ARC Raiders Matchmaking Pairs You With Players of Similar Playstyles

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Embark Studios may have confirmed what some players suspected: how you play ARC Raiders affects who you get matched with. The game, which launched in late October, has quickly become popular with a wide range of players, from those who love competitive PvP battles to those who prefer a more relaxed experience collecting items. ARC Raiders seems to offer something for everyone.

It wasn’t much of a shock when ARC Raiders won Best Multiplayer Game at The Game Awards on December 11th. Critics love the game, giving it a 92% rating on OpenCritic, and players overwhelmingly agree, with a perfect 100% score. With a ‘Very Positive’ rating from over 150,000 reviews on Steam, it seems like developer Embark is just getting started with this popular title.

ARC Raiders Does Pay Attention to Player Behavior

Image via Embark Studios

In an interview with PC Gamer, art director Robert Sammelin revealed that ARC Raiders uses a matchmaking system that pairs players with others who have similar playstyles. This means cooperative players will likely be grouped with other friendly teammates, while those who prefer to attack other players immediately will be matched with similar aggressive players. While Sammelin didn’t elaborate, this explains how matchmaking works in the game, especially since Embark has already confirmed that player gear doesn’t affect who you’re paired with. Players have been curious about the matchmaking process since the game’s release.

Playing ARC Raiders alone feels very different from teaming up with friends. When you join a raid with a pre-made squad, the action tends to be intense and competitive, often leading to quick reactions – shooting enemies first and figuring out who they are later.

Playing ARC Raiders alone often leads to one of two experiences, mirroring what Sammelin observed. Players who are cooperative – collecting resources and occasionally assisting others – typically end up in matches with equally friendly raiders. However, solo players who immediately attack others usually find themselves facing off against other aggressive raiders. Essentially, the game seems to match players based on their behavior, and the effects are quickly noticeable.

Image via Embark Studios

In ARC Raiders, whether you play alone or with a team, and whether you prefer gathering resources or fighting, there’s a common understanding of how players should behave. Backstabbing trusting teammates, blocking the escape point, or setting traps there are generally considered rude. Many players turn off voice chat, so it’s helpful to use the emote wheel to signal you’re not hostile, along with saying “friendly” over the mic. It’s also considered poor form to attack someone who’s already battling ARC enemies. Of course, not everyone follows these guidelines, so the most important thing is to always be prepared to lose everything you’ve collected.

Although the release of ARC Raiders is recent, Embark Studios has many future plans for the game. The first Expedition wipe has been pushed back to December 17th, but players still have things to do. They can prepare for the Expedition by getting their caravan ready, and raiders who are behind can now take more time to do so. Plus, players level 15 and up can complete weekly Trials Challenges – usually involving defeating specific enemies – for valuable rewards.

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2025-12-12 21:34