Escape from Tarkov fans saw a recent teaser video uploaded on social media by Nikita Buyanov, and many of them jumped on one tidbit. These videos are typically published to tease things coming in future updates, and much of this clip pointed to Kord Breach, the upcoming first season of Escape from Tarkov, set to drop this month.
Towards the end of the video, there’s a second or two during which Nikita pans over a female action figure dressed in military garb and wielding a submachine gun. That was enough to prompt some to think that female operators might be coming to this popular extraction shooter.
Not Really, Though
Unfortunately, it’s highly unlikely that a female PMC is being added to Escape from Tarkov. The game has been on the market for almost a decade, in one way or another, and the inclusion of female playable characters has never been anything more than a passing consideration.
In the new video uploaded by Nikita Buyanov, we see an action figure at the end of a bunch of Kord Breach teases, and, fair enough, it kind of fits the universe. The female character is even toting a couple of items from the game, including Tagilla’s ‘Boss’ cap.
One user questioned: ‘Female character? Is this just an action figure, or are you adding an option? I seem to remember you saying this would never happen, but I could be wrong.’ Another wrote, ‘Female operators coming into Tarkov, it’s about to get sweaty.’
In reality, this character has been seen a few times before in some artwork and clips uploaded by the team at Battlestate Games. It’s not the first time we’ve seen her, but not everyone will know that.
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Battlestate Games has leaned into the concept of female characters a few times, but it has never gone beyond anything conceptual. Last year, during the Tokyo Game Show, BSG was selling body pillows plastered with a gender-swapped Shturman, who now represented an anime waifu.
Those who bought one of these body pillows would have also received acrylic cut-outs featuring female renditions of The Goons, a trio of bosses iconic to the extraction universe.
At this point, the only core female character in Escape from Tarkov is Therapist, a medical-focused trader who has been in the game for many years. That’s unlikely to change anytime soon.
However, some competing titles, like Arena Breakout: Infinite, have taken that female-oriented plunge and added two genders.
Do you think Escape from Tarkov should get female PMCs? 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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