If you’re an avid Escape From Tarkov fan, then this question starts to lurk around inside your head once every so often: ‘When is the next wipe?’ It’s a monumental event – that game-wide refresh that rests everyone back to level pegging in an instant, and it often brings white-hot content updates pouring into the game. Well, let’s answer that question, shall we? When is the next Escape From Tarkov wipe, and what is it going to look like?
What Is a Wipe In Tarkov?
When Escape From Tarkov ‘wipes’, every player is reset to level one, and their entire ‘stash’ – which is their collection weapons, equipment, money, and so on – is completely pushed back to the state it was when they first purchased the game. From there, players must once again climb the ladder, build their empire, complete early-game tasks, and rebuild their in-game hideout.
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It’s a balancing mechanic, as it ensures that all players will at one point be matched in terms of equipment and opportunities. It also ensures that the game is kept somewhat fresh, as there is a point when the most experienced Escape From Tarkov players will simply have nothing left to do in the game but play it.
When a wipe hits, it typically brings with it a major update. These updates change the face of the game, often introducing entirely new maps, modes, characters, weapons – even new movement mechanics and physics elements.
When Is The Next Escape From Tarkov Wipe?
It’s not possible to know exactly when Escape From Tarkov’s next wipe will be, but we can make an educated guess. Typically, a ‘wipe’ – which can otherwise be described as a season – will last around six months in-game.
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Here’s some data about the last Escape From Tarkov wipes, such as how long they lasted and when they took place:
- August 10th, 2023 (Most Recent Wipe), Lasted 225 days – the longest gap ever
- December 28th, 2022, Lasted 183 days
- June 28th, 2022, Lasted 198 days
- December 12th, 2021, Lasted 165 days
- June 30th, 2021, Lasted 188 days
- December 24th, 2020, Lasted 210 days
- May 28th, 2020, Lasted 214 days
- October 27th, 2019, Lasted 201 days
Recently, the ‘next’ Escape From Tarkov wipe has always arrived six months after the preceding wipe. That means that the next wipe should arrive in February 2024 – but this time around, we know that isn’t the case — we have a little forward warning this time around.
In a roadmap reveal, Battlestate Games announced that the next Tarkov wipe will be landing in December 2023, bringing about the shortest gap between wipes since 2019. It’s a guaranteed gift in the festive season for any fan of the game, as this particular Tarkov wipe will bring a huge amount of content to the game.
How To Tell When Tarkov Is Going To Wipe
Traditionally, Battlestate Games, the developer of Escape From Tarkov, will start scheduling special events just before a wipe is due to hit. In the past, Escape From Tarkov’s wipe events have been:
- Maximum-value loot spawning in very specific locations on the map
- All the game’s bosses spawn on the same map
- Players spawning in poisoned and need to find a cure
- Players spawning in with a ‘stim’ injector that could give them ‘super soldier abilities’
- In-game traders offering their wares for just a few coins
- Multiple loot airdrops falling in all at once
If the Tarkov events start ramping up, then you know that the next Escape From Tarkov wipe is starting soon.
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Escape From Tarkov is available exclusively on PC.