The developers of Escape from Tarkov released a major update 1.1.0.0 in early August. With it, a season system was introduced into the game — each season will include new rules, mechanics, rewards, and changes designed to diversify gameplay and offer players new conditions for progression.
The first season is called "Kord Breach" and the ability to create a "Seasonal character" has become available. It exists on a separate server independently of characters in the PvP Zone and PvE Zone. Players will be able to switch between available characters and the seasonal one on the character selection screen.
The season uses modifiers: there are general ones that affect all players, as well as personal ones. Players will also be able to choose positive and negative modifiers: these affect gameplay and consume/add "points" — to create a Seasonal character, the final point balance must be zero or positive.
In addition, a free battle pass has appeared in Escape from Tarkov. Players will be able to level it up in PvP Season, PvP Zone, and PvE Zone; to do this, they need to obtain various types of documents and exchange them for rewards — these are given for special quests, for eliminating certain Black Division fighters, and can be found during raids in Tarkov locations.
The developers have changed the system for issuing side quests — they aimed to make progression less linear and less dependent on specific tasks:
Most side quests are now tied to a specific loyalty level (LL) of a trader. Such side quests for each trader open in small sets of 2-4 quests. To get a new set, you need to complete several quests at that trader's LL or reach a new trader LL.
Some other improvements:
- Now a group can help a player with some tasks. They will be marked with a special icon in the interface.
- A "Spectator Camera" has appeared — after PMC death, you can switch to spectator mode and watch any living teammates from the group.
- A number of popular cartridges and magazines, previously sold at trader LL 2 and 3, have become more accessible for purchase — they have been moved one LL lower.
- The conditions for building some level 1-3 zones have been simplified. This includes removing the "Found in raid" status requirement from some required items in PvP and PvE modes.
The insurance mechanic has been improved (it is disabled in seasonal mode, but still works in the main PvP and PvE modes):
- New insurance from Jaeger has been added. Its features are the fastest return time and the highest cost. However, Jaeger doesn't like to wait, so insurance return letters are stored for a very short time.
- The return time for Prapor's and Therapist's insurance has become much faster, but the insurance itself has become slightly more expensive. The storage time for letters has increased.
Economy updated:
- Prices for goods from all traders have been increased by an average of 25%;
- The price offered by traders for player goods has been decreased by an average of 20%;
- The Flea Market commission has been increased from 3% to 5%.
A full description of update 1.1.0.0 for Escape from Tarkov is available at the following link.