Escape From Tarkov Patch 0.16.7 Brings Major Fixes and QoL Updates

The latest patch for Escape from Tarkov (0.16.7) introduces a variety of fixes and improvements, directly addressing player feedback. The developers at Battlestate Games have focused on enhancing the audio system, refining AI behavior in both PvE and PvP scenarios, and adding numerous quality-of-life improvements that players have long requested.

One of the standout features in this patch is the expansion of the audio engine. According to Battlestate Games, the sound subsystem has been significantly overhauled to provide a more immersive experience. However, the studio cautions that while the patch has gone through extensive testing, it’s still a work in progress, and players may encounter unexpected audio issues in certain situations. The team emphasized that the patch is part of a larger testing phase, aimed at collecting valuable player feedback to refine the system further in future updates.

Here’s a breakdown of the changes included in the 0.16.7 patch:

Audio Enhancements

• Improved sound processing when the listener is behind obstacles like rocks, vehicles, and crates, making the experience feel more realistic.
• Better sound penetration through walls, floors, and stairways, ensuring that players can hear sounds clearly in various indoor environments.
• Fixed issues with sound muffling, particularly when sounds were processed incorrectly.
• Enhanced the occlusion effects on interactive windows and doors.
• Reduced the volume of bushes when viewed from both first and third person.
• Resolved the issue where announcer warnings would be missing in The Lab map when using interactive buttons.

AI Improvements

• PMC bots now avoid areas where location bosses spawn and are less likely to engage in combat with them.
• Fixed issues causing bots to move faster than expected on stairs and uneven surfaces.
• Addressed the issue where bots would appear to float in the air or sink into the ground.
• Fixed issues where bots would tilt their weapons upward unnecessarily.
• Resolved bugs where friendly bots would mistakenly assist each other, including boss guards and PMC bots.
• The Goons, a type of AI enemy, no longer appear in multiple locations at the same time in PvE.

Quality of Life Updates

• A new item search window has been added to help players find specific items in their stash by name or category.
• Eyewear and masks with flash protection now reduce the glare effects from light sources, and these items have been rebalanced for better performance.
• The in-game raid time is now displayed by pressing the [O] key by default, helping players keep track of their mission time.
• Currency is now automatically converted when players don’t have enough funds to purchase an item, making shopping more convenient.
• Attachments that are available for purchase from traders are now highlighted in the weapon build screen.
• Players can now pin tasks to the top of their task list, helping them keep track of important objectives.
• A warning has been added when attempting to start a raid with a task item in the inventory, preventing accidental mistakes.
• The sensitivity and zooming functionality of optical sights have been rebalanced for better usability.
• Redut series body armor now includes nape protection (Redut-M, Redut-T5), and the cost of these armors has been adjusted accordingly.
• The transition to a different location now counts for all tasks with survival and extraction objectives, making these tasks more consistent.
• The RShG-2 rocket launcher has received a rebalance to improve its overall performance.

While these changes represent a significant improvement to the game, Battlestate Games is still actively gathering feedback to make further tweaks. Players are encouraged to share their experiences and issues with the developers to help refine the game even more in future updates.