PvP is Dying? Why Marathon & Arc Raiders Are Pivoting to PvE
Bungie’s Marathon and Embark Studios' Arc Raiders are both abandoning strict PvP for massive new PvE updates. Here is why the hardcore extraction shooter bubble just popped, and why co-op is the actual future of live-service gaming. For the last five years, every major publisher has chased the hardcore PvPvE extraction shooter trend. But the data is finally in: purely competitive games are struggling to hold mainstream audiences. In this video, Lucas breaks down two massive industry pivots. First, we look at Bungie delaying Marathon to December 8th to introduce "Symbiosis"—the game's first-ever permanent PvE mode with dedicated progression. Then, we dive into Embark Studios' massive Arc Raiders announcement, revealing a highly-requested PvE matchmaking toggle coming to their October playtest. We’ve been saying it on Reforge Gaming for years: the biggest untapped market in the gaming industry isn't sweaty, high-stakes PvP. It’s PvE, co-op, and the shared experience of playing together. Let’s talk about why developers are finally waking up to the co-op goldmine, how the competitive ceiling chokes out live-service games, and what this means for the future of multiplayer shooters. Are you turning on the PvE toggle in Arc Raiders? Does a permanent PvE mode make you want to play Marathon? Let me know in the comments! #Marathon #ArcRaiders #GamingNews #Bungie #EmbarkStudios
Published: Sep 24, 2026