Arc Raiders Uses Aggression-Based Matchmaking Alongside Player Skill

In a recent interview with Gamesbeat, Embark Studios CEO Patrick Söderlund confirmed that Arc Raiders uses an aggression-based matchmaking system alongside player skill. In short, players who regularly engage in PVP are more likely to be matched with others who do the same, while those who avoid PVP tend to be grouped together.

This detail surfaced during a casual interview featuring Söderlund and Nexon CEO Owen Mahoney as they played several matches with GamesBeat’s Dean Takahashi.

Arc Raiders Matchmaking Prioritizes Skill, Then Player Aggression

Söderlund noted that the system is “not an exact science.” Player skill remains a core matchmaking factor, but aggression is layered on top to help shape lobby behavior. While it’s not perfect, the explanation provides some clarity for a community that has long speculated about how matchmaking works.

Before this confirmation, players believed matchmaking might be based on gear value, raw skill, or hidden MMR systems. Aggression as a tracked factor, however, was a theory that many had only recently begun testing and discussing.

That said, Söderlund didn’t go into specifics. It’s still unclear what actions actually count as “aggressive.” Does firing first matter more than defending yourself? Does retaliating against an attacker push you into more PvP-heavy lobbies? With skill seemingly taking priority, aggression appears to function as a secondary modifier rather than a defining rule. How they define “skill” is also something we don’t clearly understand.

If this system works as intended, it could meaningfully shape how the community approaches each match. A matchmaking system that naturally forms PvP-leaning and PvE-leaning lobbies without splitting the player base into separate modes could significantly contribute to long-term retention for the online game.

It’s also worth noting that Arc Raiders hasn’t slowed down as we enter 2026. While other shooters like Battlefield 6 have seen player numbers decline despite strong post-launch support, Arc Raiders has reportedly retained over 300,000 concurrent players on Steam months after release. That kind of staying power puts it closer to Helldivers 2’s early success than most modern shooters.

About the Author – Carlos Hernandez

Carlos Hernandez is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Too Much Gaming, where he writes about video games, reviews, and industry news. A lifelong gamer, he would do anything to experience Final Fantasy Tactics for the first time again and has a love/hate relationship with games that require hunting for new gear to improve your character.