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Arc Raiders just rolled out one of its most requested matchmaking changes: the game now tracks your playstyle separately for Solo, Duo, and Trio rounds. PC Gamer reported on the update, which finally lets players switch between aggressive PvP sessions and cooperative PvE runs without corrupting their matchmaking profile across different squad sizes. This guide breaks down exactly how the new system works, how to take advantage of it, and whether it actually fixes the lobbies you’ve been complaining about.
What Is Playstyle Matchmaking in Arc Raiders?
Playstyle matchmaking is Embark Studios’ aggression-based system that sorts players into lobbies based on how they actually play — not just skill level. If you spend most of your time looting plants and completing quests peacefully, the system nudges you toward lobbies with other cooperative players. If you hunt other Raiders and engage in PvP frequently, you’ll end up in more hostile lobbies.
The key change with this update is separation. Previously, Arc Raiders tracked your behavior as one unified profile. Playing aggressively in Trios would bleed into your Solo matchmaking, pushing you into PvP-heavy Solo lobbies even if you preferred peaceful runs when playing alone. Now each squad size — Solo, Duo, and Trio — maintains its own independent playstyle profile. The game remembers how you behave in each context and matches you accordingly.
This matters because many players genuinely want different experiences depending on their squad. Solo runs often favor resource gathering and quest completion, while Trio sessions with friends might lean heavily into PvP dominance. The old system punished that flexibility.
Where to Find Playstyle Matchmaking Settings in Arc Raiders
There’s no manual toggle or settings menu for playstyle matchmaking — the system operates entirely in the background based on your in-game behavior. You don’t select “cooperative” or “aggressive” from a dropdown. Instead, the algorithm watches what you do during raids: whether you engage other players, avoid confrontation, focus on objectives, or hunt for kills.
The tracking happens automatically the moment you load into a round. Your actions during that session contribute to your playstyle profile for that specific squad size. If you’re running Solo, only your Solo profile updates. Switching to Duo or Trio means a completely separate profile takes over. Embark hasn’t exposed the underlying metrics publicly, so exact thresholds for “friendly” versus “aggressive” remain unclear. What the developer has confirmed is that defending yourself no longer counts as a hostile action — so fighting back against an attacker won’t spike your aggression rating.
Best Ways to Optimize Your Playstyle Matchmaking
Tip
If your lobbies felt “wrong” before this patch, now is the time to reset your habits. Play several consistent sessions in each squad size to let the new separated tracking build accurate profiles.
| Method | Speed | Effort | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consistent Solo PvE runs | Moderate | Low | Players wanting peaceful Solo lobbies |
| Dedicated Trio PvP sessions | Fast | High | Squads who want aggressive Trio matches |
| Mixed Duo experimentation | Slow | Medium | Players still figuring out their Duo playstyle |
| Fresh start after patch | Variable | Low | Anyone whose old profile felt corrupted |
Step-by-Step: How to Use Playstyle Matchmaking Effectively
Follow this sequence to get it done fast.
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1
Decide your preferred playstyle per squad size
before queuing, know whether you want this mode to trend cooperative or aggressive.
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2
Play consistently within each mode
the algorithm needs repeated behavior patterns, so don't flip between PvP and PvE randomly in the same squad size.
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3
Use Solo for low-risk resource runs
keeping your Solo profile friendly ensures peaceful lobbies when you're just gathering materials or completing quests.
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4
Reserve Trio for PvP with friends
if your squad wants combat, let your Trio profile reflect that without worrying about Solo consequences.
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5
Give the system time to adjust
expect several sessions before matchmaking fully reflects your new separated playstyle.
Playstyle Matchmaking Rewards and What You Unlock
No Direct Rewards — But Better Lobbies
Playstyle matchmaking doesn’t grant currency, blueprints, or XP bonuses. The “reward” is entirely about lobby quality. Cooperative players get matched with other cooperative players, meaning fewer random deaths while you’re trying to complete quests or farm resources. Aggressive players get lobbies where everyone expects PvP, making fights more frequent and more competitive.
Indirect Benefits for Progression
Friendly lobbies mean safer extraction rates. If you’re running high-value loot or completing quest chains, getting matched with non-hostile players significantly increases your odds of keeping that gear. For PvP-focused players, aggressive lobbies mean more opportunities for kills, which feeds into certain challenge completions and seasonal objectives.
Social Benefits for Mixed Friend Groups
The biggest unlock here is practical: you can finally play with friends who have different playstyles without destroying your preferred Solo experience. Before this patch, many players avoided mixing squad sizes because the profile contamination was too annoying to fix.
Common Misconceptions About Playstyle Matchmaking
Myth: Defending Yourself Tanks Your Friendly Rating
This was true in earlier versions of Arc Raiders, but Embark specifically addressed it. Defensive actions — fighting back when attacked — no longer count as aggressive behavior. The system now distinguishes between initiating PvP and responding to it. You won’t get punished for surviving an ambush.
Myth: You Can Game the System by Avoiding All Combat
While passive play does push you toward cooperative lobbies, the system considers multiple factors beyond just kills. Looting player corpses, camping extraction points, and other predatory behaviors likely contribute to aggression scoring even without direct kills. Embark hasn’t published exact weights, but purely avoiding the trigger doesn’t guarantee friendly matches.
Myth: Resetting Your Profile Requires a New Account
The separated tracking effectively gives everyone a soft reset per squad size. If your Duo profile felt wrong, just play several consistent Duo sessions with your intended playstyle. The algorithm will adjust. You don’t need to start fresh or contact support.
Note
Embark has been increasingly transparent about matchmaking since launch, including publishing myth-busting posts and running player surveys. Expect further refinements as the studio collects data on how separated tracking performs.
Our Take: Is Playstyle Matchmaking Worth Caring About?
Our Take
This is a genuinely player-friendly fix that should’ve shipped months ago.
Honestly, the old unified tracking system made no sense for a game that explicitly supports different squad sizes with different social dynamics. Solo players often want chill resource runs. Trios with friends often want chaotic PvP. Forcing those behaviors into one profile punished players for using the game’s own features.
The fix is straightforward and exactly what players asked for in Embark’s May survey. It’s a good sign that the studio is actually listening rather than defending unpopular systems. Arc Raiders has had a rocky relationship with its community around matchmaking transparency, but updates like this build trust. The game still has questions to answer about exactly how aggression is calculated, but separated tracking removes the most frustrating friction point.
If you dropped Arc Raiders because your lobbies felt unfixable, this is worth a second look. The publisher, Embark Studios, has shown consistent willingness to iterate on feedback — and this change proves they’re not just talking about it.