On October 29, 2026, Battlestate Games began rolling out Update 1.3.0.0 for *Escape from Tarkov*, which it develops.
Zombie Apocalypse Meets Masked Melee Combat!? Halloween Celebrations Arrive in *Escape from Tarkov*
As part of the Halloween event in *Escape from Tarkov*, a new game mode has been added where players must escape a zombie virus outbreak.
Halloween in Tarkov:
The epicenters of the outbreak are two locations—“Infected Lab” and “Infected Factory”—which will appear in a separate map selection tab as dedicated maps where the event’s main activities take place.Choices That Shape the Story: Players
will encounter a new quest line that requires teamwork. Players can choose to help maintain quarantine in low-risk, standard locations or venture directly into outbreak zones teeming with infected enemies to search for vaccine ingredients.New Maps: Special “Infected” versions of “The Lab” and “The Old Factory”—completely overrun by the infection
—will be available for selection. These maps can only be played by small groups of players, and insurance will be disabled.Dangerous Enemies: Infected enemies—
whether fast, slow, or attacking from a distance—now feature rebalanced combat mechanics, including more distinctive behaviors and surprise attacks. The “Infected Tagilla,” which swings a scythe, returns to raids, and “Infected Black Division” operators will also appear.Additionally, with Cultist activity on the rise, nighttime raids have become even more dangerous.Themed Rewards: By completing story quest lines
and eliminating Infected, you can earn commemorative achievements and rewards, including special event posters and valuable in-game resources.
Additionally, “Escape from Tarkov: Arena” will introduce “Bloodlust,” a new mode inspired by classic horror movies.
Bloodlust: A 5v5 team-based mode based on the
CheckPoint mode. Firearms cannot be used. Players must enter the Arena wearing masks inspired by iconic horror movie killers and rely solely on melee weapons to fight.Rewards: Experience points earned from matches
and kills are doubled, and Battle Pass progression bonuses are 1.5 times the normal rate. You can earn the “Mask Off” achievement by collecting bounties and completing a special quest line.
In addition to the Halloween event additions, this update includes numerous other updates. Please check the post on the official X account for details.
Please note that the technical update related to the transition to Unity 6, which was originally scheduled, has been postponed and will now be implemented as part of Update 1.3.5.0 in mid-November.
*Escape from Tarkov* is currently available for PC (Steam/official website).
