TL;DR — Store Update 1.38.0 (July 21, 2026) started a live test of ARC Raiders' matchmaking algorithm, and Embark warned up front that matches "may take a little longer to find" because the system is "now working harder to find you a better one." So if your queues suddenly feel longer this week, that's expected — the game is trading a few extra seconds for fairer squad-size balance and playstyle matching. This guide breaks down exactly what changed, how ARC's playstyle-based ("ABMM") system actually reads you, the nine matchmaking myths Embark officially busted, and five practical ways to cut your queue time right now.
Key takeaways
- What changed (July 21, 2026): Update 1.38.0 launched a live test of matchmaking adjustments aimed at matching your playstyle and squad size more consistently — with an official warning that queues may run slightly longer.
- Two earlier playstyle fixes (from Embark's matchmaking deep-dive, not new in 1.38.0): the system now (1) treats defending yourself differently from starting a fight, and (2) gives low-activity rounds less weight in your playstyle history.
- It's playstyle-based, not skill-based: ARC matches you mostly on how you engage other Raiders on a continuous scale — not your loadout, not your K/D.
- Longer queues are usually pool size, not the algorithm: low-population hours, certain regions, specific map conditions, and crossplay turned off all shrink your matchmaking pool.
- Fastest fixes: turn crossplay on, restart the search if it stalls past ~45 seconds, and avoid queuing solo during dead hours or high-friction conditions.
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What changed in ARC Raiders Update 1.38.0?
Store Update 1.38.0 went live on all platforms on July 21, 2026, alongside the Expedition Departure (a fresh Expedition start) and two new Torpedo set colors (Camo & Black). But the part the community actually felt was tucked under a heading called "Matchmaking Optimization."
Here is Embark's own wording, straight from the patch notes:
"Starting today, we'll be testing adjustments to our matchmaking algorithm aimed at improving the quality of your matches. One thing to note: the algorithm may take a little longer to find a match, since it's now working harder to find you a better one." — //Raz, Store Update 1.38.0
Two things matter here. First, this is a test, not a finished feature — Embark said it would "review these adjustments shortly and share where things land." Second, the studio explicitly traded speed for quality: slightly longer searches in exchange for lobbies that better match your squad size and playstyle. That single trade-off explains most of the "why is matchmaking so slow now?" threads that lit up r/ArcRaiders the moment the update dropped.
How does ARC Raiders matchmaking actually work?
Before you can shorten a queue or read your lobbies, you need to know what the system is optimizing for. Per Embark's official deep-dive on the matchmaking system, ARC matchmaking chases two goals at once:
- Fairness — it tries to match players "who have a similar likelihood of succeeding in the round," and it "prioritize[s] matching equal squad sizes where possible." A full trio is far more likely to face other trios than to steamroll three separate solos.
- Enjoyment — it tries to group players who are "likely to have fun together," which in practice means matching by playstyle.
Embark's official name for that second pillar is playstyle-based matchmaking (the community often calls it "ABMM," an unofficial nickname). The key detail most guides get wrong: it's primarily a playstyle system, not a traditional skill/K-D ladder, and it is not two buckets. Embark describes playstyle as "a continuous scale," not "friendly vs. shoot-on-sight":
"Some Raiders are almost always cooperative. Some Raiders are highly engaged in PvP. Most Raiders fall somewhere in between." — Notes on The Matchmaking System
Two rules govern how it behaves. Similarity is more likely, not guaranteed — you have a higher chance of meeting Raiders who play like you, never a lock. And your behavior shapes future lobbies gradually — change how you play and your matches drift over time, but no single round flips a switch. That "gradual" wording matches what many players report post-1.38.0: lobby tone seems to shift slower and more smoothly than they remember from before.
What are Embark's two big matchmaking fixes?
Separate from the 1.38.0 live test, Embark's broader matchmaking overhaul — laid out in its matchmaking deep-dive — targets two specific shortcomings it identified from months of community feedback:
- Defending yourself is no longer treated like starting a fight. Previously the system couldn't tell whether you initiated PvP or merely fought back. That meant cautious players who only shot when cornered could get read as "PvP-focused" and shoved into sweatier lobbies. Now self-defense and aggression are scored differently — a genuine win for questers and scavengers.
- Low-activity rounds carry less weight. Rounds where you barely interact — spawning and immediately surrendering, for example — now count for less in your playstyle history. This stops low-interaction runs from muddying your profile.
If you play cautiously and mostly quest, these two changes should, over time, push you toward calmer lobbies than the old algorithm did — without any menu toggle on your end.
Why is ARC Raiders matchmaking taking so long right now?
Here's the important separation: match quality and match time are two different problems. The 1.38.0 test deliberately raised search time a little to improve quality. But most brutally long queues (community reports range from the usual sub-one-minute searches all the way up to double-digit-minute waits in the worst cases) come down to pool size, and Embark lists the exact culprits: "low-population hours, in certain regions, or in specific map conditions."
From what raiders are reporting on r/ArcRaiders this week, the pattern lines up cleanly:
- Crossplay off = smaller pool = longer waits. This is officially confirmed — turning crossplay on or off "changes who's in the matchmaking pool (and thanks to that, the matchmaking time)."
- Dead hours hurt. Queuing at off-peak times for your region, especially solo, is where the multi-minute waits show up.
- High-friction map conditions (like Hurricane) can thin the pool for that specific rotation.
- Population dips — a big competing release pulling players away — temporarily shrink everyone's pool.
The good news: none of these are the algorithm "punishing" you. They're supply-and-demand on the player pool.
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5 ways to match faster in ARC Raiders
You can't control the population, but you can control your pool and your patience. These are the levers that actually move your queue time:
- Turn crossplay ON. This is the most reliable lever. A bigger pool means faster searches — and per Embark it does not make your lobbies more or less PvP-heavy, so there's no downside for questers.
- Restart the search if it stalls. The community rule of thumb: if you're past roughly 45 seconds to a minute with no match, cancel and re-queue. You'll often re-enter a fresher pool instantly.
- Queue during your region's peak hours. Prime time = more players = shorter waits. Off-peak solo queues are where the horror-story waits happen.
- Match your squad size to what's popular. Because the system prioritizes equal squad sizes, queuing a size with plenty of active players (rather than an odd one out at a dead hour) finds a lobby faster.
- Give it a few minutes right after an update. Embark confirms the pool is small "while players are still updating," so the first minutes after any patch feel rough and then recover. Don't judge queue health in the first ten minutes of a new build.
The 9 matchmaking myths Embark officially busted
A huge amount of ARC "matchmaking science" floating around is wrong. Embark used the deep-dive to knock down the biggest myths — memorize these before you rework your playstyle around a theory that isn't real:
| Myth | Reality (per Embark) |
|---|---|
| There are only "friendly" and "aggressive" lobbies | It's a continuous scale, not two buckets |
| One kill instantly flips you to PvP lobbies | It looks at patterns over time; changes are gradual |
| There are safe PvE-only servers | No — topside always carries risk |
| Your end-of-round survey affects your next lobby | It does not — it's design feedback only |
| Expensive loadouts get you harder lobbies | Loadout does not affect matchmaking |
| A patch resets your matchmaking profile | It doesn't — history carries across patches |
| Looting downed players hurts your profile | It doesn't — only how you engage Raiders counts |
| Only the squad leader's profile matters | Every member influences the squad profile |
| Crossplay on/off changes PvP level | It changes the pool/queue time, not the tone |
Does the matchmaking change affect Trials and Expeditions?
Indirectly, yes — and this is where the grind actually lives. Fairer, playstyle-matched lobbies mean cautious players can farm Expedition damage, Trials points, quests, Projects and Supply Runs with a better shot at calmer rounds. If you set up your Solo profile as a peaceful quester (a system introduced back in Update 1.36.0's Solo/Duo/Trio split — see our solo-friendly lobbies guide), the 1.38.0 tweaks should reinforce that read over time. Just remember the map still matters: check our map conditions guide before you commit a grind run to a high-friction rotation.
The catch: matchmaking makes your lobbies fairer, not easier. If the real wall is the grind — 100k Expedition damage, a Trials rank you can't crack, or a blueprint gated behind loot you never survive long enough to farm — a fair lobby doesn't fix that. That's the gap a carry closes.
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FAQ
Why is ARC Raiders matchmaking so slow after Update 1.38.0? Embark is running a live test of the matchmaking algorithm that prioritizes match quality, and they warned it "may take a little longer to find a match." On top of that, long queues are usually caused by a small player pool — low-population hours, your region, specific map conditions, or crossplay being turned off. Turn crossplay on and re-queue if a search stalls past ~45 seconds.
Is ARC Raiders matchmaking skill-based (SBMM)? Not in the traditional sense. Embark's system is primarily playstyle-based — the strongest factor it names is how you engage other Raiders (cooperative vs. PvP) on a continuous scale, alongside squad-size fairness. Embark confirms your loadout and how much your kit costs do not affect matchmaking. It hasn't published its full factor list, so treat "pure playstyle, nothing else" as the documented emphasis rather than a guarantee.
Does killing one player put me in PvP lobbies? Not immediately. Embark confirmed matchmaking "isn't meant to overreact to single moments — it looks at patterns over time, and changes tend to be gradual rather than instant." One defensive kill won't flip your lobbies, and since Embark's earlier matchmaking overhaul, self-defense is scored differently from starting fights.
Are there PvE-only lobbies or safe servers in ARC Raiders? No. There are no PvE-only servers where other Raiders can never attack you — "topside always carries risk." You can trend toward calmer, more cooperative lobbies over time, but there's never a guarantee you won't be attacked.
Does turning crossplay off give me easier or friendlier lobbies? No. Crossplay only changes who is in your matchmaking pool (and therefore your queue time). It does not change how cooperative or PvP-heavy your round will be. Turning it off just shrinks your pool and lengthens your wait.
Do patches reset my matchmaking profile? No. Your playstyle history carries over across patches and updates. You may notice slightly rougher matches in the first few minutes after a new build because the pool is small while everyone updates — that recovers quickly as more Raiders come online.
