Embark Studios has changed how Arc Raiders builds your lobbies. Store Update 1.38.0 went live on July 21, 2026, and alongside fresh color options for the Torpedo set it carries a reworked matchmaking algorithm. The goal is to place you with raiders who share your playstyle and your squad size more consistently. The trade-off is that finding those players can take a bit more time.
Quick answer: Update 1.38.0 tightens playstyle-based matchmaking so you meet squads with a similar approach and matching team size. Because the algorithm now searches harder for a suitable match, queue times can be longer than usual.
What changed in Update 1.38.0
Embark says the existing playstyle-based system already works well in most situations. The new adjustments target the cases where it did not hold up as cleanly. That means certain regions, specific map conditions, and low-population hours when there are simply fewer players to pull from.
The studio framed the change as a test rather than a finished feature. In its words, the algorithm “may take a little longer to find a match, since it’s now working harder to find you a better one.” So the longer waits are a direct and expected result of the stricter matching, not a bug.
How playstyle-based matchmaking places you
The system reads how you actually play, then tries to drop you in with raiders who behave the same way. If you avoid fights and lean toward PvE, you should run into fewer aggressive squads. If you chase intense PvP, you should meet players who also want that fight.
Squad size now factors in more consistently too. Playing as a duo makes you more likely to face other duos instead of full trios, which keeps raids on more even footing.
| Your behavior | Who you tend to meet |
|---|---|
| Prefers PvE, avoids fights | Fewer aggressive squads, less forced conflict |
| Prefers PvP, seeks fights | Players who also want intense combat |
| Playing as a duo | More often matched against duos, not trios |
Why your queue may take longer now
Stricter matching means a smaller pool of valid opponents at any given moment. The algorithm holds out for a closer fit on playstyle and team size, so it spends extra seconds searching instead of dropping you into the first available lobby. During off-peak hours or in lower-population regions, that search naturally stretches further because fewer matching players are online.
Note: A longer wait here is the expected behavior of the test, not a sign of a server outage. If you want to confirm the wait is normal, check whether it lines up with off-peak hours in your region rather than a specific error message.
What Embark is watching next
Because this is a live test, Embark plans to track matchmaking metrics and keep reading player feedback before deciding what stays. The studio has committed to continue optimizing the experience based on those results, which leaves room for the queue behavior to shift again in a later patch.
The timing matters for the game’s wider trajectory. The Arc Raiders player count has slipped recently, and the larger Frozen Tail update is due in October 2026. Cleaner, fairer raids now could help hold players through to that release.
