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Yes—ARC Raiders can be played solo or with friends on PlayStation, Xbox and PC. Solo play is not a separate campaign or a guaranteed PvE mode: it is the same extraction adventure, where hostile ARC machines and other Raiders can threaten your run. It is a good fit if you enjoy cautious scavenging, high-stakes escapes and unpredictable encounters without relying on a regular group. It is a poor fit if you want a scripted solo story or complete protection from other players.
Friends can form cross-platform parties, and matchmaking attempts to place similar squad sizes and playstyles together. Those are priorities, not promises. Your decision therefore comes down to how much uncertainty and PvP risk you enjoy, how consistently you can coordinate with friends, and whether you are comfortable with an extraction game rather than a conventional single-player campaign.
Can you play ARC Raiders solo?
Yes. Embark describes ARC Raiders as a multiplayer extraction adventure that can be entered “as a lone ranger” or with a team. A solo Raider enters a live match, searches for supplies, deals with ARC machines, and tries to extract before losing the run. Other human Raiders may be helpful, indifferent or hostile.
That distinction matters. “Solo” means you queue without squadmates; it does not mean the world contains only computer-controlled enemies. Standard matchmaking remains PvPvE, so another player can attack while you are fighting a machine, carrying valuable loot or trying to reach an extraction point.
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The solo experience is consequently built around decisions that are different from those in a campaign game:
- Risk versus reward: carrying more valuable loot can make an extraction more worthwhile, but also makes a failed run more costly in time and equipment.
- Information management: you must listen and observe for both ARC activity and human movement instead of relying on a teammate to watch another angle.
- Escape planning: a solo player has no squadmate to revive, cover a retreat or recover dropped gear.
- Unpredictable encounters: a quiet route can become dangerous when another squad arrives, even if you have avoided combat.
There is no published independent statistic showing how often solo players meet other solos, how often they extract, or how satisfied solo players are. Treat “worth it” as a playstyle decision rather than a measurable guarantee.
What solo matchmaking tries to do
Embark says the system prioritizes equal squad sizes when possible and considers patterns in a player’s past behavior. The goal is both fairness and a more enjoyable distribution of encounters: a solo is more likely to meet other solos, a duo is more likely to meet duos, and a trio is more likely to meet trios.
These are probabilities, not hard lobby rules. Embark’s wording is explicit: “Similarity is more likely, not guaranteed.” A solo can still encounter a duo or trio, and a cautious player can still meet an aggressive group. The system also treats playstyle as a continuous spectrum rather than a simple friendly-versus-aggressive switch.
Behavior changes the likely mix gradually. One kill does not immediately move you into a PvP-focused queue, and one peaceful round does not permanently label you as cooperative. Repeated behavior across prior rounds influences future matchmaking. In a party, the profile reflects every squad member, not only the person who created the party.
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There is no standard solo-only or PvE-only lobby
Embark’s matchmaking explanation says standard matchmaking has no PvE-only lobbies. Turning crossplay off changes the available player pool and may change queue time, but it does not guarantee a more cooperative match. Likewise, the playstyle system can make similar encounters more likely without removing the possibility of hostile Raiders.
Is ARC Raiders worth playing solo?
Solo is worth considering when you like extraction games’ tension and self-directed pacing. You can choose your route, decide when the loot is sufficient, and leave a match without negotiating with a group. A solo queue also removes the practical problem of finding several friends online at the same time.
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The trade-off is that every task is your responsibility. You cannot divide carrying capacity, ask a teammate to scout, or depend on a revive after a mistake. Encounters with a coordinated group can be especially dangerous because matchmaking only prioritizes squad-size similarity; it does not eliminate mismatches.
| Solo play factor | What it means in practice | Who is most likely to enjoy it |
|---|---|---|
| Social coordination | No party planning, voice coordination or dependence on friends. | Players who prefer independent decisions or irregular play sessions. |
| Combat risk | ARC machines and human Raiders remain threats in standard matches. | Players who enjoy tension and can accept losing a run. |
| Squad disadvantage | Equal-size matchmaking is prioritized, not guaranteed; duos and trios can appear. | Experienced players comfortable disengaging from unfavorable fights. |
| Pacing | You control when to scavenge, fight or extract, without waiting for a team. | Players who like methodical exploration and flexible session length. |
| Support options | No teammate can revive, cover a retreat or carry part of the objective. | Players who prefer self-reliance and careful positioning. |
Solo is less suitable if your ideal experience is a linear story, predictable enemy behavior or a protected PvE sandbox. ARC Raiders’ core loop is multiplayer extraction, so uncertainty is part of the design rather than a problem matchmaking can fully remove.
Optional Solo versus Squad challenge
For a deliberate high-difficulty option, Embark’s January 27, 2026 patch notes describe a Solo vs Squad toggle. It is available to solo Raiders at level 40 or above, places them in the Squads queue and grants a 20% end-of-round XP bonus whether the player extracts or is defeated.
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This is an opt-in challenge, not the normal solo queue. It intentionally exposes an experienced solo to squad-sized opposition. If you are still learning extraction routes or equipment management, the regular solo queue is the more appropriate starting point.
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Yes. Cross-platform social play is supported between PlayStation, Xbox and PC. The listed platforms are PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Epic Games Store and GeForce NOW. A group can therefore include friends using different supported systems instead of being limited to one console family.
Embark’s January 2026 patch notes added open parties. Embark friends and platform friends can join an open party, and a friend can join while the leader is already in a round and wait in the lobby for the next match. Squadmates can also invite people; the party leader is not the only person who can send an invitation.
What a friends session changes
A coordinated squad can split scouting, watch different approaches, share information about ARC threats and decide together when to extract. Those advantages do not remove risk: the entire group can be lost in one encounter, and the matchmaking profile reflects the behavior of all members.
Duos receive their own priority in Embark’s system, with duos favored against other duos where possible. Embark also describes separate priorities for solos and squads, and for trios against trios. The wording remains a priority rather than a guarantee, so a duo can still encounter a different group size.
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How to form a cross-platform party
- Launch ARC Raiders on a supported platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Epic Games Store or GeForce NOW.
- Open the game’s social or friends interface and add or select the person using their Embark or platform-friend identity.
- Invite the friend to your party, or enable an open party so Embark and platform friends can join.
- Check each member’s Crossplay setting before queuing. In a party, the most restrictive member’s setting applies to the whole group.
- Queue after everyone is shown in the same lobby. A squadmate can send invitations even when they are not the party leader.
If a friend joins while you are in a match, the open-party system allows them to wait in the lobby for the next match rather than requiring you to abandon the current round.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is ARC Raiders cross-platform?
Yes. The official platform listing covers PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam or the Epic Games Store, with GeForce NOW also listed. Cross-platform social play allows friends on those supported platforms to party together.
Crossplay is also a matchmaking setting, not just a social feature. Disabling it reduces the available player pool and can make queues slower. It does not promise friendlier opponents or a PvE-only match. If one party member has the more restrictive setting, that setting governs the whole party.
Fixing a slow or failed queue
Embark’s support guidance identifies Crossplay as a common cause of matchmaking problems. Work through these checks in order:
- Check Crossplay: turn it on for every party member if you want the broadest pool. Remember that the most restrictive member controls the party.
- Check the matchmaking region: if the queue remains slow, verify the selected region.
- Set the server to Automatic: on PC, go to Gameplay > Server. On console, open Social, then Settings, then Gameplay > Server, and choose Automatic.
- Retry after a quiet period: low-population regions and off-peak hours can naturally produce longer waits, particularly during limited tests.
Changing Crossplay or server settings can alter queue time because it changes the pool or routing. Neither setting guarantees a particular squad composition.
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What the October 2026 PvE toggle test changes
Embark scheduled a temporary PvE matchmaking toggle beta from October 13 at 11:00 CEST through October 20 at 11:00 CEST, 2026. During that window, availability depends on the live test and your region; it is not a permanent replacement for standard PvPvE matchmaking.
| Test rule | Effect on a run |
|---|---|
| Player-to-player damage | Zero in the PvE test servers. |
| Throwable stun and fire items | Do not work against other players. |
| Barricades and ziplines | Remain unaffected. |
| Loot value | Lower overall value than standard sessions. |
| Squad-size separation | Not prioritized, so group sizes are not protected by the usual preference. |
| Map conditions | Certain major map conditions are omitted. |
| Queue time | May be longer in low-population regions or quiet hours. |
The test removes direct player damage, but it does not make every situation harmless. ARC enemies can reacquire a downed player after an eight-second grace period if they catch that player moving. Standard matchmaking continues to apply to PvPvE sessions during the test, so selecting the regular mode still means facing the normal human-player risk.
Because loot is reduced and squad separation is not prioritized, the beta is best viewed as a way to learn routes and fight ARC threats with less direct PvP pressure, not as a permanent “easy solo” ruleset. Check the in-game mode selection and the current event notice for availability before planning a session around it.
Solo or friends: which should you choose?
| Your priority | Better starting choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Play whenever you have a free hour | Solo | No need to assemble a party or synchronize schedules. |
| Share information and cover multiple angles | Friends | Coordination helps with scouting, movement and extraction decisions. |
| Avoid all human combat | Neither standard option | Standard matchmaking is PvPvE and has no PvE-only lobbies. |
| Try a lower-PvP temporary ruleset | PvE toggle beta, when available | It removes player damage but lowers loot and changes matchmaking priorities. |
| Test yourself against squads | Solo vs Squad at level 40+ | The opt-in queue provides a 20% end-of-round XP bonus for extraction or defeat. |
| Play with friends on different systems | Cross-platform party | PlayStation, Xbox and PC social play is supported. |
Start solo if you want to learn movement, extraction timing and the soundscape without waiting for a group. Move to a duo or trio when you want shared decisions and are comfortable communicating your route. Keep expectations realistic: neither party play nor matchmaking priorities can guarantee equal opponents, peaceful encounters or a successful extraction.
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