The patch notes for Escape From Tarkov update 0.14.9.5 have been released, and they finally add one of the most requested features of all time; the ability to play the PvE mode locally on your PC without having to find an available server.
Ever since the PvE mode, somewhat controversially, launched in Tarkov a few months ago players have been asking why they need to connect to a server to play what is a single player experience for many. With every PvE player having to join a server, it meant there was massive load on the server infrastructure, which led to long matching times that turned a lot of players off the game.
However, following today’s update you will be able to play single player PvE matches locally on your PC, without having to connect to a server. This means there will be no matchmaking timer, and you should be able to get into the game within a matter of seconds. AI has also seen massive improvements in the patch to make the experience even better.
There are a few caveats with this new feature, however. While the experience will be identical to playing online, you will not be able to run scav raids offline and, strangely, you will not be able to play Streets of Tarkov at all without connecting to a server. Obviously, any co-op PvE raids will also require connection to a server to work.
The team at Battlestate Games has warned that there may be some teething issues to get through with this offline PvE mode, but once they have been solved and everything is stable, every player will be able to purchase access to the mode in the form of a microtransaction.
Elsewhere in the 14.9.5 patch notes there’s some other heavily requested features. A wish list has been added, allowing you to identify items you need to find in raids, and you will get a notification pop up when you loot one, so forgetting what you need to upgrade your hideout should be a thing of the past.
There’s also the addition of a community poll feature, which the developers will use to question players on what they want to see in Tarkov. This should give them better feedback than using social networking sites, as they have done previously, as a wider player base should see the questions.
The patch also introduces three new quest lines in Escape From Tarkov. The Nostalgia quest line is exclusive to Edge of Darkness Edition owners, while other lines have been added to the PvE to unlock the Mark of The Unheard item and another in all versions that will give players the chance to unlock expanded PMC pocket sizes, which owners of the Unheard Edition get for free.
Rounding out the patch notes are a lot of balancing changes and bug fixes, which should make Tarkov a lot more fun to play over the coming weeks. Considering a new wipe is around a month away, it is a little surprising to get such a big patch now, but it’s by no means a bad thing!
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