Nikita Buyanov spoke about simplifying Escape from Tarkov after its Steam release - the game is becoming more beginner-friendly
The extraction shooter Escape from Tarkov is known for its hardcore mechanics and high entry barrier. Players need to study the map and memorize key locations to navigate and find extraction points. The points themselves can be blocked, and to activate them, players might need a specific item in their inventory or to perform non-obvious actions beforehand.
However, Battlestate Games is gradually lowering the entry barrier to Escape from Tarkov for newcomers. Recently, studio head Nikita Buyanov commented on the current development direction:
There are things in the game that are difficult just for the sake of it. They don't add complexity or depth to the gameplay – they are just difficult to understand or master. These are the things we are fighting against.
Buyanov noted that a large number of newcomers are coming to EFT, for example on Steam, and they "are not used to playing such games":
We are slightly lowering the entry barrier, at least at the beginning of the game, so that such players can get accustomed, settle in, and smoothly join the rest in the hardcore experience.
As an example of changes, Nikita Buyanov cited item searching. Veterans of Escape from Tarkov are already used to "pixel hunting," but not everyone is ready for this, so now the game has a hint indicator that appears in the search area:
Overall, many mechanics were initially heavily skewed towards hardcore, but then were dialed back. Take the players' beloved pixel hunting for quests. Initially, it was intentionally implemented – I always liked the element of searching for small things in the game, some secrets. Now, with old players having completed all these quests inside and out, and new players having enough difficulty in other aspects of the game, we are simplifying the system – for example, a proximity marker for quest items has appeared.
This summer, Escape from Tarkov launched its first season with a battle pass and seasonal modifiers affecting gameplay.
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