The much-anticipated wipe for Escape from Tarkov was initially slated to occur before the New Year, primarily due to the introduction of a special, less challenging quest for the Kappa container. However, the developers have now confirmed that the wipe will take place on December 26 at 7:00 AM GMT / 2:00 AM EST. Following the maintenance, the game will be updated to version 0.16.0.0, and Tarkov Arena will see an update to version 0.2.5.0.
As with previous updates, players should expect the game to be offline for approximately 8 hours, although past updates have occasionally taken longer. To keep the community engaged during this downtime, Battlestate Games has planned a New Year Special to be streamed on Twitch at 4:00 PM GMT / 11:00 AM EST. While the specifics of what will be featured in this special are yet to be revealed, it's sure to offer additional content to keep fans excited.
What’s new in update 0.16.0.0?
The update to version 0.16.0.0 signifies that Escape from Tarkov is not yet ready for a full release, pushing the complete launch likely into 2025. Here's a look at what players can expect from this update.
First and foremost, the game is expected to transition to the Unity 2022 engine. This upgrade has been on the developers' roadmap for quite some time, and although their plans for 2024 suggested the switch would already be in place, delays are not uncommon in game development.
Another major change anticipated is an overhaul of the weapon recoil system. This modification is pivotal as it could significantly affect gameplay dynamics, determining success or failure in firefights.
In terms of content, players can look forward to new weapons like the RPG-26. The Customs map is also set for a rework, promising some intriguing changes to the layout and gameplay. Additionally, several bugs are slated to be fixed, and quality-of-life (QoL) improvements are on the agenda. However, with the engine upgrade, new issues might arise, so it remains to be seen how the update will ultimately perform.
