Escape From Tarkov, the critically acclaimed tactical first-person shooter, has long been known for its intense gameplay and steep learning curve. Its Arena mode, a favorite among players seeking a more competitive experience, previously required significant in-game currency investment and commitment to a single progression tree. This system often led to a grind-heavy experience, where some classes or specs were costly and would eventually lead to losing all your roubles.
In a recent announcement, Battlestate Games has listened to its community’s feedback and implemented a significant change: all ranked presets in Escape From Tarkov Arena are now entirely free.
Now, let’s clear up this confusion. This doesn’t mean that all presets are accessible. The grindy trees are still there and still costing the same. It’s just the first ranked tab that gives you presets based on your rank, and they are all free. This wouldn’t quite do it because when you lose a match, and you probably will, you will still gain 0 roubles. There still needs to be a way to get more roubles.
The only way to gain roubles is by playing shootout.
Balancing changes to Escape from Tarkov: Arena:
All ranked presets are now free#TarkovArena pic.twitter.com/ngx7tHddui
— Escape from Tarkov: Arena (@tarkovarena) January 10, 2024
Battlestate Games has created a more level playing field by freeing ranked presets, but it still feels short. Regardless of time commitment, all players can access the same equipment quality in ranked matches. This change is particularly beneficial for those who wish to climb the ranks based on skill rather than time spent grinding. Either way, Arena needs way more balancing than what it has now. So stay put. It’s going to be a long ride.
