Escape from Tarkov news & patch notes

The Expansions Hub has arrived - an in-game store offering a more flexible selection of items than the “Expansions” page on the official website. Below are answers to some common questions about the Expansions Hub.

What is TarCoin?

TarCoin is an in-game currency used exclusively within the Expansions Hub.

TarCoins can be found in raids. Once you successfully extract with them, they will automatically be converted into your Tarcoin account balance.

TarCoins can also be purchased via the Expansions Hub, the official website or Steam. After purchasing a TarCoin pack, you can spend the coins on any in-game items available in the Expansions Hub.

Does the Expansions Hub offer the same items as the website?

The Expansions Hub includes many familiar items, such as:

• PMC apparel

• Stash lines

• PvE Upgrade

• PMC voice packs

However, the Expansions Hub also provides several unique benefits that are not available on the official website.

What advantages does the Expansions Hub offer compared to the website?

In addition to the convenience of in-game access, the Expansions Hub introduces several new features:

• Purchasing apparel tops and bottoms separately without having to buy an entire set

• Apparel bundles that combine multiple outfits at a discounted price

• Value packs for stash lines

What are apparel bundles?

Each bundle contains multiple clothing sets grouped around a shared theme or gameplay usage.

All bundles include a discount, making them a great option for players who want more variety in their wardrobe.

What happens if I purchase a clothing bundle that includes items I already own?

If you already own some of the items included in a bundle, the final price of the bundle will not change for the following bundles: USEC Veteran Apparel Pack, BEAR Veteran Apparel Pack, PMC Veteran Apparel Pack, Executive PMC Pack.

For all other clothing bundles, the bundle price will be automatically reduced based on the items you already own.

Why can't I purchase stash line bundles?

Stash line bundles are only available if purchasing them would not exceed the maximum stash size. For example, if you have already purchased 22 additional stash lines, you will only be able to purchase the 40/80 and 20/80 stash line bundles. If none of the stash line bundles are available, you can still purchase 2 or 4 stash lines separately.

Is there any difference between buying an item on the website and buying it through the Expansions Hub?

No. If an item is available both in the Expansions Hub and on the official website, it’s exactly the same regardless of where it is purchased.

Can I upgrade my game edition through the Expansions Hub?

Yes. The only difference is that game edition upgrades are purchased using real-world currency rather than TarCoins.

What is the special 2,000 TarCoins bundle?

It’s a one-time TarCoin pack that provides 100% bonus value. It can only be purchased once per account.

Please note: When purchasing TarCoin packs through Steam, there may be a slight delay before they are credited to your account.

This update includes a number of technical components and changes required for the upcoming launch of the Expansion Hub. The Expansion Hub will not be available immediately after the update is installed, and TarCoins will not be converted to players' accounts at this time. We will announce the launch date of the Expansion Hub separately.

QoL

• Added the ability to search for tasks by name on the side task and operational task screens. Search now works by task name, objective, location, and Trader.

Fixes

• Fixed an issue that caused weapons to overheat too quickly on Streets of Tarkov in certain cases;

• Fixed an issue where weapons could remain suspended in midair after a player's death in certain cases;

• Fixed the incorrect female voice audio in The Lab;

• Fixed the incorrect audio for certain gunshots at medium range;

• Fixed a number of incorrect UI elements on the Character and Weapon Builds screens;

• Fixed an incorrect animation for the MSGL grenade launcher's cylinder in certain cases.

Battlestate Games is heading to ChinaJoy for the first time – the largest exhibition in China and Asia dedicated to computer games and digital entertainment, which will take place in Shanghai.

Visitors will be able to try out Escape from Tarkov and EFT: Arena, ask questions, win various prizes, take photos and get exclusive comments from the developers from July 31 to August 3 in Hall 2, Stand 9. Throughout all days of exhibition visitors will have access to the Escape from Tarkov merchandise available for purchase at the booth.

Any inquiries related to Battlestate Games' participation at ChinaJoy can be sent to [email protected].

Battlestate Games is the developer of Escape from Tarkov, a hardcore realistic story-driven multiplayer online project that combines features of FPS/TPS, battle simulator, and RPG with MMO elements, and Escape from Tarkov: Arena, a competitive first-person PvPvE shooter with tactical team modes.

A new in-game survey is available for players, focused on the Hideout and its role in character progression.

We would like to hear your opinion on module upgrades, construction times, usefulness, and possible new features for the Hideout.

Your responses will help us improve existing mechanics and determine priorities for future changes.

As a reward for participating in the survey, you will receive an item via in-game mail.

The Summer Sale is now live!

Discounts are available for Escape from Tarkov editions and expansions:

• Standard Edition - 25% off

• Left Behind Edition - 15% off

• Prepare for Escape Edition - 15% off

• PvE Zone - 10% off

Please note: since The Unheard Steam Edition bundle includes all the available editions, its price is also reduced for the duration of the sale.

The special offer runs until July 9. If you've been looking to add the game to your library or upgrade your edition, now is the perfect opportunity!

We present the preliminary plan for Escape from Tarkov updates up to Q4 2026:

The global XP bonus is back - it's time to set new records on Icebreaker!

This weekend, XP earned from raids will be increased by 25% - both in PvP and PvE. This is a fixed value for all players and is applied instead of the edition bonus.

The bonus will be available until June 15, 11:00 AM BST / 6:00 AM EST.

TarCoins have recently started appearing in raids, and during the latest TarkovTV we discussed the Expansion Hub and the TarCoin currency, which we plan to add to the game. Today we’d like to explain in a bit more detail what this is all about.

TarCoin is a new type of in-game currency that will be used exclusively within the Expansion Hub. TarCoins can currently be found in raids, and we have increased their spawn rate.

Opening a marked room will not only bring a substantial profit to your PMC, but also bring you a step closer to purchasing your desired expansion!

For a limited time, you can also list TarCoins with the ‘Found in a raid’ status on the Flea Market – trade them for valuable loot, earn in-game rubles, and help other players acquire this coveted currency!

The ability to trade on the Flea Market is temporary and will end when the Expansion Hub launches.

Congratulations to H4RD on a well-deserved victory in the #EscapefromTarkov Streamer Challenge!

The competition was incredibly close, but in the end, they managed to come out on top and secure first place. As the winner of the challenge, they will receive a personalized streamer item created in collaboration with the Battlestate Games team. Also, we closely followed your reactions to the Streamer Challenge finale and saw how strongly part of the community was rooting for Magiik777.

Throughout the entire tournament, Magiik777 and H4RD were neck and neck. Friends, teammates, and at the same time the main rivals of the Streamer Challenge, they traded the lead right up to the very end, finishing with only the slightest gap between them. We simply couldn't ignore such an incredible rivalry!

We're happy to announce that Magiik777 will also receive their own streamer item!

Congratulations to H4RD and Magiik777 on one of the most exciting and intense finals in the tournament's history. And to all participants, thank you for the great gameplay, sportsmanship, and determination to win!

Starting today and throughout the next five days, participants will receive tasks that award points upon completion. Objectives and scoring criteria will change daily, and you can follow the competitors' progress and the live leaderboard here:

https://www.escapefromtarkov.com/streamer-challenge/scoreboard

You can also tune in to the official broadcast. The hosts will break down the rules and details of the challenge, showcase participant progress, and run giveaways throughout the event. Join the stream at:

Twitch Drops are active on participating channels. Watch streams and earn rewards:

https://www.twitch.tv/directory/category/escape-from-tarkov

If you haven't linked your Twitch account yet, you can do so here:

https://www.escapefromtarkov.com/support/knowledge/516

Good luck to all Streamer Challenge participants!

There’s never too much XP. A veteran is just a little short of their next Prestige, while a new player has almost reached LL4 with Prapor. Some bonus would be great for both!

This weekend, XP earned from raids will be increased by 25% - both in PvP and PvE. This is a fixed value for all players and is applied instead of the edition bonus.

The bonus is available from May 29, 4:00 PM BST / 11:00 AM EST, to June 1, 11:00 AM BST / 6:00 AM EST.

Get ready for five days of intense competition and unique daily tasks for participants. Viewers can tune into live broadcasts and earn traditional Twitch Drops by supporting their favorite creators. You will also be able to follow participant progress and leaderboard standings directly on the official website.

Who can participate:

This time, we want to support smaller channels and the new wave of streamers helping make the community active and diverse. Creators with an average viewership between 25 and 450 viewers are invited to participate.

If you have been actively streaming Escape from Tarkov over the past 60 days, this is your chance to prove yourself!

Important: participation is open to streamers from any platform, however Drops will only be available for viewers on Twitch.

Prizes:

• The winner of the challenge will receive a unique in-game item for Escape from Tarkov, created together with the Battlestate Games team.

• All participants who reach the final day will receive valuable in-game rewards.

Registration:

Applications are open until June 1 via email: [email protected]

Please make sure to include your nickname and a link to your channel in the email.

Prepare your gear and see you in the raids!

Following the release of Patch 1.0.5.0 and the launch of the in-game event “Icebreaker”, a new Twitch Drops campaign is now live.

For five days, viewers will be able to watch their favorite streamers in the Escape from Tarkov category on Twitch and receive various rewards. The campaign will run from May 26, 4:00 PM BST / 11:00 AM EDT until May 30, 4:00 PM BST / 11:00 AM EDT.

All broadcasts and streamers in the Escape from Tarkov category on Twitch are eligible to participate.

How to participate

To earn Drops or enable them on your channel, both viewers and streamers must link their Twitch account to their game profile on the game's website. You can do that here.

Important info

• Please note that an active copy of Escape from Tarkov is required to receive rewards

• The campaign applies to all content creators in the EFT category on Twitch without exception. No additional registration is required

In-game event “Icebreaker” and story chapter “Boreas”

How did the Paradigm Shipping icebreaker end up trapped inside Tarkov’s blockade ring? What happened to its crew? Who is behind it all? You’ll uncover the answers by completing a new story chapter during an expedition focused on exploration and PvE gameplay. And if answers alone are not enough, the loot will make it worth your while.

Icebreaker is a separate location for 1-3 players, available in all game modes. There, you will face AI enemies either solo or as part of a group. You will not be matched with random players on Icebreaker.

Changes

• Added a mechanic that assists players in locating in-raid items required for tasks. Players will now see an expanded directional indicator when approaching the spawn location of a required task item;

• Added additional notifications when interacting with signal flare extractions;

• Added an experimental graphics setting that shifts the load of certain light sources from the CPU to the GPU. The option is available for higher-end graphics cards;

• Increased chance of death after injecting Obdolbos 1 to 33%; 

• Added several new streamer items.

Personalization

Added new USEC Gen 4 and BEAR Slavianka customization sets, available for purchase on the official Escape from Tarkov website and on Steam.

Fixes

• Fixed a cause of memory leaks related to the audio system in certain cases;

• Optimized the animation system to reduce CPU usage;

• Fixed an issue where the limb selection interface for healing could disappear in certain situations;

• Fixed visual artifacts when using x2 and x4 resampling while interacting with Traders and the Hideout in certain cases;

• Fixed the cause of error 228 that could occur when removing an expiring water filter from the Water Collector zone in the Hideout;

• Fixed several visual issues related to geometry and colliders across locations;

• Fixed a cause of severe client performance drops when dragging ammo from the inventory over a full magazine in the search window;

• Fixed an issue where kills with Saiga-12K 12ga automatic shotgun (Redline) did not count towards progression of the tasks “Silent Caliber” and “Punisher p.4”;

• Fixed the incorrect compass behavior after exiting the BTR;

• Number of minor fixes to various aspects of the game.

A new in-game survey is now available for Escape from Tarkov players, focused on the side task system – additional trader tasks that are not part of the main storyline.

Your feedback will help improve quest structure, variety, rewards, and the overall tasking experience.

You will receive a participation reward in your in-game messages after completing the survey. Every opinion is important — thank you for helping us make the game better!

The long-awaited Unheard Steam Edition bundle is now available - you can add the ultimate edition of Escape from Tarkov to your Steam library!

Key features of The Unheard Steam Edition:

• Maximum stash size (10x72)

• Secure container “Gamma” (3x3)

• Access to EFT: Arena Ryzhy Edition

• Increased standing with all traders

• 20% XP bonus that applies to all group members

• Ability to use apparel of either faction

• The Unheard Edition equipment and skills

• The Unheard Edition limited bonuses

Please note: The Unheard Steam Edition does not include Season Pass. This limitation is caused by Steam platform rules and was taken into account in pricing.

The Unheard Steam Edition includes access to PvE Zone, as well as all game editions previously available on Steam.

It's time to join the Unheard!

New perks for game editions

Starting today, Escape from Tarkov editions receive new bonuses in addition to what they previously provided.

Your active edition will increase the experience gain in raid:

• Left Behind Edition - 7% XP bonus

• Prepare for Escape Edition - 9% XP bonus

• Edge of Darkness Limited Edition - 12% XP bonus

• The Unheard Edition - 20% XP bonus, applied to all group members

Group bonus does not stack with other bonuses or with itself. For example, if players with Prepare for Escape and The Unheard Edition play together, each will receive 20% more XP. Same goes for a group of multiple The Unheard Edition players.

Apart from that, owners of The Unheard Edition now have an additional opportunity for customization - it now allows using clothing regardless of faction.

This feature applies to all tactical clothing, including items from BattlePass and Tactical Maps from EFT: Arena.

These additions will make upgrades more valuable without affecting gameplay during the raid in any way.

New bonuses are also available to players who already own the upgraded editions.

The Unheard Edition Sale

A special offer is available on the official website: a 25% discount for purchasing and upgrading to The Unheard Edition.

Please note that the permanent 50% discount for upgrading from the Edge of Darkness edition to The Unheard Edition cannot be combined with the current discount.

This offer is active until May 20, 7:59 AM BST / 2:59 AM EST.

We've gathered all the previews shown on today's TarkovTV in one place. We hope it was interesting for you!

Icebreaker Teaser

Prestige 1-4 new requirements Full article on our plans for Prestige system:

Profile selection screen with seasonal character

Seasons modifiers

Expansions hub

Tarcoin

WIP  #TarkovArena

QBZ-191 assault rifle

New equipment pieces

EFT Guncyclopedia

End of Line

New PMC apparel sets

Twitch Drops rewards for subscriptions

Task item find assistance

Full customization for TUE Edition experience bonus

We would like to share some of the survey results regarding the Prestige system, as well as outline the directions in which the system will develop in future updates.

Since the introduction of Prestige, we have received a large amount of feedback. According to the survey results, 47% of players believe that Prestige should motivate players to reset their progress in exchange for valuable rewards, while 46% think it should sustain long-term engagement through replayability. At the same time, a significant portion of the audience still has questions about the transparency of conditions, the difficulty, and the logic behind certain requirements. Based on the collected feedback, we can now outline several key areas we are working on.

Rebalancing the early Prestige levels

We have rebalanced the early Prestige levels based on your feedback. These changes will appear in the game with one of the upcoming updates.

The main goal is to lower the entry barrier and make the first steps in the system more clear and predictable for players. This applies both to progression requirements and to the structure of tasks, which are currently perceived as overly complex at the early stages.

Integration of Prestige into PvE mode

Another focus area is adding the Prestige system to PvE mode.

According to survey results, 46.54% of players are interested in adding Prestige to PvE. We see PvE as an important environment for more stable and long-term progression, and integrating Prestige will become an additional motivational factor for a significant portion of the audience.

Flexibility of requirements and possible condition skipping

We are also working on the approach to Prestige requirements, including the possibility of partially skipping certain conditions.

This is not about simplifying the system as a whole, but about introducing more flexible progression logic. In some cases, certain requirements may be completed through alternative methods or counted via other activities, reducing dependence on strictly linear progression.

Future Prestige levels and rewards

We would also like to note that future Prestige levels and their rewards are currently under active development.

According to survey results, the most valuable rewards for players are unique visual and personalization elements. Specifically:

• 61.01% highlighted unique clothing

• 49.56% — unique character appearance

• 40.17% — a unique identifier

Also considered important are:

• permanent skill increases (39.79%)

• achievements (39.45%)

• Hideout personalization (37.33%)

• a special appearance for the secure container (35.69%)

At this stage, it is important for us not only to expand progression but also to maintain the value of rewards at each level. Priority remains on unique visual elements, personalization, and long-term bonuses that significantly affect the gameplay experience.

In conclusion

The Prestige system is an important element of long-term character development, and we continue to work on improving its structure and balance. Planned changes will be introduced gradually, followed by analysis of their impact on the gameplay experience and additional feedback collection.

We have already revised the requirements for obtaining the first Prestige levels, making the system’s entry point clearer and more predictable. At the same time, work is underway to adapt Prestige for PvE mode and to increase the flexibility of certain requirements, including possible alternative ways to complete them.

Watch the next episode of TarkovTV LIVE on May 8 at 5:00 PM BST / 12:00 PM EDT. The podcast will be focused on the current ongoing work and future plans. See you on stream!

ETS is now open to all game owners, including Steam users.

With the start of this phase, the NDA has been fully lifted. You are free to share screenshots, record videos, stream, and openly discuss new features with the community.

This new testing iteration includes: 

• Transition to a new Unity engine version to improve stability and performance, as well as enable new features in future updates.

• A rework of the aiming system. Our goal is to make shooting mechanics more realistic and immersive, while finding the right balance between weapon behavior and control comfort, so every shot feels fair and effective.

• Updates to data storage systems: improvements to how player profile data is handled, such as trader standing, PMC skill levels, and weapon mastery.

We invite everyone to join the testing and share feedback on Discord https://discord.gg/UFeFZ9tK9Q, as well as through the feedback form in the #EscapefromTarkov launcher.

Please note that the number of servers in some regions is limited, which may result in longer matchmaking times.

We are aware that users may encounter an error when submitting feedback via the feedback form in the launcher, and we are already working on a fix.

In the second part of the "Diary" we'll discuss PMC spawn points on Lighthouse - a topic that has long interested the community and is regularly discussed on our social media.

First, let's set the context. Lighthouse differs from other locations in that a significant portion of it is occupied by the water treatment plant controlled by Rogues - and the fire zones of their stationary weapons cover an even larger area than the plant itself.

Furthermore, the water treatment plant is one of the main points of interest on the map. It has valuable loot spawns and a lot of tasks lead there.

We approach the placement of player spawn points with the following restrictions:

• Spawns should be evenly distributed throughout the location and approximately equal to each other at the start of the raid;

• Players should not spawn within Rogues’ line of sight;

• Players should not spawn in spots that are immediately vulnerable to other spawns.

The map’s layout also adds its own nuances:

• The terrain is quite open, with many elevation changes, often offering good sightlines and opportunity for long-range fire;

• The water treatment plant effectively divides the map into the northern train yard area and everything else.

Put together, these factors significantly limit the distribution of possible spawn points on the map. This was the reason for their placement - on opposite sides of the main road, south of the water treatment plant.

Let's look at specific examples of changes frequently suggested by the community, taking into account the described context.

• Remove spawn points along the shore. We believe they are currently necessary. It’s not possible to move every PMC spawn to chalet and cliffs side, since it would cause players to spawn too close to each other, leading to uncontrollable chaos at the start of each raid;

• Change the map’s layout. This is a reasonable suggestion, but such a rework is a lengthy process that requires the participation of many departments within the development team. Currently, our efforts are focused on optimization, QoL improvements, and upcoming events.

We’re looking to find the most optimal distribution of spawn points and have made the following changes:

• Added PMC spawns to the northern part of the map - around the train yard area and “Northern Checkpoint” extraction;

• Reworked PMC spawns in the rest of the location.

Our goal is to make the southern part of Lighthouse less congested, providing more tactical options for all players, regardless of their spawn point. Please note that these changes are experimental in nature, and your opinions on them are crucial for us.

We are closely monitoring your feedback to make adjustments if necessary.

A new in-game survey is now available for Escape from Tarkov players, focused on gathering feedback after Patch 1.0.4.5.

You will receive a participation reward in your in-game messages after completing the survey. Every opinion is important — thank you for helping us make the game better!

Changes

• Improvements aimed at optimizing off-raid screens;

• Increased the FPS limit in menus and added an option to adjust it in the game settings ;

• Several changes to the animation system and audio engine to improve PC resource usage;

• Reworked the architecture of post-raid systems to further reduce the time required to exit a raid and return to the menu;

• As part of optimization efforts, an updated player culling system has been implemented on Lighthouse, Shoreline, Woods, and Ground Zero. The system will be introduced to the remaining locations in future updates;

• Implemented an iteration of environment object and geometry optimization for Streets of Tarkov to improve location performance;

Please note that the impact of these changes will depend on your PC configuration and in-game settings.

• Introduced a task progression protection system in local PvE Zone raids in case of unexpected client shutdowns. If the game closes unexpectedly, task progress will now revert to the state at the start of the raid;

• Updated the left-shoulder firing stance logic. Switching to the right shoulder will no longer happen instantly when colliding with obstacles. Instead, the weapon will continue moving for a short period without changing stance;

• Updated the K/D display in character stats. It now only counts PMC kills;

• New character customisation options, gear and weapons from Season 2 of EFT: Arena have been added to Ref’s assortment.

Balancing changes

With this update, we introduce the second stage of weapon mod adjustments, focusing on barrels and handguards. Muzzle devices and stocks were further adjusted based on the first iteration.

Barrels follow the same principle as before. Longer barrels provide greater recoil reduction but impose higher ergonomics penalties. Changes were made to: 

• Standardize parameters and make them clearer.

• Make the choice between short and long barrels more meaningful.

Handguards no longer reduce recoil. Their role is now to offset ergonomics penalties imposed by barrels.

Muzzle devices were further refined following the first iteration. Suppressors and their combos with compensators now reduce ergonomics more and affect recoil less.

These changes are intended to further increase the popularity of "loud" weapon builds. It's worth noting again that adjustments to muzzle flash are planned for future updates.

Buttstocks received minor adjustments, mainly addressing inaccuracies from the first iteration.

Base stats of many weapons have been updated to better align with the new balance. Recoil and ergonomics have been improved for the following: 

• All AK, AKM, and AK-100 series weapons;

• Steyr AUG A1;

• Steyr AUG A3;

• HK G36;

• HK 416A5;

• FN SCAR-L;

• FN SCAR-H;

• SIG MCX-SPEAR;

• SIG MCX .300;

• CMMG Mk47 Mutant;

• Rifle Dynamics RD-704;

• Aklys Defense Velociraptor;

• All machine guns;

• All bolt-action and marksman rifles chambered in 7.62x51, 7.62x54R, .338, and .50 BMG.

Fixes

• Fixed an issue where dead players and bots could appear to move visually in certain cases;

• Fixed an issue where damage would not register after a weapon malfunction if the player had previously used a stationary weapon;

• Fixed the cause of error 228 during trader dialogues that could block task progression;

• Fixes to culling, shadows, textures, and location geometry;

• Fixed an issue where armor could not be picked up if it was dropped while interacting with the modification window;

• Fixed the incorrect behavior of PMC bots toward player Scavs with Fence reputation 6 or higher in PvE Zone;

• Fixed an issue preventing further progression in The Labyrinth after spawning in the room requiring a burner tool to exit;

• Fixed the incorrect display of smoke grenades in the player’s hands if another player threw a smoke grenade at them;

• Fixed the display of changes in the “Combat Skill Leveling Boost” field in the Hall of Fame Hideout zone when one dogtag was replaced with another of a similar level;

• Fixed an issue where PostFX settings would not display when preview was enabled;

• Fixed an issue where some players could get stuck in the secret saferoom on Interchange without a way to exit;

• Fixed the incorrect display of stationary weapons used by bots and multiple cases where bots could float while using them;

• Fixed multiple issues with incorrect behavior of loot and gear items when dropped in raid;

• Fixed the display of current movement noise level and stance height during raids;

• Fixed the third-person animation for inspecting your own inventory.

Bundles of classic clothing sets are now available for purchase on Steam. From a battle-worn jacket to a light summer shirt, this is a wardrobe for any occasion.

This offer is exclusive to Steam and includes a 20% discount. If any of the included clothing sets were purchased on Steam beforehand, the overall price of the bundle will be reduced accordingly.

Time to embrace the ageless classic!

USEC Legacy Apparel Bundle

• USEC Scadi

• USEC Day off

• USEC Urban Responder

• USEC Woodland Infiltrator

• USEC Night Patrol

• USEC AC Ranger Green

• USEC Vanguard

• USEC Deadly Frog

• USEC Special Ops

BEAR Legacy Apparel Bundle

• BEAR Vacation

• BEAR Classic

• BEAR Cyclone

• BEAR G99

• BEAR Instructor

• BEAR Morozko

• BEAR Nord

• BEAR Oldschool

• BEAR Zaslon

Time to grab your bomber beanie and sport shades - the perfect accessories to match the drip of BEAR Three Stripes and USEC ScavTac. New clothing sets are already available on Steam.

Dress sharp, move loud, and let the Scavs fear you.

A new in-game survey is now available for players, focused on the Prestige system.

Your responses will help us better balance new Prestige levels, their difficulty, and the value of rewards, as well as improve the current system.

You will receive a participation reward in your in-game messages after completing the survey. Every opinion is important — thank you for helping us make the game better!

With the 1.0 release we decided to slightly change our approach on how we communicate our efforts taken towards combating the cheater situation in Escape from Tarkov as well as the way we report the amount of users banned.

What will change? We will step away from posting the lists of the cheaters banned and instead will try answering most hot topics surrounding cheater combating as well as provide more in depth statistics regarding the amount of bans issued within a certain time frame.

Myth busting

• Ban waves are not frequent: Since we started posting the lists of the users banned there was an ongoing myth that those users are only getting banned prior to the list being posted. This also was the case where a lot of users claimed that there had been no ban waves issued for a certain amount of time. For both claims we can certainly say it’s not true as bans are happening on a daily basis and the best you can do is to report a cheater through the in-game system. 

• Security of your account is as important: We are pretty sure you faced a blatant cheater with the achievements, a big number of hours played and questioned yourself how the cheater got so far without getting banned? While some are pretty good at avoiding being detected, the majority of the cases where such accounts are getting banned are compromised accounts. Sadly in the current world we still have to remind ourselves and our players the importance of enabling 2FA verification as well as making sure the password does not match your birth date. Yes with the release of the game in November we have seen the rise of the accounts being compromised and as a result getting banned. As a reminder we also would like to point out that the only way to claim any in-game promocode is through the official website or BSG launcher.

• I got falsely banned and ignored: While rare occurrence of false bans is possible with any type of anti-cheat, the likelihood of that stuff happening has gone down within the last year as we took proactive measures to ensure the fairness of our detection system. We have seen more scenarios where accounts banned have used a spoofer, shared an account with an active cheater without knowing (which is clearly against ToS by itself), they used cheating software for another game or installed malware which emulates cheating behavior. And while similar to the point above we try to secure accounts compromised as fast as we can. Sometimes we are just not fast enough to figure out whether the cheater is a true owner of the account or a borrower.

• BSG does nothing to sue the developers: You probably have seen the majority of discord servers and websites freely advertising cheating software for any type of the game. And while we are more than happy to take legal action against a cheater where it's possible, sometimes the happy outcome of the legal case can take a lot of time and will not justify the efforts. Right now our bigger priority is to make sure we take down ads across multiple platforms as well as videos demonstrating cheating software. Reporting it on users end also speeds up the process of taking down those resources.

• 3rd party solutions: There are a lot of companies entering the market claiming they are the solution to take down all the cheaters possible and create an even-level field in a competitive environment. Often those companies have aggressive marketing campaigns involving target content-creators. And while a cheater-free environment is great utopia, we are against our players sharing their personal data with any company as not only that creates very serious scenarios it also will not help the situation as soon as you can backdoor it by providing temporary email and fake ID.

What’s next

• TPM 2.0 and Secure boot: You probably have seen a lot of gaming companies recently upping their requirements to launch the game only with both TPM 2.0 and Secure boot enabled. And while this faced a lot of backlash as not all computers support those requirements this is a needed measure in the current world to not fully prevent cheaters from entering the game but make some of the software conduct code re-writing and features cut.

• Potential implementation of VBS/IOMMU/HVCI to ensure competitive fairness: With an active rise of DMA-software and tools as a developer you eventually have to go further than that and look for other options available. While a lot of that information will make zero sense to majority of the player base it still is important for us a developers to further research it. Virtual Based Security (VBS) and Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity (HVCI) are Windows security features that allow Windows to further secure the kernel from any type of exploitation which DMA essentially is. Input-Output Memory Management Unit (IOMMU) is also a technology that secures memory to prevent any 3rd party devices from infiltrating and manipulating. Microsoft has been developing these features to secure their operating system, and if they continue down this road, kernel level anti-cheats will no longer be necessary to secure your games.

• Introduction of various new detection and proactive automatic system: With the release of the game we have seen a spike in total # of bans issued and this is one of the biggest factors for us to look into what can be done next. And while you can never be satisfied with time to action taken, our preventive actions taken have helped us a lot in the first few weeks of the release. Fighting cheaters is still cat&mouse game and with time becomes even more complex but we are still keeping up with our commitment to have new detection systems implemented soon as well as reducing the amount of raids cheaters can play before getting banned.

• Better compensation for dying to a cheater: This is a hot topic since the release of the compensation. And while we understand that people would like to have their gear back instead of any type of money compensation like it is implemented in other games with the current system it sadly is not possible. We will steadily increase money compensation yet still ensuring people are not reporting every single person they meet and prevent the abuse of the in-game report system.

Conclusion

Anti-cheat is always an ongoing effort as with the development of the gaming industry more companies enter the market with a clear goal to make money from cheating. Our team will continue focusing on improvement of the system as well as validation of the accounts that breached ToS.

We are committed to improve the detection rate of our internal systems as well as continue working together with BattlEye to make sure the gameplay provided is not impacted by cheaters.