Escape from Tarkov Patch Notes 0.16.8.0
On July 9, 2025, Battlestate Games released Patch 0.16.8.0 for Escape from Tarkov, introducing a significant overhaul to the game's progression system. This update marks the commencement of a hardcore wipe, setting the stage for the game's anticipated 1.0 release.
New content
Hardcore Wipe
Added balancing adjustments to trading mechanics, AI behavior, in-game tasks, experience and skill gain, availability of weapons, equipment, loot, Flea Market, and other changes aimed at creating a unique and challenging game experience.
There will be several planned stages of progression with additional changes.
Follow the announcements on our socials and on the project website to learn all the details first. We will also be monitoring player feedback closely and will make balancing changes beyond the planned stages if necessary.
PvE mode will not be affected by the Hardcore Wipe changes.
Prestige
Added two new Prestige levels with exclusive rewards:
- New PMC character voices;
- New PMC outfits;
- New mannequin poses for the Gear Rack;
- New posters for the Hideout;
- New target styles for the Shooting Range;
- New Hideout customization options;
- New Dogtag styles.
After earning Prestige 3 and 4:
- Skills and weapon mastery will have their progression saved by 15% for Prestige 3 and 20% for Prestige 4;
- Weapons, helmets, armor and attachments will become available for Prestige item transfer.
AK-50
- Added the AK-50 anti-materiel sniper rifle with a related task chain to obtain it.
Changes
AI
Readjusted the PMC bot spawn system. Now, the AI PMCs will no longer spawn immediately at points of interest and will instead have remote spawn points, making them travel to loot POIs and compete with the player.
Improved the friendly-foe identification system for PMC bots to distribute the availability of spawn points and check them for enemies. Fixed several bugs where regular bots and PMC bots would not be hostile towards each other.
PMC bots will try to avoid Boss areas but may still engage in a fight with them.
QoL
Added the stash auto scroll function when click-dragging an item.
Added a storage stacking limit for containers. This is necessary to avoid situations where players would get stuck on the profile loading screen due to excessive amount of items in the stash. The change will mostly affect PvE players who have stacked 7 or more items inside each other, i.e. backpacks. All items that exceed the limit will be deleted.
Character customization
Added new unique PMC customization options, available on the updated website: https://www.escapefromtarkov.com/expansions.
Fixes
Fixed several issues with sound occlusion and incorrect audio propagation on all locations.
Escape from Tarkov Update
Patch 0.16.8.0 brings substantial changes to the game's mechanics and content. Players can expect a more challenging environment with the introduction of the hardcore wipe and the addition of new features like the AK-50 rifle and the Prestige system. These updates are part of Battlestate Games' ongoing efforts to enhance the Escape from Tarkov experience as they move towards the game's full release.
Escape from Tarkov Official Announcement Trailer
Escape from Tarkov Status
As of the latest update, the servers are undergoing maintenance to implement Patch 0.16.8.0. The downtime is expected to last approximately six hours, starting at 08:00 BST / 03:00 EDT.
Players are advised to check the official status page for real-time updates on server availability.
For more detailed information and discussions about the patch, players can visit the official Escape from Tarkov forums or follow the game's official social media channels.
Escape from Tarkov
Escape from Tarkov is an intense multiplayer tactical first-person shooter (FPS) video game developed by Battlestate Games, designed for Microsoft Windows. Set in the fictional Norvinsk region in northwestern Russia, the game takes place during a conflict between two private military companies (PMCs) – BEAR and USEC.
The game blends elements of survival, tactical combat, and RPG mechanics, where players must engage in dangerous firefights, scavenge for resources, and escape from the area to survive.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this article is based on publicly available sources, including official patch notes and announcements from Battlestate Games. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, some details may be subject to change as the game evolves and additional updates are released. Players are encouraged to check official channels, such as the Escape from Tarkov website and social media pages, for real-time updates and further details. The content presented here reflects the current understanding of the 0.16.8.0 update as of July 2025.
