Escape from Tarkov is the most popular game on Twitch right now, why is that?

 Escape from Tarkov is skyrocketing on Twitch. At times, almost 200,000 viewers watch channels on which the hardcore shooter is streamed. This makes Escape from Tarkov the most popular game on Twitch - not a bad performance for a game that's been in Early Access for three years.

While EFT has always generated a certain amount of interest on Twitch, the heavy jump is still a specialty. While some of this may be due to increased audience interest, the bulk of the surge is more from targeted marketing.

Escape from Tarkov is suddenly enjoying huge success on Twitch. (via twitchmetrics.net) Escape from Tarkov is suddenly enjoying huge success on Twitch. (via twitchmetrics.net)

Great streamers play Tarkov

Developer Battlestate Games is beating the drum for the three-year anniversary of the early access start of the hardcore shooter. The Russian studio has apparently targeted streamers on board. Big names like Anton, DrLupo, Sacriel, MrGrimmmz, Pestily and Cohh Carnage have been streaming Escape from Tarkov more and more for days. At the same time, they attract a large audience that is enthusiastic about the hardcore shooter.

At the same time, the developers are distributing Twitch drops: Here viewers of certain streamers receive gifts for the game, such as weapons and equipment, at the turn of the year. To do this, you have to connect your Twitch account to your Tarkov account and watch one of around 200 participating streamers.

The fact that viewers come and stay is certainly also related to the twitchability of the gameplay. On the one hand, Escape from Tarkov can seem overwhelming for players, especially at the beginning. It takes a lot of time and dedication to play successfully. On the other hand, this also means that Escape from Tarkov occasionally makes exciting video and streaming material, especially when someone plays who has mastered the game.

This is how Escape from Tarkov plays

Read our latest preview if you want to learn more about Escape from Tarkov's gameplay. In a nutshell: Tarkov is a hardcore shooter with survival and role-playing elements for multiplayer, which is heavily designed for realism and authenticity. You carry out raids in instanced areas in order to get hold of as much valuable equipment as possible. To be able to keep the stuff, you have to come out alive, which is made more difficult by changing exits.

Other players try the same thing as they try to get your expensive stuff off your hands. Sometimes this goes faster than you would like, as Escape from Tarkov simulates complex injuries and an aimed shot can mean the end of you. If you die and no helpful friend takes your equipment with you, it is lost. The high entry barrier and the tactical demands make Escape from Tarkov a risky and intense game experience. And this makes streamed gameplay potentially entertaining.

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Escape from Tarkov - view screenshots

Why now?

The question of why developer Battlestate Games is starting an offensive marketing now of all times could be related to the open beta, which has been postponed several times. In our interview, Chief Developer Nikita Buyanov stated that the postponements were made because they wanted to ensure that Escape from Tarkov makes the best impression on new players.

So it is conceivable that the Open Beta is imminent. However, this information is not official. We have asked Battlestate Games for information and will update this message if we respond.

In any case, the timing would match the developers' earlier statements. Accordingly, the Open Beta should take place after the long-awaited player hideout has been integrated. This has happened with the latest update 0.12 for Escape from Tarkov. We will keep you informed about further developments on this topic.

Escape from Tarkov - Hardcore shooter suffers from a big lag problem in beta

A situation could not be much more frustrating: The opponent shoots us because of connection problems, even though we jump behind cover in good time. Or a fatal shot catches us before we spot the enemy. Especially in a survival shooter like Escape from Tarkov, in which we are punished with the loss of loot for every player death, the technology should not cause any problems.

In the current beta, however, this is anything but the case, as the YouTuber Battle (non) sense discovered in one of his well-known network code analyzes of the hardcore shooter. The video can be found below the message.

Despite a communication rate between client and server that is actually good for a multiplayer shooter, massive lag occurs in the game. The client speaks to the server about 68 times per second, the server in turn sends information at 93 Hertz (for comparison: Battlefield 1 has 60 Hertz for standard servers).

YouTuber Battle (non) sense shows in its graphic the massive delays players have to be prepared for.YouTuber Battle (non) sense shows in its graphic the massive delays players have to be prepared for.

In firefights between two players, the transmission of information can take up to almost a second, the slightest delay was still a whopping 159 milliseconds. Again Battlefield for comparison: In his tests of Battlefield 1, Battle (non) sense only achieved delays between 45 and 72.5 milliseconds.

Wrong server choice, developers react

The server selection also turned out to be crude in the network test: The matchmaking does not automatically look for the fastest server for the player, but bases the server selection on the player's WAN IP address.

Since the Internet provider of Battle (non) sense had just bought addresses from Australia and assigned the YouTuber a corresponding value, Escape from Tarkov suspected the YouTuber in Australia and assigned him servers in Downunder and Asia. After a conversation with the Internet provider, the YouTuber's WAN IP address was changed and the matchmaking was looking for servers in Germany.

For normal players, however, a call to their own Internet service provider should not be necessary, just to get a suitable server assigned to Escape from Tarkov. The developers have already spoken out and promised updates for the beta version of Escape from Tarkov.

Escape from Tarkov - That changes in New Years Update 0.5. & Pictures of the new map

 As announced, the hardcore survival shooter Escape from Tarkov has received a major update. Version 0.5 finally inserts the second half of the huge shoreline location and also makes numerous balancing adjustments to the gameplay. For example, weapons with certain modifications, such as extended magazines, now require more space in the inventory.

Also included are new access and extraction points on the maps that can only be selected if the game character has a location map in their luggage. We also have a number of new screenshots of the upcoming Map Interchange for you.

New weapons

Furthermore, a batch of new weapons and equipment arrives in Tarkov, for example the AKMS and AKMN assault rifles, the REAP-IR infrared visor and the customizable Ops-Core helmet. Newly added dog tags can be salvaged from the corpses of defeated players and if you succeed, you will also find a list of the poor guys on the final screen. Adjustments to the AI ​​and the mandatory bug fixes round off the huge package. A list of the preliminary patch notes and hotfixes can be found on the next page.

Meanwhile, the New Year event is running in Escape from Tarkov. In the period from December 28th to January 4th Battlestate Games are granting a 25 percent discount on all editions of their title. The developer is also giving away 7-day trial versions of EFT to players who have registered on the official website. These can only be activated during the event, after which the keys expire.

On the subject: Escape From Tarkov - Open Beta starts in early 2018, preparations for the New Year event

Pictures from »Interchange«

Have you always wanted to fight for survival at IKEA? Then go shopping there on a Saturday or just play Escape from Tarkov after one of the future updates. The hardcore survival shooter is getting a new map called Interchange, on which a branch of the Swedish furniture store giant is represented in addition to a go-kart track. You can see the new screenshots of the map below.

Escape from Tarkov - Key questions about the game answered in the developer Q&A

 The developers of Escape from Tarkov, Battlestate Games, provide information on the status of the development of their hardcore shooter in a Q&A on Facebook. They take up frequently asked questions from the community and answer them in their usual direct way.

The planned clan system is mentioned as well as future quests. The requirements for new weapons for Escape from Tarkov are also discussed, and the question of whether the underflow grenade launcher can find its way back into the game is clear.

But also the performance problems such as desynchronization and long loading times are discussed, an almost endless number of detailed questions about gameplay are clarified and the way to full release is considered. So before you send your questions to the developers in the official forum or on Facebook, have a look at the following list - maybe they have already been answered here.

Escape from Tarkov - Interchange

Escape from Tarkov - Interchange

Escape from Tarkov - Interchange

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Escape from Tarkov - View images of the Map Interchange

Developer Q&A for Escape from Tarkov

Q) Will the quests included in the game remain the same in the release version? Or can we expect more interesting, non-linear and detailed quests?

A) There will be a lot more quests and their quality will improve every day. Later we will also introduce the so called personal quests, which are more important and story-oriented.

Q) The Scav playing time in the game is currently too short, sometimes you spawn 10 minutes before the end of the raid. Will that be fixed?

A) Has already been fixed.

Q) What card can we expect in the next updates? And is there a list of cards, the order in which they are implemented, and if there is such a list, could you please post it?

A) The next card will be Interchange. After that, probably Streets of Tarkov. Then we'll see.

Q) What DMRs or sniper rifles can we expect in the next updates?

A) The SVD is next.

Q) When can we - if at all - expect the clan system? Or will it be withdrawn?

A) There will be a clan system. Not too early, but definitely. Details will come later.

Q) How often do you add new servers? What kind of problems are you having and why are you experiencing delays and desynchronization?

A) Adding new servers is an ongoing process. The number of servers added over a period of time depends on the availability of specific server configurations in data centers in different parts of the world. Why desynchronization and delays keep recurring is a complex question, for a number of reasons. In the current phase it is mainly caused by errors and overloading of the servers.

Q) It's been a while since medical animation was announced. When can we expect them to be implemented? What stage are you currently in?

A) We will do our best to introduce it in the next updates. It is currently in the phase of immediate availability.

Q) What about flea market and auctions in Escape from Tarkov?

A) The same case: Comes with one of the next updates.

Escape From Tarkov - Stress test and holiday event started, new weapons

 The New Year's event at the Russian hardcore shooter Escape from Tarkov has started. The survival MMO is available with a 25 percent discount until January 4, 2018. Subscribers also have the chance to win a free 7-day trial access to the website. A major update also makes numerous adjustments, including new weapons and modifications. In preparation for the open beta phase in early 2018, the servers will also be subjected to a stress test.

On the subject: Escape From Tarkov - Open Beta starts in early 2018, preparations for the New Year event

Last update 2017

Developer Battlestate Games released the last patch for Escape from Tarkov this year. In addition to the second half of the Shoreline map, new weapons, modifications and equipment were implemented. These include the AKMS and AKMN assault rifles, the Gyurza pistol, the Trijikon REAP-IR thermal visor and the customizable Ops-Core helmet.

In addition, it is now possible to read the players who have been defeated during the raid on the final screen. You can also get rid of corpses during the instance of their dog tags, on which in-game name, level and mercenary group affiliation are noted. Further changes to the entry and extraction system as well as the weapon handling should set the course for the Open Beta in Escape from Tarkov.

Just recently, chief developer Nikita Buyanov spoke about Escape from Tarkov in an interview with MeinMMO.de. The skill system, the right tactics and the developer's aversion to Free2Play models were discussed. You can find our contribution to the interview in a separate article.

Escape from Tarkov - hardcore shooter will contain »neither Pay2Win stuff nor cosmetic items«

 The open beta of the survival shooter Escape from Tarkov will start in early 2018. But first there is a whole load of new information about the hardcore MMO:

In an interview with MeinMMO, the chief developer at Battlestate Games, Nikita Buyanov, spoke about the skill system, the right combat tactics, his personal aversion to Free2Play models and the question of how Escape from Tarkov is actually defined. We have summarized the most important information from the conversation for you.

More: All information about the Open Beta and the New Years event of Escape from Tarkov

What is EFT anyway?

Inspired by the post-apocalyptic world of the shooter "Russia 2028", which was paused in development, Escape from Tarkov wants to celebrate precisely the form of Russian end-time romance that many players have come to love since Stalker and Metro. Extremely detailed game worlds and angular characters characterize the rustic style of these titles. In EFT, too, we will in future be allowed to roam a wonderful world without exception in the first person perspective and search for opponents.

But which genre should Escape from Tarkov actually belong to? Nikita Buyakov finds it difficult to accurately classify his game. Escape from Tarkov is more than just a shooter. The terms "MMO" and "MMORPG" that are often used are not really appropriate either. He calls EFT an "Online Combat Simulator" in which players shouldn't act out roles, but rather "live the game". Instead of bluntly shooting, one has to "think, learn and adapt".

Our beginner's guide: Escape from Tarkov- The 6 most important survival tips

The skill system

Since every action carried out in the game brings experience points, you skill your character in Escape from Tarkov practically permanently, no matter what you do. If you eat and drink, for example, you improve your metabolism skill and you can then recover more quickly after injuries. This ability, like memory, regresses if you do not exercise it regularly.

"Turning off enemies, collecting loot, discovering new places, getting badly wounded, unlocking doors, headshots, healing [...], discovering secrets and much more brings experience. The EXP is multiplied by your own status in the raid, ie whether one has survived, is "missing in action", has deserted or has been killed. "

Escape from Tarkov takes its claim to realism very seriously, while gamers like to play jokes.Escape from Tarkov takes its claim to realism very seriously, while gamers like to play jokes.

Skills do not work like classic MMO perks in Escape from Tarkov. For example, there are no unrealistic advantages like tagging enemies. Rather, skills grant bonuses to certain skills such as weapon handling and looting. There is also "nothing that is even remotely 'overpowered'" - however, in EFT fractions of a second can make the difference between life and death.

Big update for Escape from Tarkov: Patch brings new features, weapons and items

Terminator or Ninja?

Nikita Buyanov points out that the best tactic in Escape from Tarkov is highly situational. This also coincides with our experience in the game: It can often make sense to act cautiously in order to avoid superior enemies. Whether you are setting up ambushes or rushing head-on at the enemy, there is no magic formula for a round of Escape from Tarkov. Most successful are the players who remain flexible and can assess situations correctly.

As a tactical hardcore shooter, Escape from Tarkov aims to simulate his world as realistically as possible. This applies to player movements as well as weapon modding and ballistics. Players should "not only receive cool weapons, but personalized combat tools." Battlestate Games is based on the military of reality, in which soldiers modify their weapons so heavily "until they feel like an extension of the body".

Realistic gunplay is one of the hallmarks of Escape from Tarkov.Realistic gunplay is one of the hallmarks of Escape from Tarkov.

Why not an F2P?

Several developers on the Escape from Tarkov team have previously worked on Free2Play titles. The chief developer of Battlestate Games is not a big fan of the model. In addition, F2P does not fit the concept of Escape from Tarkov.

"I do not like all the tricks of the games that are there to generate as much money as possible. I do not want that in our game. Neither Pay2Win stuff nor any cosmetic items."

Without cosmetic items, concepts like loot boxes are unlikely.

On the subject: Lootboxing: Why is that not a game of chance? - That's what the lawyer says

Endgame

When asked about the endgame content, the developer explains that it has not yet been finalized. However, there are plans to introduce clans and implement further quests. With an earlier update, part of the new Quest system was already installed, which enables traders to perform tasks in order to increase their reputation and get better prices.

Escape From Tarkov - Open Beta starts early 2018, preparations for the New Year event

 Developer Battlestate Games announced that all technical preparations are currently being made for the start of the open beta phase of Escape from Tarkov. Accordingly, the gates for testers should be opened in early 2018. The preparations concern servers that are especially suitable for larger numbers of players, at which point problems have arisen in the past. In addition, further gameplay mechanics will be introduced before the Open Beta and some of the existing ones will be adapted.

Our beginner's guide: The 6 most important tips for Escape from Tarkov

Second part of the shoreline and new weapons

Further updates to be released this year will bring Escape from Tarkov into an even more presentable state. However, it should not stop with pure polishing for the Open Beta. More details will be submitted in the near future, but the following is already known:

Implementation of the second part of the Shoreline map

New weapons and items

New features such as a new spawn and extraction system

Helmet personalization system

Revised weapon mastery system

The introduction of dogtags

The sprawling shoreline location gets its second half, making it the largest map in the game.The sprawling shoreline location gets its second half, making it the largest map in the game.

New year event

On December 28th, selected players can try the hardcore shooter at the New Year's event for seven days for free. The prerequisite for this is registration on the Escape from Tarkov official website. The lottery procedure decides.

In the week of the event, the game is also reduced by 25 percent. Special gimmick: Players who already own Escape from Tarkov or who purchase it during the New Year's event will receive additional equipment for their warehouse.