Escape From Tarkov Changes in Hardcore Wipe After Player Feedback
Battlestate Games rolled out a significant update to Escape from Tarkov’s Hardcore Wipe. On July 12, the boss spawn chance was dropped from 100% to 70%, a decision that received mixed reviews from the Tarkov community. Due to continuous feedback, a few more changes have been implemented as well:
- All maps are now directly accessible from the raid menu, eliminating the inter-map travel system that was previously enforced.
- Trader activities have been re-enabled, providing players with progression objectives once more.
- Insurance premiums were lowered to alleviate the financial burden on the players.
- Scav respawns were reduced to enable more regular scav runs. Spawn logic has been tweaked to keep multiple squads from spawning too near one another on transition maps.
These changes are in line with Battlestate’s efforts to balance out the wipe experience prior to the full release of 1.0. Though the Hardcore Wipe remains harsher than regular resets, these changes are intended to ensure. It is more balanced and less frustrating, particularly for those playing alone.
What Changed in Tarkov’s Hardcore Wipe
The Hardcore Wipe launched with patch 0.16.8.0 on July 8, 2025, and introduced some of the most drastic changes in Tarkov’s history. Intended as a testbed for the game’s upcoming 1.0 release, it stripped away key features, overhauled map access, and added a much steeper grind.
At the start of the hardcore wipe, there was no Flea Market, no questlines, and no free map selection. Instead, players had to travel between maps using in-game extraction points. While this system added immersion, it caused serious issues: long queue times (3–5 minutes), overlapping spawn locations, and bugs. Some maps, like Woods, weren’t even accessible initially.
Bosses also had a guaranteed 100% spawn rate, which made solo raids extremely difficult and gave coordinated groups a big advantage when farming high-end loot.
EfT Developers Reaction to Hardcore Wipe Feedback
Battlestate Games has acknowledged that the Hardcore Wipe is more than just a regular reset. It’s a systems test for the long-awaited 1.0 release. Despite the negative feedback, the developers remain committed to pushing their vision of a truly hardcore Tarkov.
In their official statement, the devs confirmed that more balance changes may follow as they continue to evaluate player experience. With the 1.0 launch still expected in the second half of 2025 (likely September), this wipe sets the tone for what Tarkov’s future could look like.