Tarkov players are now talking about the news about Escape from Tarkov: Arena, the session-based multiplayer shooter. As unexpected as it may seem, a battle pass system seems to be coming, complete with new cosmetics and skins. Battlestate Games has been teasing these developments on social media recently.
A recent Twitter post showcased the CQCM Mask, a popular item among players known for their aggressive playstyle. The mask features a custom skin. But this also opens another question: will there be similar content coming to the main, hardcore extraction-shooter-based game?
#TarkovArena pic.twitter.com/SArTsg9C1R
— Escape from Tarkov: Arena (@tarkovarena) April 6, 2025
The free battle pass for Escape from Tarkov: Arena will be designed to reward players based on their gameplay. Players can look forward to unlocking exclusive items, skins, and experience boosts through dedicated XP grinding. The more time you invest in the game, the more rewards you’ll receive.
This battle pass will be free of charge, as confirmed by Battlestate Games’ Nikita Buyanov just two days ago. However, it’s important to note that while Escape from Tarkov: Arena itself isn’t free, being a spin-off of the core extraction shooter, it does offer this bonus.
#TarkovArena pic.twitter.com/nXMIGRC0CQ
— Escape from Tarkov: Arena (@tarkovarena) April 4, 2025
The teaser includes glimpses of interesting aesthetics like the CQCM skin. Many are now speculating how these changes might affect the broader ecosystem of Escape from Tarkov. Will functionality allow skins and cosmetics to transfer to the main game’s extraction mode?
Escape from Tarkov’s wipe pattern typically resets progress every six months, so it could be possible to transition into a seasonal structure featuring a battle pass model. This would require huge content updates alongside. Considering how long it takes BSG to implement even one gun in-game (which can take months), that’s quite an ambitious expectation.
