Six Prestige levels arrive in Escape from Tarkov's bot-only PvE

Escape from Tarkov is a first-person shooter built around raids: players fight other soldiers and looters, then try to escape alive with the loot they have collected. Its Steam store description calls the genre 'extraction FPS' and describes Tarkov as its originator[5]. Developer Battlestate Games took the servers offline for 5 to 7 hours from 4 p.m. KST on October 6 to install patch 1.2.0.0[2][3]. The patch notes posted on Steam that day focus on PvE Zone[1]. This mode pits players against bots rather than other people. Friends can enter together, and progress is not wiped[5]. The information below is current as of October 7, 2026.

What carries over after a reset

The headline addition is Prestige for PvE Zone. The system lets high-level players start again while retaining some progress, earning unique rewards in return[1]. Patch 1.2.0.0 introduces six levels. Requirements include a high character level, completion of specific tasks and the main story, construction of hideout facilities, possession of certain items and funds, and skill levels. They become more demanding with each Prestige level[1].

Starting over does not mean losing everything. Players can keep some gear and retain up to 50% of their character skills and weapon mastery[1]. Only the PvE Zone profile is reset[1]. Most rewards remain with the PvE Zone character. Some, however, can be used across all modes, including TarCoin, unique dog tags, melee weapons and the Gamma secure container[1].

The requirements for the first level are less demanding than in PvP[1]. Players who have not reset their progress since the full release can make their first reset through this Prestige system. Along with the rewards, a reset unlocks the full-release content, story, Icebreaker chapter and future events[1].

Bots roam further and cooperate more often

PMC bot behavior in PvE has also changed. Bots move more actively toward points of interest and task areas, including places they previously did not visit[1]. PMC bots are now always present from the start of a raid, with more consistent numbers and a more even spread across the map[1]. Their gear and ability vary by level and faction. Each location has bots of an appropriate level, with more high-level bots in The Lab[1].

The faction changes do not all favor the player. Bots from the two PMC factions, USEC and BEAR, are now much more likely to cooperate[1]. Meanwhile, PMC bots more often initiate attacks on Scavs and bosses. On rare occasions, they may leave a player PMC alone until the player gets close or fires first[1].

There are also new rewards for bringing in a friend who is just starting. Under EXFIL Brothers, an experienced player designated an Operator, whose account is more than 7 days old and who has reached level 30, can connect through a referral link with a friend designated a Candidate, whose account is less than 7 days old. Both then gain 5% more experience in raids they enter together[1]. Rewards for the friend include 9.5 million roubles and 5 support kits, while rewards for the experienced player include up to 1,200 TarCoin per friend[1]. The program does not link with Escape from Tarkov: Arena[1].

The rouble line near the end

Near the end of the patch notes, the Expansions Hub section contains a single line saying players can now buy roubles, the in-game currency, in PvE Zone[1]. The TarCoin DLC sold separately on Steam describes TarCoin as a currency used for purchases such as seasonal bundles in the Expansions Hub[5]. The patch notes do not say what players can use to buy roubles, or how much they cost. With holding funds among the Prestige requirements, whether the price and purchase limits for this offering will be disclosed remains an open question for PvE players.

Steam's most-played ranking for October 6 (UTC) put Tarkov at No. 89, up from No. 106 the previous week, with a peak of 39,085 concurrent players that day[4]. On the Korean Steam store, access to PvE requires separate purchases of the base game and the PvE Zone DLC. As of October 7, the base game is discounted 25% from its regular price of KRW 69,500 to KRW 52,120, while the PvE Zone DLC is discounted 15% from KRW 42,500 to KRW 36,120[5]. The higher-edition upgrade, The Unheard Steam Edition Expansion Pack, includes the PvE co-op mode, so owners of that edition do not need to buy the DLC separately[5].

Sources

[1] Battlestate Games. Patch 1.2.0.0. Steam announcement, October 6, 2026.

[2] Official Escape from Tarkov X account (@tarkov). Scheduled installation of patch 1.2.0.0. October 5, 2026.

[3] Official Escape from Tarkov X account (@tarkov). Patch 1.2.0.0 installation begins. October 6, 2026.

[4] Valve. Steam most-played games API (GetMostPlayedGames). Data for October 6, 2026 (UTC), accessed October 7, 2026.

[5] Valve. Escape from Tarkov on Steam (Korea). Store description, including base game and DLC prices, accessed October 7, 2026.