Escape from Tarkov – Hardcore adjustments & stash extension for real money

The Hardcore Wipe in Escape from Tarkov has already undergone some adjustments in the few days since its launch and the opinions of the community are divided. Now the developers have also added controversial monetization.

Quests and maps available again

After the controversial launch of the Hardcore Wipe on July 9, 2025, Battlestate Games has made significant adjustments to the game experience. The quests were reactivated on July 11 after the lack of missions caused massive criticism and resentment in the community. This step was an important turning point for the update.

The map selection has also been improved: Woods has been directly accessible again since July 12, without players having to use the error-prone transit system. The boss spawn rate has also been reduced from 100% to 70% to make the gameplay more balanced.

Storage Space Expansion: More Rows, More Discussions

Alongside the Hardcore Wipe, the existing system for purchasing additional storage space has been expanded. Players previously had the opportunity to purchase up to 28 rows of storage space for real money. With the current update, this limit has been doubled to a total of 56 rows. For 3 euros per two rows, players can now significantly increase their storage space and spend up to 84 euros in total.

The community continues to discuss this model critically. While some consider the payment system to be “the least intrusive”, other players see a clear pay-to-win tendency in it. It remains particularly controversial that owners of the extensive EOD edition also have to pay for new series, although they were originally promised “all future content”.

Technical and gameplay adjustments: Overview since the wipe

• Quests available again: Reactivated shortly after the wipe following massive community feedback.
• All maps unlocked: Woods and other maps are now directly accessible again.
• Boss spawn rate adjusted: Reduction ensures less frustration.
• Storage space expansion doubled: Up to 56 rows can be purchased for real money.
• Container limit: Containers can now only be stacked a maximum of seven high, making organization in the warehouse more difficult.
• New content: Introduction of prestige levels 3 & 4 and the AK-50 as a new weapon.
• PvE AI improvements: Adjustments and optimizations promised in PvE mode.
• Transit system changes: Originally intended as an access restriction for maps, partially withdrawn after errors.

Community divide becomes clearer

The reactions to the hardcore wipe show a clear divide within the player base. While hardcore fans celebrate the challenges and the return to classic survival aspects, many casual players increasingly see the game as inaccessible.

Streamers and content creators in particular are increasingly critical and fear that the current direction will drive many players away in the long term. The initially high expectations have given way to a skeptical view.

Last chance before version 1.0

The current hardcore wipe is considered the last major wipe before the planned release of version 1.0 at the end of 2025. Further adjustments will be announced by Battlestate Games in waves, but internal communication and transparency remain unsatisfactory for many fans.

The release of patch 0.16.9.0 in August is expected to bring new improvements. Whether these will be enough to win back the trust of the community remains to be seen.

The current wipe of Escape from Tarkov shows both the innovation potential and the existing problems of the game. While hardcore fans welcome the new features, technical difficulties and the expanded monetization model continue to cause debate and division. The coming months will be decisive for the continued success of Tarkov.