Latest news with #Tarkov
Forbes
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The ‘Escape From Tarkov' Hardcore Wipe Is The Best It's Been In Years
Takrov is feeling great right now. The hardcore wipe in Escape From Tarkov got off to a rough start, with some questionable decisions or simple oversights that really hampered the player experience. But now those have mostly been solved, the hardcore mode has reignited my love for Tarkov after more than a year of being away from the game. A new wipe is always an exciting time in Tarkov, but not since the addition of Ground Zero well over a year ago have I been itching to play whenever I have free time. With little in the way of major new content since then, wipes have just become resets rather than a chance to explore new content, and have quickly become tiresome as I realise it's essentially the same old stuff once again. But this wipe, with the new hardcore ruleset that makes everything that little bit harder, is proving to be enough of a change to keep me interested. The reworked economy and no flea market, as well as the increase in difficulty, means I no longer always have over a million in the bank and can afford new kit, and the lack of rare loot means I can no longer do one of my trusty loot runs, which I'm not going to share, to earn that kind of cash in minutes. This in turn means I'm having to learn how to use new weapons, and truly scrounge whatever I can from the map each time I survive. Running out of a raid with a TOZ in my backpack is now a worthwhile thing to do, just so I can build up a stash of weapons for when I inevitably lose all my good ones and have no cash to buy any more. With all maps now available with no transit required, which is probably the last quality of life change that needed to be made, this hardcore Tarkov wipe is feeling fantastic. Every encounter with AI or other players brings back that adrenaline that was only there during my first couple of wipes, and losing a fight feels truly heartbreaking once again. I don't want to go as far as to say this is how Tarkov should be played, it is tough and a lot of players are bouncing off this wipe as a result. The 70% boss spawn rate also means chill raids are just no longer a thing on some maps and could be toned down a little. But I do think, providing player numbers can support it, a permanent hardcore mode in Tarkov when it launches later this year would be a good thing. I, for sure, would play it, and likely even run two different characters, one for normal Tarkov and one for hardcore. It's a completely different change of pace and one that, right now at least, is really working for me and my enjoyment of Escape From Tarkov. There are still a few things to improve here and there, but as a concept this has been an undoubted success now the big issues have been fixed, and with a tiny bit more refinement it could be a very welcome permanent addition to Tarkov.
Forbes
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Escape From Tarkov' Makes Major Changes After Controversial Wipe
Tarkov is making some changes. After a somewhat controversial new wipe, Escape From Tarkov is making some big changes to its new hardcore mode after fan backlash, with a lot of players complaining that the game was too hard and had no real incentive to progress. The recent launch of the hardcore wipe in Escape From Tarkov was initially welcomed by a lot of fans, with the changes making things feel fresh. However, after a few hours it was clear some of the changes had not quite worked out as intended, and now some of them have been reverted. Perhaps the most controversial change was the removal of quests. This was always meant to be temporary, but a recent technical update has restored quests a little earlier than many expected after a lot of players complained about the lack of motivation to do anything. With no quests, all players had to do was level up and collect loot, which some felt was not enough incentive to play. Personally, I quite liked the feeling of there being no early quests. Fights were happening in more varied locations on the maps, and there were no raids where you felt your time was wasted if the key spawn you needed was already taken. However, having no quests for an extended period of time might have made things get tiresome quickly. Another of the big sticking points for players was the extended scav cooldowns the hardcore wipe brought with it. In the early days of a wipe, players expect to have long scav queues, but these being artificially inflated by an increased cooldown timer felt harsh, especially with the extra loot restrictions this hardcore mode has brought with it. As a compromise, those extended wait times have been reduced, which should give you more of a chance to go and scav to find weapons and gear if you are running low. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder The other big change came to the price of insurance, which has been reduced. This was also increased as part of the hardcore wipe, but combined with the other changes of the wipe, it felt quite harsh, especially with how difficult it is to find and keep top level gear. There has also been a fix for the transit spawn system, which was spawning ungrouped players next to each other resulting in mass fights as soon as you spawn in, which was not ideal to say the least. Escape From Tarkov game director Nikita Buyanov has also announced that more features that are currently turned off will slowly return over the coming days and weeks. Things such as trader levels and being able to queue directly into certain maps instead of having to transit will return soon, but the goal is to slow down the progression of a new Tarkov wipe, which seems to be working. The hardcore wipe in Escape From Tarkov has certainly proven controversial, but as a long time player it is refreshing to have something new, especially just before launch when the lack of new content has started to make things feel a bit stale. If you aren't enjoying the current state of Tarkov, the good news is that in a few months things will be back to normal with lots of new content when Tarkov finally launches.
Edinburgh Reporter
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
The Evolving Role of Gaming in Modern Life
Gaming has transformed from a niche hobby to a mainstream cultural phenomenon that shapes how millions of people relax, socialize, and even develop critical skills. Today's games aren't just entertainment-they're powerful tools that influence our cognitive abilities, social connections, and emotional wellbeing. Whether you're grinding daily quests or exploring vast open worlds, gaming has become integral to contemporary existence in ways both obvious and surprising. Photo by Mateo on Unsplash Gaming: The Ultimate Stress-Buster Let's face it-life can be an absolute nightmare sometimes. Between work deadlines, social obligations and the general chaos of existence, we all need effective ways to decompress. This is where gaming truly shines. Many hardcore gamers turn to challenging titles like Escape from Tarkov for their stress relief. The intense focus required actually helps push away real-world anxieties. If you're looking to optimize your Tarkov experience (because let's be honest, that game can be brutal), there are various resources including private cheats on infocheats for Escape from Tarkov that players discuss in forums. Gaming reduces stress through: Creating a state of flow where other concerns fade away Providing achievable goals and instant feedback Offering control in virtual environments when real life feels chaotic Delivering dopamine rewards through in-game achievements Leveling Up Your Brain: Cognitive Superpowers Oh man! The cognitive benefits of gaming are freaking awesome and backed by science. Regular gameplay has been linked to improved: Visuospatial abilities and attention to detail Problem-solving skills and strategic thinking Multi-tasking capabilities (try managing your inventory while being flanked in an FPS) Decision-making speed and accuracy Studies have found gamers have 'heightened connectivity between certain subregions in the insular cortex' and more gray matter in areas associated with cognitive processing. In other words gaming actually changes your brain-for the better! Virtual Worlds, Real Connections 'Video games have the power to connect people from all walks of life, transcending language and cultural barriers,' noted the visionary game designer Hideo Kojima. This social dimension has become even more crucial in recent years. I've personally made friends across five continents through gaming. From raiding in MMORPGs to sweating through battle royales the shared experiences create bonds that often extend beyond the game itself. Finding Your Tribe Online Gaming communities aren't just about playing together-they're about belonging. Whether it's Discord servers filled with memes, subreddits debating the latest meta, or Twitch streams where viewers become family these spaces provide real social value. Benefits of gaming communities include: Support networks that extend beyond gaming topics Opportunities to develop leadership and communication skills Exposure to diverse perspectives and cultures Collaborative problem-solving experiences Digital-Physical Balance: The Meta Challenge Finding balance is perhaps the biggest challenge for any gamer. Like anything enjoyable moderation is key to maintaining a healthy relationship with gaming. The most successful gamers I know follow these basic principles: Set clear time boundaries for gaming sessions Prioritize physical activity and face-to-face social interactions Use gaming as a reward after completing important tasks Recognize when gaming shifts from entertainment to avoidance Gaming as a Legitimate Career Path Remember when your parents said you'd never make money playing video games? Well those days are gone. The gaming industry now offers countless career opportunities beyond just being a pro player. Career paths in gaming include: Content creation (streaming, YouTube, writing) Esports (players, coaches, analysts, managers) Game development (programming, design, art, sound) Community management and marketing Gaming journalism and criticism Skills That Transfer From Games to Life What's particularly interesting is how gaming skills translate to real-world applications. The problem-solving, team coordination, and strategic thinking developed through regular play are highly valuable in many professional contexts. Research shows gaming can improve real-life skills including learning, reading, creativity and even workplace problem solving. The Future: Gaming's Next Level As VR technology improves, AI becomes more sophisticated, and cloud gaming eliminates hardware barriers, we're entering an era where gaming will become even more immersive and accessible. The line between games and other forms of entertainment, education, and social interaction will continue to blur. Gaming mechanics are already being applied to everything from fitness (exergaming) to therapy and rehabilitation programs. Conclusion: Game On Gaming isn't just entertainment-it's a powerful force shaping how we learn, socialize, and navigate modern life. Whether you're a hardcore raid leader, a casual mobile gamer or someone who plays occasionally with friends, the benefits extend far beyond the screen. As we move forward, gaming will continue evolving in ways we can barely imagine. The only constant? It's gonna remain a central part of how we connect, grow, and yes-have a damn good time. Like this: Like Related
Forbes
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Escape From Tarkov' Players Angry After AI Art Found In New Map
The new Iceberg map is proving controversial. Earlier this week a new map launched in Escape From Tarkov Arena called Iceberg, however fans have since discovered that it features AI generated artwork, and as you might expect, a lot of them are not happy. Yesterday, patch 0.3.1 for Escape From Tarkov Arena was launched, and the headline new addition was a new map for the Blast Gang and CheckPoint game modes called Iceberg, which is set in a luxury hotel that is now being used for the combat arena sport. By most accounts, it's a decent map, with a lot of players seeming to have fun in the first day of action. However, fans have now discovered some AI generated artwork on the map, and quite a few are angry and disappointed about its inclusion. The top thread on the Escape From Tarkov sub-Reddit is currently highlighting some of the AI art, and asking the developers to not use it again in either Arena or the main Tarkov game. Throughout the Iceberg map, there are posters on the walls that parody other games. Some examples include parodies of the iconic Dark Souls graphic of a character next to a bonfire, the key art of the recently released Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 and artwork that appears to be referencing Steam hit Lethal Company. Many fans on the sub-Reddit theorised these images were made with AI, and now a member of the Escape From Tarkov PR team has confirmed to me that that is the case and these images were made with AI. As is the case with a lot of AI work, there has been somewhat of a backlash from areas of the Tarkov community, with some fans calling the use of AI lazy and many sharing their disappointment that developers Battlestate Games has chosen to use this technology instead of commissioning human artists. However, others are arguing that this is a good use of AI, with features of the map that are inconsequential to gameplay and something that will barely be noticed by most players. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder Had these images not been made by AI these would have been some very cool Easter eggs for players to discover on the new map, but now they are creating somewhat of a negative storm, which is a common occurrence in the world of Tarkov. It's only been a year or so since the extremely controversial Unheard Edition of Tarkov that saw a lot of fans pledge to never come back to it. If you want to see the AI artwork on the Iceberg map yourself, then you are in luck, as Escape From Tarkov Arena is having a free weekend right now. You can play the game for free until 6:00 PM MSK on June 2, and there is a new task chain and double XP to enjoy when you do. If you want to purchase Arena after trying it, there is also a 20% discount for the duration of the weekend. If you would rather watch, then Twitch Drops for Tarkov Arena are currently live as well, so you can get some in game rewards to watching the action.
Forbes
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
It's Just Over For ‘Marathon'
Marathon I've tried to put this off for a while now, giving Marathon the benefit of the doubt in terms of fixing what ails it, and maybe snagging an audience that's large enough to make it at least sustainable. But no, it's over. I can't dispute this anymore. This has probably always been true, but the events of the past week have cemented it. I will get into the livestream and plagiarism and all that later, but this is a long, long list of what's gone wrong in the past, what's currently going wrong, and a future that does not look any brighter. The entire idea of this game was a mistake. Bungie has said that this came from a bunch of them playing Tarkov a while ago, and I heard that among that group, it was one 'good old boy' in leadership who pushed to make this Bungie's biggest non-Destiny project, and hopefully the birth (well, rebirth) of a strong IP for the studio, now under Sony which assumed it would produce another hit like this. The game attempts to split the difference between casual players who may be new to extraction shooters and existing, hardcore extraction players it would like to pilfer from games like Tarkov. It will do neither. You are never going to make an extraction shooter that is casual enough, because the concept of being able to lose your loot, potentially your entire vault if you go on bad runs, is exhausting as you try to give the game and genre a chance. Add onto that losing all that gear and all the upgrades you've gotten in a season no matter what, and that may be how this genre is, but it's just not going to be attractive to many players that have not already played this genre. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder It's probably even worse on the hardcore player end, with Tarkov players scoffing at how 'easy' they've made Marathon, everything from gear looting to time-to-kill to double revives on combat. I've seen almost no established extraction shooter players that are eager to jump over to Marathon for anything but a trial run based on what they've seen and played. Marathon And what we've seen and played is the next point. Neither are good. Either you've been an outside observer watching gameplay trailers and Twitch streams, or you got into the Closed Alpha and played for yourself. The game feels uninspired. Shooting is…fine, but considering this is Bungie, a studio that gave us some of the best-feeling shooters of all time, this is not close to comparing to that. It feels like a slower version of Apex Legends with maybe one teamfight per round, and in between, battling with UESC bots (which I do think can actually be fun in some instances). The idea that this is an extraction shooter that should use a hero model has not landed well at all. It seems woefully unbalanced with full invisibility and wallhacks and things that should just not be in this genre. And it destroys the idea of making a fully custom character like other games, something most players like. It feels like a solution where a problem did not exist. An experiment to make the game stand out, but it's just made it worse. None of this was helped that at the exact same time, Marathon's Alpha was interrupted by an ARK Raiders Alpha, a much more traditional extraction shooter and a much better one, by all accounts. More polished, more fun, more expected features found in extraction shooters. All you have to do is look at the fact that ARK Raiders' playercount went up every single day of its Alpha where Marathon's almost always went down. By the end, it was sub-20% of what it started with. Twitch viewers were even worse, going from 150,000 at launch as big streamers tried it, crashing to 1-3,000 a few days later near the end, where big chunks of that might even be one or two Destiny streamers alone. Marathon It's not just how the game currently feels and plays, it's what it's apparently planning for the future. This was half the problem with the recent livestream where sure, the vibes were bad with the recent plagiarism from the start, but hearing game director Joe Ziegler and others talk about it, the constant refrain was 'we're looking about that, we're thinking about that.' The bulk of the talk was about minor balance changes. Shield health, backpack spawns, stack size, faction differentiation. Asked to name the biggest issue they found coming out of the Alpha, Ziegler rattled off a list of impossibly small issues. Hugely requested things like proximity chat and Solos were handwaved away and relegated to some possible future plan. It is absolutely insane that Bungie has not taken to heart the feedback about how this game feels to play Solo. It feels like the only way to play is stacked with friends on comms, as playing with randoms is at best a coinflip whether it's awful or fine. Going in Solo and skulking around like a rat avoiding all combat is boring as hell. Because the game ignores Solos, that means you need to convince two friends to buy it, likely at an upcoming $40 price point. It is too late in development to switch to free-to-play, not that this genre is built for that anyway, but painfully few people have played this game and thought it was worth that price. Without a delay, at launch, it will have two more heroes and 1-2 more maps and that's it. It's a tiny amount of content for that price, on top of a game that as of yet, is not very fun for most players. Now we arrive at the massive controversy of art theft, the revelation that a supposed ex-Bungie artist outright stole a large amount of art from ANTIREAL, an artist with a portfolio extremely similar to Marathon's vibes. And we're not talking 'inspired by,' these pieces of art are 1:1 rips to the point where Bungie has to audit its entire game to see how many of these there might be. During the livestream they couldn't even show the game because it was being ripped apart internally for this process. The Marathon comparison The narrative spread as players realized that a number of Bungie artists, including Art Director Joseph Cross, followed ANTIREAL for years. It's likely true that Marathon's overall style came from any number of sources from years or decades past, though this fact + the direct lifting from ANTIREAL exploded into theorizing that this was a larger problem (on my end too, for a time). But even if the entire 'soul' of Marathon wasn't taken from one artist, art director Joe Cross and members of his team allowed this massive portfolio of plagiarism to make it through from being stolen allegedly five years ago to being plastered all over the current build of the game. Mass incompetence. This has slit the throat of Marathon. The one thing Marathon had going for it was its unique art style and cool vibes, and now it will be impossible to bring that up without the plagiarism being referenced. Memes were instantly born during the apology portion of the livestream including 'PLAGIARISM WILL MAKE ME GOD' and a renaming of Marathon to 'ART Raiders.' That's going to stick forever. There is no escaping this now. Not that vibes were good before, but they are dismal now with Marathon a laughing stock after this happened or even worse, outright anger that this was allowed to take place in the game, and players refusing to play and support the game as a result. Marathon will not fundamentally change enough to be attractive to most players. Community sentiment will not change enough to turn things around on that end. A delay does not significantly change any of this, but it may be the only option. It would be impressively stupid to actually release this game in four months given both these recent events and that we're only seeing a small amount of new content and some balance and visual polishing for launch. But you simply cannot cancel this game at this point after 5+ years of work, even if it should have died ages ago. Sony alone would never allow that. A delay is the only real option but I don't think it changes enough to be useful. It will create distance from the current awfulness, but I have seen nothing to indicate this is going to be some transformative rebirth. The core concept of a hero shooter extraction game will not change. It will not erase the plagiarism that happened. Marathon I've previously said that Marathon will not be Concord 2.0. While I still technically believe that, it's more a matter of just how brutally this will fail, not whether it will fail at all. I do not expect it to get 700 concurrent Steam players like Concord, nor be scrapped in two weeks by Sony. But it will not do well. That is set in stone right now barring some sort of miracle from the heavens. This will hurt Bungie and its actual healthy child, Destiny. There will be layoffs. There will be Sony takeover of leadership as they bail out with millions in vested cash. The only thing I don't believe will happen is the complete dissolution of Bungie as that would be a bridge too far in terms of Sony being embarrassed a storied brand has collapsed under its tenure, one they paid $3.6 billion for. And I also think it would be a horrible look to immediately kill another game like they did with Concord, and Marathon will be given some time to fix and improve things. I don't think any amount of time will be enough. I realize this is an utterly brutal article. It's the longest one I've written in ages. But at this point there is no doubt the writing is on the wall and it is disingenuous to ignore that. I will continue to cover the game. If good things happen, I will write about that. If bad things keep happening, I will write about that. But I think it's overwhelmingly bad things from here. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
