Nikita Buyanov, the head of the studio at Battlestate Games, has revealed the ‘simple GPS’ that’s coming to Escape from Tarkov, the tough-as-nails extraction shooter. The function is designed to help newer players become accustomed to maps, and despite being entirely optional, the tool has made some of the game’s more dedicated players rather annoyed.
Battlestate Games teased the arrival of the GPS several months ago, alongside other features that would make Escape from Tarkov ‘easier’, thus rendering the game more welcoming for new players. Those who have spent years playing the game don’t seem to understand that, to stay in business, Tarkov’s developers kind of need more new players.
Escape from Tarkov’s GPS is Simple
The Escape from Tarkov GPS tool is being implemented as a ‘special slot’ tool that users can employ at will, and it’s not a forced feature. It’s in the same category as the compass or a range-finder, effectively a tool that can supplement your Tarkov experience without impacting other users.
Nikita Buyanov posted an image on social media showcasing the UI element of the GPS and confirmed it will be a ‘special item’, but said nothing else.
From what it looks like, it’s a simple UI-based tool that points you towards your nearest extraction point. It gives you an arrow to follow and a distance-to-target metric, and that’s about it.
It’s unclear exactly how you’ll get this GPS, and it’s not obvious if it’ll be tied to certain criteria, like only being available on certain maps or to players of a particular level.
In the comments under Nikita’s post, the reveal drew some mixed feedback.
One user wrote: ‘The game is literally based off (the) modern era, so why can’t our operator afford at least a simple GPS? I don’t understand the hate.’ Another said: ‘It amazes me how many people complain about an item being added to the game that makes the game more accessible to new people.’
At the far end of the spectrum, folks were vehemently against the addition:
Get this sh** the fu** out of my game.
Another said: ‘This is horrible, Tarkov is becoming an absolute joke.’
There isn’t really any issue with the GPS being added to Escape from Tarkov, and it’s not coming out of left field. This is something that was known about for several months.
Are you concerned about the new GPS coming to Escape from Tarkov? Let us know your thoughts on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
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Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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