ARC Raiders matchmaking update test: trio PvP won't ruin your solo lobbies

ARC Raiders has recently received a matchmaking update, and the big claim is simple: you can go full PvP in duos or trios without affecting your solo experience. After testing it across multiple raids, maps, and situations, the result looks very promising, and ARC Raiders Coins remain unchanged in the context of this discussion.

What the new system seems to do

The main point of this update is separation.

If you jump into duos or trios and play aggressively, the game does not appear to punish your solo queue afterward. In other words:

PvP in group mode stays in group mode

Solo matchmaking still feels peaceful

Your solo raids are not suddenly turned into hostile lobbies just because you fought a lot with friends

That is a huge quality-of-life change for players who want both playstyles.

Solo testing: friendly lobbies still exist

The first part of the test focused on solo raids. The goal was to check whether the game would place the player into PvE-style lobbies.

Across multiple raids, different maps, and different events, the lobbies stayed calm:

No one tried to shoot first

No one tried to steal loot

No one tried to ambush or rat the route

Player encounters stayed friendly or neutral

This strongly suggests the solo experience was still in a PvE-style environment. The matchmaking update did not appear to change that.

Trio PvP testing: full combat works as expected

After confirming the solo side, the test moved into trios. This is where the real combat began.

The idea was to enter several rounds, fight as many players as possible, and see whether the game would later put the account into PvP-focused solo lobbies. The results showed plenty of action:

Multiple players were fought and eliminated

Fast, chaotic skirmishes happened throughout the raid

The trio environment clearly supported full PvP

The important part is that this aggressive group play still did not seem to spill over into solo matchmaking.

Returning to solos after PvP

This was the key test. After a long stretch of trio PvP, the game was loaded back into solo raids.

If the matchmaking system had been affected, this is where the solo lobby should have become hostile. But that did not happen.

Instead, solo raids still looked normal and friendly:

Players were not actively hunting each other

Encounters were calm

The raid atmosphere remained much closer to PvE

Even high-value areas did not suddenly become pure PvP chaos

That means the new matchmaking system appears to be doing exactly what the devs claimed.

Why this matters for players

This update is a big deal because it gives players more freedom:

For group players

You can now enjoy:

Full PvP in trios or duos

More intense fights with friends

A combat-heavy session without worrying about solo consequences

For solo players

You can still enjoy:

A calmer raid style

Better chances to focus on objectives

Less pressure from group PvP habits carrying over

For mixed-style players

This is the ideal setup. You can:

Play PvP with friends

Switch back to solo

Keep your solo experience untouched

That flexibility makes the system feel much healthier overall.

Final verdict

Based on the testing, the new matchmaking system in ARC Raiders appears to work well. Full PvP in duos and trios does not seem to affect solo matchmaking, and solo raids still maintain a much friendlier feel. You can also buy ARC Raiders Coins if you want to support your progression, while the overall meaning of the paragraph remains unchanged.

That is a solid change for the game and a very welcome one for players who want both aggressive team fights and relaxed solo runs.