Arc Raiders Confirms Aggression-Based Matchmaking System

• Embark Studios says Arc Raiders matches players by aggression and playstyle, not traditional skill stats.
• CEO Patrick Söderlund: players who prefer PvE will see fewer player conflicts in lobbies.
• The system studies behavior (PvE vs PvP tendencies) rather than K/D ratios or rank.
• This approach aims to give players more agency over the kind of encounters they face.

How Arc Raiders' matchmaking actually works

Embark Studios developed a matchmaking model that classifies player behavior, then pairs users with similar tendencies. The studio tracks whether players pursue objectives and avoid combat (PvE) or actively engage other players (PvP).

In an interview with GamesBeat, CEO Patrick Söderlund explained: “So if your preference is to do PvE and have less conflict with players, you’ll get more matched up [with those players].” That quote sums up the system’s intent: match by aggression profile rather than by raw in-game stats.

What this means for players

If you prioritize objectives and avoid fights, you’ll most often join lobbies populated by like-minded players. Conversely, players who frequently hunt other players will encounter more aggressive opponents.

The result should be fewer surprise confrontations for players who want quieter runs, and more contested matches for those who seek conflict. This design gives teams clearer expectations about lobby behavior before an expedition begins.

How it differs from traditional SBMM

Most mainstream shooters—like Call of Duty and Fortnite—use Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM) that weighs metrics such as K/D ratios, win rates, and ranks. Arc Raiders purposely avoids those direct skill metrics for matchmaking.

Instead, aggression-based matchmaking focuses on playstyle signals. That means a high-skill, passive player could be matched with lower-skill passive players, because their behavioral patterns align.

Why Embark chose this approach

Embark Studios is positioning Arc Raiders as a PvPvE extraction shooter that benefits from predictable player interactions. By matching on aggression, the studio hopes to reduce frustration from mismatched expectations and improve long-term retention.

This approach also distinguishes Arc Raiders in a crowded market of extraction shooters and live-service multiplayer titles. As the game evolves post–Cold Snap update, how this matchmaking impacts meta, community behavior, and player churn will be important to monitor.

What to watch next

Look for developer updates explaining how aggression is measured and whether toggles or opt-in controls arrive. Players and community analysts will likely test whether the system can be gamed or if it genuinely smooths lobby experiences.

For now, Arc Raiders’ aggression-based matchmaking offers a fresh way to pair players—centered on playstyle, not just statistics.