Escape From Tarkov's New Update Adds Local PVE Scaving, Huge Performance Boosts, & More

Patch 1.0.4.0 has dropped on Escape From Tarkov and it has a massive list of changes. With changes to help performance, Scaving on PVE, and even new sounds, this is one huge patch that looks quite exciting for a wide variety of players.

Let's take a look at the changes!

Local Raiding for PVE Scavs

If you play Tarkov's PVE mode, you've long been able to play most raids solo as a PMC locally. This means not relying on the official servers which most importantly means having fast load times. There are certainly some oddities, at least I have personally experiences poor enemy AI on local servers, but getting into a game fast makes playing the PVE side of the game essential.

That is, until you went to play Scav.

Scav is, as we all know, a massive part of the game and although a lot of the risk to PMCs in PVE is massively reduced making the requirement of an accessible Scav less important, you still need to get that sweet Fence rep. The change in today's patch is simple, it adds local client capability when playing a solo Scav inside of PVE. No more 5-7 minute game loads? Sign me up!

Speaking of loading times, in general, loading times have been decreased. Woo!

HugE Performance Optimizations

Performance and Tarkov have been an oxymoron over the years and since 1.0 we've seen pushes to better optimize the client and today's patch is no different. Culling, a graphics rendering technique which removes full or portions of objects from scenes that you can't see has long been a part of how Streets of Tarkov even manages to run at all on computers.

Today's update pushes the same culling tech over to Customs, Interchange, and Reserve with more locations getting the culling system added in future updates.

Medkit Healing Changes

This is a big one. The order of operations for medical supplies which can treat a variety of injuries has been updated.

1. Bleedings are still treated first.

2. Head healing is prioritized.

3. Thorax healing is next.

4. And the rest of the puzzle.

Giving automatic healing preference to Head and Thorax increases the opportunity to survive without as much manual effort, certainly a welcome change.

Balance Tweaks

Quote From Battlestate Games

• Figurines and posters previously available as rewards during the Release Twitch Drops event now spawn on locations;

• Increased the available time window for transitioning from Shoreline to Terminal;

• Increased the experience gained for completing PMC operational tasks;

• Significantly simplified the PMC operational task objectives;

• Removed the objectives for co-op extraction in both PMC and Scav operational tasks;

• Reduced the number of Priest kills required for completion in the story chapter “They Are Already Here” to 1;

• Reduced the trader response wait timers by 40% in the following story chapters: Falling Skies, The Ticket, The Unheard, The Labyrinth, and Batya;

• Added alternative objectives to the story chapter “Tour” to simplify location unlocks. Players can now either visit the location multiple times or survive on it one time to complete the objective;

• Reduced the duration of most Hideout crafts required for story progression by 40%;

• Standardized the protection zones of front and rear built-in armor for light armor vests and armored rigs;

• Adjusted the prices for most armor vests and armored rigs. Prices of plate carriers without built-in armor have been significantly reduced;

• Increased the Raider count in The Lab by 20%;

• Increased the quantity and quality of loot in locked and marked rooms;

• Increased the fuel tank spawn chance at gas stations on Customs, Lighthouse, and Shoreline;

• Reduced the arming distance of the 40mm VOG-25 round to 10 meters;

• Reduced the trader sell price of the 40x46mm M386 (HE) grenade;

• Increased the trader sell price of the 40mm VOG-25 grenade.

Objective Area Boosts

Certain elimination tasks have been made easier to complete thanks to increased objective areas. These tasks are:

• The Huntsman Path - Secured Perimeter;

• The Huntsman Path - Evil Watchman;

• Capturing Outposts;

• Claustrophobia;

• Rite of Passage;

• Provide Viewership;

• No Swiping;

• Return the Favor;

• Provocation;

• Gendarmerie - Tickets, Please;

• Gendarmerie - District Patrol;

• Gendarmerie - Mall Cop;

• Long Road;

• Overpopulation;

• Pest Control;

• Safe Corridor;

• No Place for Renegades.

And More!

There are a few other changes and fixes.

Quote From Battlestate Games

Adjusted the built-in armor protection zones for the following armor vests and armored rigs:

• ECLiPSE RBAV-AF plate carrier – removed the groin protection;

• Crye Precision AVS, Stich Profi Plate Carrier V2 – moved the stomach protection to groin protection, removed the lower back protection.

Reduced the penalties and increased the spawn chance for the following heavy armor vests:

• 6B43 Zabralo-Sh body armor;

• FORT Redut-M body armor;

• FORT Redut-T5 body armor;

• IOTV Gen4 body armor (Full Protection Kit);

• IOTV Gen4 body armor (Assault Kit);

• IOTV Gen4 body armor (High Mobility Kit).

Added new barters at Ragman Loyalty Level 4:

• FORT Redut-M body armor (Without plates);

• FORT Redut-T5 body armor (Without plates);

• IOTV Gen4 body armor (Full Protection Kit) (Without plates).

Removed outdated trade offers at Mechanic Loyalty Level 1, previously unlocked after completing the task “Failed Setup”:

• GP-25 Kostyor 40mm underbarrel grenade launcher;

• M203 40mm underbarrel grenade launcher;

• 40x46mm M386 (HE) grenade;

• 40mm VOG-25 grenade.

Reduced the requirements for the following barters:

• M203 40mm underbarrel grenade launcher;

• 6B43 Zabralo-Sh body armor;;

• IOTV Gen4 body armor (Full Protection Kit);

• IOTV Gen4 body armor (Assault Kit);

• IOTV Gen4 body armor (High Mobility Kit).

Fixes

Please note that some fixes may contain story spoilers.

• Fixed the issues with culling, shadows, textures, and location geometry;

• Fixed an issue where water bodies could disappear for some players at certain graphics settings;

• Fixed an issue where healing continued after cancellation when searching a backpack looted from another player;

• Fixed an issue where players in PvE Zone did not receive achievements after completing all conditions. Missing achievements will be granted;

• Fixed the incorrect damage registration after fixing a weapon malfunction in certain cases;

• Fixed the cause of BTR Driver task progression resetting in certain cases;

• Removed the ability to list incomplete ammo stacks on the Flea Market;

• Fixed the inability to pay for vehicle extracts when currency was split across multiple stacks;

• Fixed an issue where gear preset purchases failed if items required different currencies or barter trades;

• Fixed the cases where killed bots remained in eating or drinking animations;

• Fixed an issue where opening the search window in the stash caused client freezes for some players;

• Fixed an issue where the lowest durability armor was selected when equipping presets;

• Fixed the unnatural water reflections with SSR enabled;

• Fixed the inability to transfer money to Mechanic in the story chapter “The Unheard”;

• Fixed Error 228 when handing in multiple documents to Mr. Kerman during the first intel submission;

• Fixed the duplicated Kerman dialogues in certain cases;

• Fixed Error 228 occurring after exiting certain dialogues;

• Fixed the inability to hand over roubles in the task “To Great Heights! - Part 4”;

• Fixed item loss from backpacks in PvE Zone in certain cases;

• Improved the third-person sprint animation transitions from crouched position;

• Fixed the duplicate notifications when switching between story chapters;

• Fixed the missing dialogue response options in certain cases;

• Fixed the missing flashbang explosion sound when player was above or below the detonation point;

• Fixed an issue preventing item filter selection at traders;

• Fixed the incorrect purchase price of the BNTI Kirasa-N armor (Green) at trader Ref;

• Fixed the inability to transfer items to traders immediately after receiving them via in-game messages;

• Fixed the ammo display in the Scav Case rewards;

• Fixed the missing rewards from the Cultist Circle in certain cases;

• Fixed the incorrect stash size display for The Unheard Edition in the Hideout;

• Fixed the fuel display in the Generator zone after visiting another player’s Hideout;

• Fixed the client freezes when viewing certain player profiles;

• Fixed an issue where some PMC bots would not attack player Scavs in PvE Zone;

• Fixed Error 228 when refreshing Hideout zones;

• Fixed the incorrect edition localization on the final statistics screen;

• Fixed the issues in Black Division and Birdeye weapon presets, as well as Kollontay gear presets.

• Reworked the tripwire placement system for The Labyrinth. Tripwires no longer spawn in immediate player spawn points.