Escape From Tarkov goes through a complete wipe every five months or so. This is the perfect time to jump in as a new player, given that your gear and character will be in the same place as everyone else’s. Giving up this gear and starting fresh is the great leveller for Tarkov, and it leads to some of the best firefights in the game as players with busted-up SKS rifles go toe to toe with those clutching cheaply made, half-built submachine guns. 

Better yet each wipe chucks a load of new content into the mix meaning that each loop a Tarkov player completes — Groundhog Day style — things will be just a little different.  

Usually, Battlestate Games will start teasing a wipe on Twitter, before slowly triggering crazy in-game events for players to enjoy before the rest. In the past we’ve seen airdrop-heavy events precede a wipe, as well as intense tweaks to enemy AI and boss behavior. Essentially, the game’s meta is thrown to the wind, as players fight to stay alive under increasingly ridiculous circumstances. Here’s what you need to know about the next Tarkov wipe.

When is the next Tarkov wipe?

The next Tarkov wipe will trigger ‘this Summer’, based on an interview between game director Nikita Buyanov, and streamer Pestily (links to YouTube).

These wipes tend to happen every 5 months or so, and the last one took place on December 27, 2023, meaning this will be a slightly longer wait between wipes.

What is a wipe in Escape from Tarkov?

Every five/six months or so, an Escape From Tarkov wipe happens. This marks a full reset for players, with progression, quest progress, inventories and reputation with traders all being affected. This means that the period immediately following a wipe tends to be the best time for new players to jump in, as all players are on a level playing field in terms of gear. 

Battlestate Games tends to build up to a Tarkov wipe by slowly disregarding the game’s meta, adding in events that completely shake up the in-game economy. In the past, this has involved nightmarish weather changes, bosses appearing in huge numbers in certain areas, and even events where air drops are ridiculously plentiful.

 For more on shooting games, check out our list of  Elsewhere, check out our list of upcoming games coming out in 2024.

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