Escape From Tarkov
News, coverage and analysis tracking Escape From Tarkov across the outlets.
Marathon risks watering down its best feature if it keeps listening to FPS fansThis article discusses how Bungie's new extraction shooter, Marathon, risks losing its unique identity by catering too much to player demands for simpler menu navigation and clearer icons. The author argues that the game's commitment to diegetic storytelling and frictional design, inspired by Soulslike titles, is its strongest selling point and should not be watered down.- MMO Business Roundup: 2K’s layoffs, Indiana’s Roblox lawsuit, CCP’s rename, and the Tarkov effectThis MMO business roundup covers several industry developments, including layoffs at 2K Games' 31st Union studio working on Project Ethos. Indiana is suing Roblox and Discord over child safety concerns, while Escape from Tarkov's popularity is cited as a driver for the extraction shooter genre. CCP Games rebranded to Fenris Creations to avoid conflict with China, and Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated Grand Theft Auto VI is being developed without crunch.
New PUBG game, inspired by Escape from Tarkov, gets free playtestKrafton, the makers of PUBG, are developing a new extraction shooter called Black Budget, inspired by Escape from Tarkov. The game features a tropical island setting with supernatural elements and a 30-minute match limit. Players can sign up for an upcoming playtest on Steam.
Escape From Tarkov Lead Game Designer leaves Battlestate Games after nine yearsJean Tyulegenov, Lead Game Designer for Escape From Tarkov, has departed Battlestate Games after nearly nine years. Tyulegenov, who joined in 2017 and was instrumental in the game's development through its closed beta and 1.0 release, announced his departure on Twitter. His next venture remains undisclosed, but he expressed gratitude to Battlestate head Nikita Buyanov for the project.
If you're asking why everyone's making an extraction shooter, Escape from Tarkov is the 11th most-played game on PC according to new report, beating Overwatch, Marvel Rivals, and PUBGA new report from Newzoo indicates that Escape from Tarkov is the 11th most-played game on PC for 2025, surpassing titles like Overwatch 2, Marvel Rivals, PUBG, and Apex Legends in total playtime. While not reaching the heights of Fortnite or Counter-Strike 2, its performance highlights the genre's popularity among dedicated players.
Arc Raiders dev thinks yesterday's niche "can become mainstream tomorrow," and today's extraction shooters are simply "easier to step into"Embark Studios design director Virgil Watkins believes that extraction shooters, once a niche genre, are becoming mainstream due to new titles being more accessible. He notes that the high bar for live service games requires new entrants to earn their place among established player bases.
"What a joke" - Marathon players are losing patience after getting constantly pelted with grenades, as Bungie promises fixPlayers of Bungie's Marathon are expressing frustration over excessive grenade spam, a problem the developer has acknowledged and promised to address. Bungie plans to implement changes to grenade stock and stack sizes before the end of the current season to mitigate the issue. The grenade spam meta has become a significant concern within the community, impacting gameplay in modes like Cryo Archive.
Escape From Tarkov Codes April 2026 For Free Weapons, Hideout Gear, Craftables, And MoreThis article provides a list of active and expired promotional codes for the extraction shooter Escape From Tarkov. These codes, released by developer Battlestate Games, offer players free in-game items such as weapons, hideout upgrades, and craftable materials. Instructions on how to redeem these codes through the official website or the BSG launcher are also included.
When Is The Next Escape From Tarkov Wipe?Escape From Tarkov has transitioned from a six-month wipe schedule to a seasonal model following its 1.0 release. While traditional wipes are no longer the norm, players can opt into new seasons with unique modifiers and objectives, effectively offering a fresh start. The first season is anticipated around June 2026, though an official date has not yet been announced by Battlestate Games.
Ex-Escape From Tarkov devs say their new shooter "won't be another clone lost in a gray zone," but don't want it labeled as an "'X' killer"Nomion Games, founded by ex-Escape From Tarkov developers Dmitri Ogorodnikov and German Terekhov, is developing a new shooter called Rush is Real. The game aims to offer a fresh experience in the genre, avoiding common tropes like slow-paced gameplay, extraction mechanics, or battle royale elements. The developers emphasize structured, high-speed action with clear objectives, focusing on tactical skill over luck.
The 39 Best Survival Games To Play In 2026This guide highlights 39 of the best survival games available in 2026, spanning various platforms and offering diverse gameplay experiences. The article details key features, developers, and release information for each title, emphasizing elements like resource management, base building, and combat.- The MOP Up: Thousands of EVE Online players continue their epic warThe ongoing war in EVE Online saw over 4,500 pilots engaged in a battle over an Imperium Keepstar, with other fights occurring in surrounding systems. This week's MMO news roundup also includes updates on The Elder Scrolls Online's Night Market factions, Ultima Online's roadmap roundtable, and new content for Wartales and Torchlight Infinite.
Tarkov chief Nikita Buyanov is right: Arc Raiders is an extraction shooter for "casual people," but…This article discusses how Arc Raiders, despite being an extraction shooter, offers a more casual and cozy experience compared to games like Escape from Tarkov. The author argues that any game can be a 'cozy game' depending on the player's relationship with it, highlighting Arc Raiders' forgiving nature, low FOMO, and community focus as key elements that make it accessible.
Escape from Tarkov's new sister shooter will have maps that are 4x EFT's sizeNikita Buyanov, director of Escape from Tarkov, revealed that his new sci-fi game, Fragmentary Order, will feature maps four to five times larger than those in Tarkov. Developed by Rant Gaming Studios using Unreal Engine, the game is described as a 'combat simulator' rather than an extraction shooter and is currently in early testing with closed alpha planned soon.
"It's a slippery slope to try and build a game for an audience": Marathon, Arc Raiders, and Last Flag devs dig into the trend-bucking evolution of multiplayer shootersDevelopers from Bungie, Embark Studios, and Night Street Games discuss the evolving landscape of multiplayer shooters, particularly the rise of extraction shooters like Arc Raiders and Marathon. They emphasize the importance of creative vision over trend-chasing and the challenges of launching live service games in a competitive market.
Tarkov lead vows to make the upcoming Fragmentary Order the opposite of Arc Raiders, which he calls an 'extraction…Nikita Buyanov, the creator of Escape from Tarkov, is developing a new hardcore sci-fi extraction shooter called Fragmentary Order. He intends for it to be the opposite of Arc Raiders, aiming for a challenging and rewarding experience rather than a casual one. While players will still lose loot upon death, Buyanov emphasizes that Fragmentary Order will simulate reality with dynamic events and the potential for cooperation, though conflict is inevitable.
Escape from Tarkov boss says Arc Raiders is "an extraction shooter for casual people," but he wants "the…Nikita Buyanov, head of Escape from Tarkov developer Battlestate Games, has described Arc Raiders as an extraction shooter for casual players. Buyanov stated that his team is pursuing a more hardcore experience for their own games, emphasizing survival and dynamic events beyond just player-versus-player combat.
Escape From Tarkov Arena is free-to-play this weekend, just in time for its new seasonBattlestate Games is offering a free-to-play weekend for Escape From Tarkov Arena from April 24-27, 2026, coinciding with the launch of its new Season 2. The update includes a revamped battle pass, weapon rebalancing, and a move to the Unity 6 engine. A 30% discount on the full game is available until May 3.
After 2 years of silence, an extraction shooter we liked back in 2022 for its 'impeccable vibes' suddenly…The extraction shooter Marauders, which launched into early access in October 2022, has seen a sudden return to active development after a nearly two-year silence. Despite a stalled roadmap and a crowded genre, the game's reappearance has generated significant community interest, with many players expressing excitement for its potential comeback.
Ex-Escape From Tarkov devs will "ride the wave" of AI, but stress "the finishing touch must always come from a human hand"Former Escape From Tarkov developers at Nomion Games believe AI can be a valuable tool in game development, likening it to a sculptor's chisel for generating ideas and handling monotonous tasks. However, they stress that the final creative decisions and finishing touches must always come from human hands to avoid genericism and maintain game identity. The studio aims to carefully integrate AI to boost efficiency without compromising core gameplay elements or risking player backlash seen in other titles.