Battlestate Games is adding a third matchmaking category to Escape from Tarkov’s character types. On March 21, 2026, studio head Nikita Buyanov answered a player question on X, replying “no” to whether seasonal PMCs would share queues with permanent server PMCs.
You can find the official writing on X below:
no
— Nikita Buyanov (@nikgeneburn) March 21, 2026
The change formalizes a separation that already existed in spirit between PvP and PvE players. Under the planned system, players will be able to run traditional seasonal PMCs that wipe at the end of a season and also access permanent PMC characters that do not face wipes. Seasonal characters will carry season-exclusive events, unlocks, and achievements that won’t be available to permanent PMCs.
How the community reacted
Some players welcomed the clearer distinction because it keeps freshly-wiped seasonal characters from facing long-established permanent accounts. Others warned the split could thin Tarkov’s active pools and increase queue times on some maps and times of day. Insider Gaming relayed concerns from prominent community figures, including LVNDMARK, who ran a rough breakdown showing how splitting by PvP, PvE, permanent PvP, map count, and daytime/nighttime rotations could stretch the playerbase…
That last point is basically a long-standing tension for live-service shooters, more player categories can improve match fairness, but fewer players per pool can hurt matchmaking speed and the feel of populated lobbies. Battlestate hasn’t published technical details about how it will route seasonal versus permanent PMCs, how servers will be balanced across maps, or whether cross-pool measures will exist for low-population windows. For now the studio’s public confirmation is limited to Buyanov’s single-word reply and the outline that seasonal characters will be separate from permanent ones.
If you play Tarkov, this will be important to you on how often you wait for a raid and who you meet when you load into a map. The move likely benefits players who want a shorter-term, season-focused experience and those who prefer an economy-free, permanent account, but it could frustrate anyone who already feels match populations are stretched thin.
Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us whether you think Escape from Tarkov can support this extra split. You can also follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram.
Escape from Tarkov
Developed by Battlestate Games
