In case you had doubts, this is how ARC Raiders matchmaking works

ARC Raiders adjusts matchmaking based on how you play, and there's evidence to back it up.

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For weeks, the matchmaking in ARC Raiders has been one of the biggest question marks for the community. Embark Studios has never explained in detail how matches are organized, leading to all sorts of theories based solely on players’ personal experiences.

Now, an experiment conducted by a content creator has provided interesting data that reinforces an idea many suspected: the game may match players based on their behavior within matches, not just level or progress.

ARC Raiders and its behavior-based matchmaking system

The experiment was carried out using two separate accounts, each with a completely opposite playstyle. On one, the player sought constant confrontation with other users, prioritizing PvP. On the other, they avoided combat whenever possible, focusing on exploration and PvE. After several hours of play, the pattern was clear: matches began to fill with players who had very similar attitudes to the player’s own profile.

• In the more aggressive account, player-versus-player encounters were prevalent, while in the more peaceful account, sessions were more tranquil, with fewer direct conflicts. This suggests that ARC Raiders may be analyzing actions like initiating combat, betraying alliances, or avoiding confrontations to adjust matchmaking progressively.

Additionally, everything points to equipment cost also influencing matchmaking. Players who enter with powerful gear and high-value backpacks tend not to match with users who access with basic or nearly empty equipment, reinforcing the sense of more balanced matches in terms of intention and risk.

For now, Embark Studios has not officially confirmed these details, although recent statements from the studio hint that the system is more complex than it seems. With the imminent arrival of Cold Snap, the major winter update for ARC Raiders, it wouldn’t be surprising if more information is revealed about how one of the game’s most important aspects really works.