Battlestate Games published the map of innovations and updates that will be coming to Escape from Tarkov in 2018, as well as plans for technical enhancement of the project. The studio is currently finishing preparations for the launch of Open Beta testing, primarily concerning technical conditioning of the game: rectifying all known errors that break the gameplay or game, optimizing and enhancing the network code for the purposes of reducing the frequency of desynchronisation, reducing delays and eliminating disconnects, as well as improving the overall game performance. BSG also started the groundworks for the transition to the new version of Unity, 2018, with the active support of the specialists of the engine developers.
Following the start of Open Beta and introduction of the new Interchange location, the studio will commence adding new features and game mechanics, although their order of appearance in the game is not determined yet and subject to change.
“We shall continue to go down the hardcore road, with ceaseless improvement of realistic component,” says Nikita Buyanov, the head of the Battlestate Games. “In other words, the game will be becoming more realistic and hard. The desired degree of immersion and realism will be achieved through introduction of various features to complement the current system.”
The list of innovations will be opened by the new location Interchange – very unlike rest of the maps so far, essentially the first modern, civilian location of Tarkov with no forests, fields, rural settlements or industrial parks, typical in other maps.
“it includes the premises of the huge shopping mall with distinctive type of indoor planning, where players will be able to get a new combat experience. After Interchange we are going to continue with Streets of Tarkov. On a parallel track, we’ll start building an indoor location with the same CQB spirit as Factory — the TerraGroup Lab. This year we are expecting to finish all the locations necessary to release.”
Further plans include the changes in the way weapon magazines are being loaded and unloaded with ammo. So, when in raid, loading every cartridge into the magazine will take time, and it can only be done in the inventory. Same goes for unloading of ammo from the magazine, though time required to unload one cartridge is less than time required to load it. Loading or unloading rate will be affected by the character health condition, skills and/or weapon mastering. Outside the raid, ammo will be loaded/unloaded immediately, and its number will always be determined precisely.
“Later on we will add special animations of loading and unloading ammo. This feature is closely connected to another innovation: the exact values of remaining ammo will be removed from inventory – you will need to use the option of checking the number of rounds left in the magazine and in chamber.”
Over updates, the game is going to get special animations for more realistic use of medical supplies, food and other consumables in raid. Using weapons during the treatment or eating we become impossible. Another interesting addition shall appear for sale at the Therapist’s – stimulants and advanced medicines.
“Stimulants will improve your skills (even beyond the maximum level) for a limited time. Beware of side effects, though – they can cause addiction, adverse reaction and overdose.”
In the future the complete off-raid treatment and parameters recovery will happen either over a certain period of time, or through use of medical kits, food and water. Health rehabilitation rate will be closely connected to another major feature – Hideout and its management.
“Upgrade and outfitting of the Hideout will increase the stash, speed up rehabilitation, add the possibility of crafting different items, including homebrew liquor and omnipresent bitcoin farms. All content assets are already complete – now it’s turn for programming logic and interfaces.”
Another long-anticipated and particularly useful addition to the game are smoke grenades. They will be useful for creating smoke screens in dangerous situations. Under-barrel grenade launchers are also going to be added back into the game.
“We already have prepared models, animations and effects of smoke grenades, both Western and Soviet/Russian. The smoke is physically adequate and great at filling up indoor premises. Also, despite a lot of difficulties, especially on the part of network logic, under-barrel grenade launchers will be soon added to the game.”
The developers plan to add a special kind of enemies – Scav bosses, each with unique appearance, gear and behavior. And, most importantly, players will be given an opportunity to uncover Personal quests. Every player will be able to conduct personal investigations that immediately reveal the pieces of game plot.
“Part of the team is busy creating new PvE enemies – Scav bosses. Every such boss will be surrounded with an escort of hardened thugs who would desperately defend their chief. And moreover, gradually the personal quests will start to appear, which will help you understand what is happening in Tarkov and in the game universe. Who are the Unknown? What the Cult is all about? What is the Ticket? Why has the fall of Tarkov even started what will it lead to?”
Soon, the player will have to monitor the quality of ammo and condition of the weapons, and deal with troubleshooting more often, fixing jamming, misalignment and misfires.
“Who knows, maybe out-of-commission AK will jam dead or even explode in your face, ending the raid prematurely. This feature is also closely related to weapon overheating.
Traders, in addition to selling weapons and various items, will provide a special kind of service – Change of the character appearance. Thanks to this, you will have the opportunity to pick the camo more adequate to the particular task, daytime and terrain. Also, the development team will continue to add new faction-specific skills which be accessible to players only of specific PMCs.
“At this point, we have 5 sets of apparel prepared for each faction.”
All players will gain an ability to put their own goods up for sale at the Flea market. This feature is also related to the Handbook (all examined items will be recorded there), Search system (that will make possible, for instance, finding all the sales associated with AK-74N) and Kits (saving customized weapon kits, ability to share them and to quickly purchase missing parts).
Exits from locations are going to get new types as well. There will be locations with no permanent exits, where you will need to use the flares to enable the extraction, thus attracting attention of everybody in the vicinity. Such extractions will need to be purchased in advance, before the start of the raid.
The developers are also going to add the ability to communicate with voice in the raid, with positioning and range of hearing. That’s how Radios will work later on.
Finally, the development of a separate game mode, Arena, is still underway. The studio promises that it will feature a lot of interesting inventions, competitive spirit and excitement. A detailed teaser material about this mode is to be released later.
Moreover, on top of that, there will be more new weapons and a load of customizations for them, including functional two-barrel shotguns and revolvers. New equipment includes: 10+ helmets, body armor, new tactical vests, other headgear, glasses, balaclavas, headsets.
Developers are intentionally withholding the full list of planned innovations and publishing only part of it to keep the players entertained with guessing – and surprise reveal. The studio pointed out that this year will see another iteration of graphics improvements without affecting performance – updated lighting, vegetation, shaders, post-effects. Also, the testing of updated character animations is already underway.
