Fans of the iconic extraction shooter Escape from Tarkov can rejoice, as a new update has brought a long list of patch notes and a myriad of changes. These include graphical reworks, new bosses, fresh weapons, and improvements to the game’s quality that focus on improving the user experience.
If you are interested about what is included, here are the key features from Patch 0.15.0.0 of Escape from Tarkov.
Factory rework and Marathons
One of the largest changes in Patch 0.15.0.0 is the complete graphical rework of the Factory, the first map ever added to the game. The update has changed some portions of the map, but the general layout is still similar.
Overall, the rework made the entire space more accessible by adding extra corridors, crosswalks, and rooms. The developers have also added new tasks to the location and aim to improve AI behavior across the entire map.
On top of the map rework, there is also a new event called Marathon. This mode tasks you with traveling between different transit points on the Factory map. These points spawn seven minutes into a match, and you can deposit any loot you find in a transit point before traveling to the next location. If you reach all transit points within a single raid, you will receive the Marathon Achievement.
The Partisan and Karma
The Partisan is the game’s newest NPC boss, a combat veteran obsessed with planting traps and hunting down those he deems immoral. This boss prefers to attack from the shadows and is most commonly found in forests, planting tripwires between the trees.
Since the Partisan has a strong moral compass, he is more likely to hunt down players with bad Karma. Karma is a new value system added with the update, which is influenced by your actions throughout a match. While the developers have not fully shared what exactly influences Karma, committing “evil” actions will cause the Partisan to take an interest in you.
New weapons
Speaking of laying traps, players can now find or craft Tripwire Installation Kits. These are single-use items that allow you to create traps in tight areas, and the wire can be triggered by physical objects, players, NPCs, bullets, or explosions.
When a Tripwire is triggered it will release a grenade, so you may have enough time to flee from the explosion. Alternatively, if you spot a live wire, you can carefully approach the trap and disarm it to loot the grenade, although this does take up some time.
This update also brings the ability to use bipods and weapon mounts. Bipods can be equipped on your weapon and activated on any horizontal surface. Alternatively, weapons can be mounted on flat surfaces such as short walls without using a bipod. Whenever a gun is mounted to terrain or a bipod, your recoil, stamina consumption, and weapon sway are all greatly reduced.
Finally, there are four new weapons added with the update, and each can be upgraded with different attachments. The new weapons are:
- IWI UZI submachine gun
- SR-4m compact assault rifle
- Magnum Research Desert Eagle pistol
- U.S Ordnance light machine gun
Hideout zones
In Escape from Tarkov, the Hideout zone is a player base where you craft resources and test your weapons. With the update, you can build two new additions to the Hideout that allow you to display or trade your gear.
The Gear Rack is one of these new additions, added to the extended portion of the Hideout. The Gear Rack can be upgraded three times and contains mannequins that display your weapons and gear. When a mannequin is wearing gear, you can’t use it in a game.
The new Cultist Circle is located just outside the main Hideout, and allows you to sacrifice up to five items at once in exchange for one piece of gear. When you sacrifice your gear, the value of each item is added together to determine what you receive as a gift from the cultists. Remember that cultists can’t deliver gifts while you are inside your Hideout.
To learn more about the further quality of life improvements the developers of Escape from Tarkov have made, check out the official patch notes.
