Escape from Tarkov: important updates in April 2026

Escape from Tarkov, the popular extraction shooter developed by Battlestate Games, has recently received a major update. Version 1.0.4.5 brings a range of improvements and balance changes aimed at refining the gameplay experience. In this article, we break down the most important changes and their impact on the game.

Key improvements in the update

This latest patch includes several important changes, with a strong focus on performance and overall usability. Some of the standout updates include:

• Increased FPS cap in the menus to make navigation smoother.

• Reworked the post-raid system, reducing the time it takes to exit a raid.

• Optimized the animation and audio engines, resulting in more efficient use of system resources.

• Changes to shooting mechanics, especially for the left-shoulder stance, so firing feels less abrupt when near obstacles.

Changes to K/D statistics

One of the most talked-about changes in this update is the new way kill-death (K/D) ratio is tracked. K/D stats will now record player kills only, meaning kills against NPCs no longer count. This has led to significant drops in displayed K/D ratios for players who previously inflated their stats by farming NPCs.

The goal of this decision is to provide a more accurate picture of player performance in PvP combat, supporting a more authentic approach to skill and competition in the game.

Deep changes to weapon modifications

Another major part of the update is the second phase of weapon modification changes, with a focus on grips and barrels. Players can now make better choices between short and long barrels, with longer barrels reducing recoil more but also carrying higher ergonomics penalties.

• Grips no longer reduce recoil; their role is now to offset the ergonomics drawbacks of barrels.

• Suppressors have been reworked, making them less valuable for recoil control.

• Many iconic weapons, including AK variants and bolt-action rifles, have had their base stats improved for a better gameplay experience.

Overall performance and bug fixes

The update has also fixed many bugs and improved the game’s overall quality. Loading processes for several maps, such as Shoreline and Ground Zero, have been improved, and the way players return from raids to their inventory has been optimized to reduce wait times.

Several bugs have been fixed, including visual glitches like flying bodies and issues where damage was not registered after a weapon jam. The update also adds character adjustments and items from the sister title EFT: Arena, bringing more visual variety to the game.

With these major updates, Escape from Tarkov continues to become more refined and is moving toward an even more competitive setting. The community seems to appreciate the changes, especially the shift toward more transparent skill tracking. These developments pave the way for the expected 1.0.5 update, which will introduce new content and challenges.