Battlestate Games has dropped a major mid-wipe patch involving a lot of optimization, technical fixes, and big changes to the PvE mode. Here’s everything you need to know about Escape from Tarkov’s 0.16.2.0 patch.
Complete 0.16.2.0 Patch Notes in Escape from Tarkov
While the game’s current state has been struggling heavily with performance, they have the following optimization fixes for patch 0.16.2.0:
RAM or memory usage has been one of Escape from Tarkov’s biggest problems for almost a decade. The optimization changes should hopefully help players gain more FPS and better performance regardless of which map they are playing.
Streets of Tarkov will still be the hardest map to run in terms of performance, so if you can run that map smoothly on your PC, the other maps should perform better.
Gameplay changes:
Most changes improve the AI factions in the game, including AI PMCs in PvE mode. All AIs get a slight nerf, but AI PMCs get a 20% buff in detecting enemies, making PvE slightly harder when encountering other PMCs.
Since we are technically in the mid-wipe season, bosses and Cultists have increased spawn chances, making raids more exciting and helping other players finish their Huntsman Path quests.
The Two Biggest Changes in Escape from Tarkov’s Patch 0.16.2.0
The two biggest changes are the Player Scav spawn time changes and their gear buff. This is a drastic change to Escape from Tarkov’s overall gameplay, and it could be in its “experimental” stage to see how it goes before it is permanently kept for the next wipe.
They conducted some surveys previously, and it seems like players will be getting the results of their feedback.
“Player Scavs can no longer spawn before 17 minutes into a raid, excluding Factory, Reserve, and Ground-Zero.”
PMCs should feel safer playing since they wouldn’t have to deal with incoming Player Scavs joining the raid early. One of the main problems in running into a tight situation is that even if you wiggle your way out of a mess or win a tough, drawn-out fight, Player Scavs usually swoop in to ruin the fun.
PMCs shouldn’t have a massive disadvantage like this since they risk their hard-earned gear to the raid. Since the Player Scav spawn timings are pretty “fixed” now, players can play around the timer and attempt to finish what they can before the Player Scavs arrive.
From a different perspective, this can be seen as a nerf for those who love to play as a Player Scav and enjoy fighting other PMCs with random but worse gear or loadouts. It is nice that BSG already thought about this and decided to “buff” Player Scav loadouts depending on your Fence reputation. Regardless, “Scaving” should be more profitable because of the change, even if you spawn way later in the raid.
Enzo Zalamea
Enzo is a staff writer at Prima Games. He began writing news, guides, and listicles related to games back in 2019. In 2024, he started writing at Prima Games covering the best new games and updates regardless of the genre. You can find him playing the latest World of Warcraft expansion, Path of Exile, Teamfight Tactics, and popular competitive shooters like Valorant, Apex Legends, and CS2. Enzo received his Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management in De La Salle University and multiple SEO certifications from the University of California, Davis.
