ARC Raiders Finally Tests a (Mostly) PvE Mode—But Watch Out for Betrayal!
The Chinese version of ARC Raiders just dropped two wild new map conditions. One mode lets you actively betray your teammates, while the other unleashes two bosses at once on the map. Western fans are watching—and drooling.
Embark Studios kicked off the first tests for the Chinese version of ARC Raiders, giving local players a shot at content no one in the West has seen yet. Two new map conditions, dubbed “Rebellion Incident” and “Double King/Queen,” have surfaced and are making the rounds on social media. It’s a much-needed jolt for the game, especially as ARC Raiders keeps losing ground to Marathon.
Image credit: Embark Studios
Rebellion Incident: PvE mode with a betrayal system
ARC Raiders built its commercial success on a razor-sharp balance between PvE and PvP, where every player encounter could explode into a firefight. The “Rebellion Incident” condition flips that formula on its head. By default, players can’t hurt each other at all. The mode is low on difficulty but packed with resources, making it a farming paradise—or so it seems.
The real twist is the rebellion mechanic. At any moment, a player can choose to rebel. The map then broadcasts that there are traitors in the zone, and the rebel gets a big red icon on the compass and map for all to see. Betrayal isn’t a sneaky ambush—it’s a bold, public move. As one Chinese player put it: “Players are default allies who can’t hurt each other, but anyone can choose to rebel, and the map will announce there are rebels somewhere.” It’s a direct answer to the endless complaints about camping in PvP events that have soured the experience for so many.
provided screenshots
— (@Babaoisland) date
The potential here is huge. Picture the social tension: a squad peacefully farming, until one member flips and tries to grab all the loot. But since traitors are publicly marked, there’s no cheap backstabbing—if you betray, the whole server knows. This blend of default cooperation and open betrayal could finally bridge the PvE vs. PvP divide that’s split the community since launch.
Double King/Queen: facing two bosses at once
The second new map condition is called “Double King/Queen,” sometimes translated as “Dual Boss.” The idea is as simple as it is savage: a Queen and a Matriarch spawn on the map at the same time. If you know ARC Raiders, you know that fighting just one of these bosses is already a test of teamwork, gear, and nerves. Throwing two into the same zone? That’s pure, hardcore challenge—strictly for the most battle-hardened squads. And that’s not all the Chinese version has to offer. Here’s what local players have uncovered so far:
- “Rebellion Incident”: PvE mode with voluntary betrayal and rebel marking
- “Double King/Queen”: two major bosses on the map at once
- “Safe Zone”: a mysterious new condition, still being figured out
- New consumables (healing grenades, sulfuric acid grenades)
Why these modes are being tested in China first
It’s not unusual for brand-new content to show up first on Chinese servers. Shooter games in China often get unique tweaks—sometimes for regulatory reasons, sometimes to test features on a smaller market before a global rollout. The Chinese ARC Raiders player base is still pretty small—a local fan admits the game “isn’t popular in China,” but a dedicated group is diving into this new version.
That smaller audience actually makes it the perfect testing ground for bold new mechanics without risking chaos on the main servers. If “Rebellion Incident” works out and feedback is good, there’s nothing stopping Embark from bringing it West. Especially since Embark has already shown big ambitions for the game’s future, with plans that go way beyond your average extraction shooter. The issue of exclusive map conditions sparking community drama isn’t new, and could push the studio to speed up content sharing between versions.
Will Embark bring these modes over as-is, or tweak them for the West? The Western community is already ramping up the hype on social media. If the Swedish studio is listening as closely as they claim, “Rebellion Incident” and “Double King/Queen” could cross borders before summer’s out.
ARC Raiders, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
