Embark Studios has finally added PvE content to one of its shooters. However, it turned out not to be the project the community had been expecting.
As part of the launch of The Finals Season 11—titled “Galaxy Masters” and released on July 9—a “Cashout Bots” mode was added to the game, featuring matches against AI-controlled opponents played under standard tournament rules. Players can participate solo, in a group of up to three, or via matchmaking. Matches consist of three rounds, and progress counts toward the “World Tour,” the Battle Pass, and other systems—albeit at a reduced rate.
According to the developers, these bots are no mere dummies. They navigate dynamic, destructible environments, utilize weapons, gadgets, and specializations, and react to unfolding match events. The developers note that the bots are currently in beta; calculating actions within such a chaotic environment is a technically complex challenge. The mode is available on five maps: Monaco, Bernal, Kyoto, Las Vegas, and SYS$Horizon.
The results were immediate. The Finals saw its concurrent player count surge to 28,328—a peak not seen in the last ten months (specifically, since September 2025). This is particularly notable given that PvE was never originally part of the plan for this competitive shooter.
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Why did Embark Studios choose The Finals rather than ARC Raiders for this PvE experiment?
Fans of ARC Raiders, meanwhile, feel quite differently. For nine months, they have been asking the developers to add a PvE mode to the extraction shooter—only to be turned down every time. Embark Studios has openly stated that they do not plan to introduce PvE into the main version of ARC Raiders. The studio maintains that the constant risk of encountering a human player is not a flaw, but a fundamental pillar of the game’s design. It is precisely the unpredictability of PvP that creates the organic, living atmosphere the developers aim to preserve.
The irony lies in the fact that PvE content arrived in the very game where no one expected it. Since its 2023 launch, The Finals has been positioned strictly as a PvP shooter. Yet, that is exactly where bots were added—whereas ARC Raiders, a game where the community has demanded PvE since day one, continues to go without it.
And yet, a technical solution already exists. In China, where Tencent handles the release of ARC Raiders, a separate version of the game featuring PvE-oriented modes is currently being tested. This involves a local build with exclusive content—such as the “Security Protocol” mode, where players battle solely against AI opponents, free from the threat of other users. The Chinese version also introduced the “Rebellion Incident” map conditions and “Double King/Queen”—a scenario featuring two bosses on a single map guarding high-value loot.
However, this remains inaccessible to Western players. Embark Studios has offered no guarantees that these Chinese-market features will ever make it to global servers. This is particularly frustrating: the solution technically exists; it simply isn’t being brought to the Western audience.
Will ARC Raiders get a PvE mode? What do we know, and when can we expect it?
For now, the studio’s official answer is a definitive “no.” There have been no announcements regarding PvE for the global version of ARC Raiders, nor are any expected in the near future. The developers are fundamentally opposed to diluting the project’s PvPvE identity, even as ARC Raiders steadily loses players.
The only glimmer of hope lies in the Chinese version. However, that is a separate build managed by Tencent, and Embark Studios is not involved in creating that region-exclusive content. While the studio could technically port these features to global servers, there are currently no signs that they intend to do so. In an interview, a lead designer at Embark Studios mentioned plans to bolster the PvE aspect of ARC Raiders by making encounters with robots more dangerous for experienced players. This isn’t about a dedicated PvE mode, however, but rather about making existing enemies tougher within the game’s PvPvE framework.
So, those hoping for a full-fledged PvE experience in ARC Raiders have two choices: either accept the situation or switch to The Finals, which already features bots. And judging by the player count, many are happy with that.
