ARC Raiders is one of the best titles to come out last year, being praised for how it handles its multiplayer to create an exciting extraction shooter. Given how many matches players experience positively, players have long speculated on what matchmaking the game uses to retain its audience so well. Recent comments from developers have revealed some key details that prove why ARC Raiders is still performing well in 2026.
According to a recent GameRant article, an interview with Embark Studios CEO Patrick Söderlund has given more context surrounding ARC Raiders matchmaking. For starters, the game uses skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) like other shooters, such as Call of Duty and Battlefield‘s recent entries. Despite the controversies around SBMM in those titles, the combination of other tools might make it work in this game.
ARC Raiders Does Matchmaking Differently
Multiple Types Of Search Models Help Craft Player Experiences
Previous interviews have shown that SBMM is not the only method ARC Raiders uses for pairing up players, as their playstyles are also taken into account. A direct quote from art director Robert Sammelin says that the devs “analyze behavior and match accordingly,” implying that players are put together based on how they approach matches. For example, players who like PvP more are placed with each other when looking for games.
This idea of matchmaking based on preference is excellent for player experiences, especially for anyone who doesn’t want to be exposed to certain aspects of ARC Raiders. In other survival shooters, it can be easy for someone who only likes doing PvE content to run into overly aggressive players who force them into unwanted PvP. By separating players based on what content they prefer to participate in, many are solely exposed to their avenue of “fun.”
This “aggression-based matchmaking” hasn’t been in the game for very long, as it is a system the Embark CEO says has only been put in for around a week or so. However, as time goes on, this system could serve to make sure players are always getting the experience they want every time they queue up for a match.
There Are Multiple Factors
Both Matchmaking Systems Work Together In Each Mode
Each type of matchmaking present in ARC Raiders works simultaneously to help sort players into respective groups. Based on the CEO’s comments, solos, duos, trios, and any other pairings of players work in the same way, factoring in multiple systems at the same time. First, the game will organize players based on their estimated skill level, then it will organize them further based on their gameplay preferences.
Due to the abundance of PvE systems, the SBMM in ARC Raiders feels a lot less strict than other shooters like Black Ops 7 or Battlefield 6.
This two-step approach to matchmaking may be another reason why ARC Raiders retains its audience, adding to the longevity of the game itself. This new playstyle matchmaking may also help players who constantly have to play with random teammates, perhaps giving them better allies during matches.
Finding good players to link up with in any shooter is usually a top concern, but something that developers often struggle to find solutions for. With ARC Raiders‘ approach, it can at least understand its own ecosystem well enough to find factors that sort players into smaller pools, allowing those with the same interests and skills to find each other easily for better experiences.
- Released
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October 30, 2025
- ESRB
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Teen / Violence, Blood
- Developer(s)
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Embark Studios
- Publisher(s)
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Embark Studios
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 5
