEST through October 20 at 11:00 CEST, 2026. During the test, players can switch between standard PvPvE matchmaking and new PvE servers. Standard PvPvE matchmaking continues to be available during the beta; the test does not replace the standard option.
The PvE option changes the risk-and-reward mix rather than simply making the standard mode safer. Its stated rules and tradeoffs are:
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- No player-on-player damage: PvE servers have zero damage between players. If the specific concern is being damaged by another Raider, this is the beta’s central difference. It is not a promise about other game risks or a permanent change to standard PvPvE.
- Lower loot value: loot is worth less than in standard PvPvE. You are trading away some loot value in exchange for the beta’s no-player-damage rule; the sources do not provide a percentage reduction.
- Less squad-size separation: matchmaking does not prioritize separating groups by squad size, so differently sized groups meet more often. This is relevant to both solo players and parties: do not assume the PvE queue will reproduce the equal-size preference of standard matchmaking.
- Fewer map-condition choices: several major map conditions do not have a PvE option. If a particular map condition is central to the session you want, check what is available rather than assuming every standard option carries over.
- Possible queue delays: queue times may be affected in low-population regions and during quiet hours. This is a possibility, not a guaranteed delay for every player or region.
For a solo player, the beta may be worth considering if avoiding player-on-player damage matters more than the lower loot value and the different squad-size matching. For a group, it may suit a session where the same no-player-damage rule is the priority, but the group should also account for the absence of squad-size separation priority and the possible queue effects. Neither choice has a published comparative extraction-rate advantage.
The announced test window ends October 20 at 11:00 CEST. Embark’s announcement does not say whether the toggle will remain available after that date, so treat it as a limited beta rather than a permanent mode. Do not assume that the test will continue, or that its rules will become the rules for standard PvPvE, unless Embark publishes a further update.
Choose based on what you want from a run
A useful decision is to rank what matters most before you queue. Start with whether you want to make decisions independently or share them with others. Then ask whether you are comfortable with uncertain Raider encounters in standard PvPvE, whether you have a group available, and—during the beta—whether the PvE tradeoffs are acceptable. Finally, consider practical queue constraints such as region, crossplay settings, and whether you are playing during a quiet period. These questions clarify the choice without pretending there is a universally safest or most successful format.
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Pick solo for independence
Solo is a natural fit if you want to make decisions without coordinating every move, prefer setting your own pace, or do not have a regular group. You can choose it because you value that independence, not because official matchmaking information establishes that solo matchmaking is easier or that a solo player will only meet other solos.
The tradeoff is uncertainty in standard PvPvE: other Raiders can be encountered, and matchmaking’s attempts to account for squad size and playstyle do not make those encounters safe or predictable. If that uncertainty is a deal-breaker, the former Solo vs. Squads toggle is not a current workaround. During the scheduled beta, the PvE option is the specific alternative with zero player-to-player damage, but it comes with lower loot value, less squad-size separation, map-condition exclusions, and possible queue effects.
Before choosing solo, ask yourself: would I rather have full independence even when other-player encounters are uncertain, or would I rather join a group for company and coordination? If you still prefer independence, solo is a reasonable fit. If the uncertainty is what concerns you most, distinguish between standard PvPvE and the limited PvE beta rather than relying on an assumption that a solo queue is PvE-only.
Pick a squad for coordination and company
A squad fits players who enjoy shared decisions and playing alongside friends or other teammates. Embark presents squad play as a core social option and aims to prioritize equal squad sizes where possible. Those are reasons to choose group play for its social and coordination benefits, not evidence that squads always survive or extract more often.
Think about whether you actually want the group experience: talking through decisions, sharing the session with friends, and coordinating rather than setting every decision yourself. If those things are the appeal, a squad is the better personal fit even though matchmaking cannot promise an equal-size lobby or a cooperative encounter with other Raiders. If a friend group is not available, that is also a practical reason to play solo; the published matchmaking information does not support treating a squad as mandatory for a viable run.
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Consider PvE during the beta if avoiding player damage is the priority
If your central concern is being damaged by another player, the beta’s PvE servers offer a specific change: player-on-player damage is zero. In return, you accept lower loot value, more encounters between differently sized groups, missing PvE versions of several major map conditions, and possible queue effects in quiet periods or low-population regions. Decide whether that tradeoff fits the run you want before selecting the beta option.
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It is useful to compare the beta with the standard mode precisely. Standard PvPvE remains available, with matchmaking that tries to prioritize equal squad sizes where possible and considers past playstyle, but other Raiders may still attack. The beta removes player-to-player damage, but gives up the same squad-size separation priority and reduces loot value. These are different rule sets, not a simple ranking from “bad” to “good.”
Also keep the dates in view. The announced beta runs from October 13 at 11:00 CEST to October 20 at 11:00 CEST, 2026. Embark’s announcement does not specify whether the toggle will remain after the test. If you are reading after the scheduled end date, verify whether Embark has published new information before assuming the toggle is still there.
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When a group’s queue is slow
If you are queuing with friends and matchmaking takes longer than expected, Embark Support identifies crossplay being off as a common cause. In a party, the most restrictive member’s crossplay setting applies, so one member’s setting can affect the group’s available pool. It is worth checking everyone’s setting rather than only the party leader’s.
Support also recommends checking that the matchmaking region is correct and setting it to Automatic. These are practical troubleshooting steps when the group is waiting; they are not methods for obtaining a more cooperative lobby. Crossplay being on changes who can be included in the matchmaking pool and may affect queue times, but it does not predict whether the people you meet will be friendly or aggressive.
Keep queue concerns separate from mode choice. A longer wait does not prove that matchmaking is looking for a perfectly equal squad, and changing crossplay or region does not turn standard PvPvE into a PvE-only experience. If a group is deciding between standard and the beta, queue time is only one factor alongside the beta’s lower loot value, different squad-size matching, and map-condition limits.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A quick decision checklist
- Do you want to decide independently or coordinate? Choose solo for independence and a self-directed pace; choose a squad for shared decisions and company.
- Are you comfortable with uncertain player encounters? In standard PvPvE, neither solo play nor squad play guarantees that other Raiders will leave you alone.
- Is avoiding player-on-player damage your priority? During the announced October 13–20 beta, PvE servers have zero player-to-player damage, but the beta has lower loot value and other limitations.
- Do the beta’s other conditions fit? Squad-size separation is not prioritized, several major map conditions have no PvE option, and queues may be affected in quiet hours or low-population regions.
- Is your party waiting on a queue? Check crossplay settings across the party, remember that the most restrictive setting applies, and confirm the region or use Automatic as Support recommends.
- Are you relying on old advice? The Solo vs. Squads option was removed on October 8, 2026; its historical level requirement and XP bonus are not current features.
If the first answer is “independence,” solo is probably the right fit. If it is “coordination,” play with a squad. If the decisive concern is player-on-player damage, compare the beta rules with standard PvPvE and confirm that the beta is still available. There is no official statistic that turns one of these preferences into a guaranteed performance advantage.
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Is solo or squad play better in ARC Raiders?
It depends on whether you prefer independence or coordination. Embark’s published material does not provide comparable solo-versus-squad extraction or survival rates, so it does not support a claim that either format is more successful.
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Does solo matchmaking mean I will only meet other solo players?
No. In standard PvPvE, matchmaking tries to prioritize equal squad sizes where possible, but it does not guarantee a solo-only lobby. Other Raiders may attack, and Embark says standard matchmaking does not provide PvE-only lobbies where other Raiders will never attack.
Can level-40 solo players still use Solo vs. Squads?
No. Embark removed the Solo vs. Squads option on October 8, 2026. It had previously been available to solo Raiders level 40 and above and granted a historical 20% XP bonus after extraction or defeat, but those details do not describe a current option.
What does the ARC Raiders PvE beta change?
The announced beta runs October 13 at 11:00 CEST through October 20 at 11:00 CEST, 2026. PvE servers have zero player-to-player damage, but loot value is lower, squad-size separation is not prioritized, several major map conditions have no PvE option, and queues may be affected in low-population regions or quiet hours. Embark has not specified whether the toggle will remain after the test.
Does crossplay make other Raiders more friendly?
No. Crossplay changes who is in the matchmaking pool and may affect queue times, but it does not determine whether encounters are cooperative or aggressive. For a slow party queue, Support recommends checking crossplay settings and the matchmaking region.
Does one aggressive encounter change my next matchmaking lobby?
Embark says one shot or kill does not immediately put a player into PvP-focused matchmaking. It describes playstyle as a continuum and says behavior can shift future lobbies gradually; the end-of-round survey does not affect the next lobby.
The Bottom Line
Choose solo for independence and squads for coordination and company. In standard PvPvE, neither guarantees safety, equal-sized opponents, or better extraction odds. The old Solo vs. Squads toggle was removed on October 8, 2026. During the announced October 13–20 PvE beta, players can avoid player-to-player damage at the cost of lower loot value, less squad-size separation, missing map-condition options, and possible queue effects. Choose the tradeoff that fits the run you want, and check Embark’s latest update if you are reading after the beta window.
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