Nikita Interview on Tarkov, Arena, and the Game's Soul

On the 1st of April,k on Null1k channel on Twitch, Nikita Buyanov, the head of Battlestate Games, engaged in a wide-ranging conversation, offering insights into the development of Escape from Tarkov (EFT) and related projects. This article delves into each question posed and Nikita's comprehensive responses.

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Before we begin, I’d like to express my gratitude to Null1k for conducting the original interview with Nikita.

Very special thanks also go to Midnight Lyrics for the incredible work of transcribing and translating the interview from Russian into English — without their effort, this article wouldn’t have been possible.

A big thank you as well to Airwingmarine and his Discord community, where the translated interview is available. I encourage all readers to check it out and thank Midnight Lyrics directly for their outstanding contribution.

If you speak Russian, you can watch the full interview directly on Null1k Twitch Channel (Click the link to jump to the exact timestamp where the interview begins).

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Initial Mood and Well-being

The conversation began with a casual check-in from "Null", inquiring about Nikita's mood and overall well-being. Nikita responded with a touch of weariness, stating, "It's hard to live. It's like this. There's a lot to do, work, we're not young anymore". This initial exchange sets a somewhat grounded tone for the discussion, acknowledging the pressures of game development. A lighthearted moment followed concerning Nikita's webcam, where he jokingly asked to be made "as small as possible. And put me under the sofa somewhere".

The Highly Praised Minotaur Event

One of the central topics discussed was the recent "minotaur" event in Escape from Tarkov. Null noted the community's experience with it, expressing hope that such content would continue. Nikita's reaction was overwhelmingly positive. He exclaimed, "Yeah, I know, that's the best one. I think it's the best thing that's happened in years with EFT. The guys have been doing really cool stuff, you know, narrative, action, this and that, that kind of stuff. I kind of said right away: we need to keep doing stuff like that, add it to the story quests".

He further expressed his satisfaction, saying, "Oh, yeah. I'm even more than satisfied, because it turned out cool, it turned out to be such a single player experience. No, it's cool. But it turned out to be an opportunity to feel some unusual vibe, not of Tarkov, but of some of the horror, of some of these games. It's cool, it's cool, I really liked it".

Crucially, Nikita confirmed the future of the minotaur event's narrative, stating, "What's more, it's going to be a story quest alone afterwards altogether. Well, that's just the way it is. Because there is a lot of narrative in this quest, in this event in general, story narrative. There's a lot of stuff related to the game and to the story quests, which will be further on. So yeah, it's going to be in the game, of course it will be in the game, definitely it will be, unequivocally, it's a great thing". This indicates a clear integration of the event's lore into the main storyline.

When Null suggested the possibility of more such "dungeons" in different locations in the future, Nikita responded optimistically, "Those ideas will definitely evolve. That's 100%. Because there are big enough such serious plans regarding all the functionality that was added. Yes, it will be cool".

He also described the event as "a good development of tarkov. Combined multiplayer-singleplayer experience", hinting at future developments along similar lines, potentially evolving into something "basically like Destiny, but not a grindy game, but just going through the story together".

Nikita stressed the importance of player feedback on the minotaur event, stating that "your feedback, your positive comments and your interest is the most important thing. In fact, it determines what is important, what is interesting, what should be done and what should not be done. So, so play, test".

Arena's Release on the Epic Games Store

The conversation then shifted to the upcoming release of Arena on the Epic Games Store, scheduled for April 10th. Null asked for Nikita's comment on this decision and what players should expect. Nikita explained the rationale behind the choice, saying, "Well, because they are good guys, they treated us so well, they gave us good conditions, that's why. So we thought, why not? We'll try to do it in Epic Games Store, and then we'll do it in Steam as well". He explicitly reassured players that "For those who think it won't be on Steam, everything will be on Steam, and EFT will be on Steam, and the arena will be on Steam. That's it", clarifying that the Epic Games Store release is not exclusive. Regarding what to expect, Nikita simply stated, "Fun!".

Arena Access and Future Content

Null then inquired about how players would gain access to Arena and if there were plans for a Battle Pass. Nikita remained somewhat tight-lipped on the specifics, likely due to internal communication protocols. However, he did confirm that "there's gonna be content, there's gonna be a lot of content. There's gonna be a lot of rebalancing. Camouflage on guns. It's gonna be all right".

He further elaborated on weapon skins, stating, "Yes. First it will be in arena, then we'll drag them to tarkov, because there are a lot more guns in tarkov, a lot more mods. Although in the arena there's a lot of them too, to be honest. Well, there are some technical peculiarities there". This indicates that weapon customisation, including skins, will be a feature in Arena, with a potential future implementation in Escape from Tarkov.

Nikita's Perspective on the EFT Player Base and the Game's "Soul"

Nikita shared his profound thoughts on the Escape from Tarkov player base and the game's enduring appeal. He stated, "Actually, you know, I would even say that it's not that the game is cool, but everything that it spawned, a whole subculture of people and in general millions of players are united by one idea: ‘Suffering is cool’ actually".

He believes that Tarkov has reopened a door to a more hardcore gaming experience, noting that "tarkov is not only about the extraction shooter he created, but tarkov is probably about opening some door that was closed in the good old days when games were new to everyone and there was real hardcore. I feel like we opened that door again and as a result we've kept that door open for almost 10 years now, if not more, and will continue to keep it open. And there's so much more to come, you have no idea".

Nikita acknowledged the game's imperfections but highlighted the immense amount of work and content that has been created. He also touched on other companies attempting to replicate EFT's success, stating that they "can't copy the soul. Morons, you know". He emphasised the crucial role of the players, saying, "the soul of EFT lies not only in the programmers who do it there, but in you too, who play there, because you are the fuel that burns in this fire, you know".

Last Moment of True Happiness

A more introspective question asked Nikita when he last felt truly happy. His response was surprisingly poignant, "Oh, man. Fucking hell. I'm allowed to swear in here, aren't I? Anyway, I honestly don't remember. I've forgotten to be happy at all, because even if something good happens, even if everything is good, you still group yourself together, because you think, ‘Oh, shit, something is going to go off somewhere else, something is going to go off somewhere else, something is going to hit you in the ass 100 percent’. That's why I'm not used to it. It's actually okay, you're perpetually mobilized, but it's not easy. Because you get depressed a lot. And you can't really be helped by any wealth and opportunities and stuff. It just happens that you don't have any energy and strength, because you are just overloaded, burned out. And that's just so that separately directly happy..... Shit, I don't remember, it must have been a long time ago when I got my Playstation 1". This candid answer provides a glimpse into the pressures and demands of his role.

Will the Release of EFT Bring Happiness?

Following this, Null asked if the eventual release of EFT might bring Nikita closer to happiness. Nikita's response was nuanced and realistic. He explained that "a tarkov release isn't just a button pushed or there's a series of marketing events or there's just changing the beta plate to 1.0. It is a very serious business process, a very serious social process, it is such a difficult thing that can't be done in one day, because the tarkov release is not just “We released and forgot about the game”, we have to continue to develop this whole thing and we have to continue to restructure it in some way so that it would be more efficient, so that we would put on stream these cool events that we decided to launch in full. And we have to continue to surprise people somehow, despite the fact that the game is already 10 years old".

He anticipated a potential influx of players and technical challenges upon release, concluding, "No, I won't. I even know why I won't be happier. Because it's probably going to be such an influx of players, we're going to have everything start cracking up so much. And we'll be so ddos, everyone will get together and ddos us. Why? Because what, I don't know. The disturbers of the peace...".

Interaction with the Development Team

Null then inquired about the dynamics within the development team, asking how they approach Nikita with concerns or ideas. Nikita described the team structure, stating that "we have for a long time, for many years, the guys have been divided into sub-teams and sub-teams are not that separate people, for example, people who do programming or separate people, animators. No, these are some task forces that work on different parts of the game. They work on the event, on location expansions, on location optimization, and they are all friends with each other...".

He expressed his positive interactions with the team, noting recent improvements in their efficiency. He also affirmed his constant involvement in the development process, saying, "I do it all the time. Non-stop, every day... Of course, everything goes through me. What, you don't think I'm involved? Everything goes through me. And design... Denis sends me something all the time, always asking for my comments, and a lot of things... And the design and all of it we're approving. On story quests, all sorts of things, there's graphic design, constant calls, I'm constantly adjusting something. I tell them how to do it better. So it's always going on, it hasn't gone anywhere".

The Future of PVE and Prestige

A significant portion of the conversation addressed the future of the PVE mode, particularly regarding prestige and a potential connection to the Arena. Null highlighted that many players, particularly those with more experience, have moved to PVE and are interested in its development.

Nikita's stance on PVE prestige is nuanced. He stated firmly, "Well I can't you guys and ladies... I can't tell you “I want to do a prestige opportunity in PVE”. It's prestige to play online EFT. It's prestigious to suffer there, it's prestigious to die there. For natural and unnatural (unfortunately) reasons. Well that's a lot more respectful. Because I planned the game to be online and didn't think there would be any PVE mode at all. We suffer, we play in PVP. Simple. And get prestige for it. That's it".

He acknowledged internal discussions about potentially adding "some ‘Kind of prestige’" to PVE but expressed concern that it "would equalize them with those who play PVP", questioning whether "those who play PVE, they're not as cool as those who play PVP?".

He left this question unanswered, indicating ongoing internal deliberation. Nikita also reiterated that "PVE was introduced so that newcomers understood the basics and went to PVP to play. In fact, yes, that's the way it is".

PVE as a separate mode

Regarding the development of PVE as a separate mode, Nikita suggested that "if we had some crazy opportunities now, and most importantly, the forces of a fundamental nature, to further develop all this stuff at a powerful pace, then of course a very serious DLC is planned". However, he then jokingly mentioned a high price point for such DLC.

He clarified that "The closest DLC we'll have is most likely Scav Life. There's a lot of things planned there: playing as a boss and quests for the wild and in general all sorts of cool stuff, customization. And PVE development I think it just needs to be a separate DLC of some kind, so that, again, there will be some economic background". He dismissed the idea of a subscription model and stated that the current priority is to "fix the maximum of everything".

Arena and PVE

Concerning the connection between Arena and PVE ("Ref"), Null specifically asked about this. Nikita confirmed that "It's planned. We've been planning this for a long time, it's going to happen, there's just certain issues with it all. I just don't remember why we're not doing it now. Probably because, again, we prioritized fixes and stuff like that". This assures PVE players that a connection to the Arena mode is still on the development roadmap.

Feelings About Cheaters

When the topic of cheaters was directly raised, Nikita expressed a sense of frustration and difficulty in communicating the complexities of the issue. He stated, "Oh, man, I'm really-- I don't need to answer that question. I don't know what kind of communication strategy to choose to make people understand at least a little bit how it all works". This suggests ongoing challenges and perhaps a feeling of being misunderstood regarding the efforts to combat cheating.

Hardcore Mode Without Flea Market and Prestige System

Null inquired about the possibility of a "hardcore type mode planned without flea market?". Nikita deemed this "unlikely" given the game's current evolutionary direction. However, he did mention an idea related to prestige, "that you can after prestige.... Get prestige and you can start a new game, specifying ‘perks’ and debuffs. And it will be different somehow". This suggests a different form of hardcore experience tied to a prestige system, rather than simply removing the flea market from the current game.

Legendary Weapon Modifications

The topic of "legendary’ modifications for weapons" was brought up, referencing a previous discussion about special loot dropping from bosses. Nikita confirmed that this had "been planned for a long time, like five years ago, but for some reason we still can't get it all into the game".

He noted that a significant portion of the initial game design already included such features but that completing everything is unlikely to avoid endless development. He hinted that "We will add something like this in some DLC".

The Cat in the Hideout

A more whimsical question concerned the persistent community request for a cat in the hideout. Nikita admitted, "Yeah I want a cat added to the shelter myself, for sure". However, he humorously prioritised game performance, asking, "Well, man, we have other priorities, we're fixing the game. Do you need the game to run better and faster? Or don't you?!". This lighthearted exchange acknowledged the community's desires while highlighting the development team's focus on more critical issues.

Is Release Tomorrow?

In a classic community question, Null asked, "Is the release tomorrow?". Nikita's straightforward answer was, "No, not tomorrow".

Tubes

Another specific community request was about adding the ability to "shoot with tubes". Nikita simply replied, "It's coming, it's coming. Wait for it. It's coming. Yes", offering a clear confirmation, albeit without a specific timeframe.

If you're wondering what "shoot with tubes" means, that expression is most likely a quirky or awkward translation referring to tube-shaped weapons — in other words, rocket launchers.

Null's Thanks and Nikita's Closing Remarks

The stream concluded with Null expressing personal gratitude to Nikita for his support. Nikita responded with a general sentiment of goodwill, stating, "Good people should be helped! There's even this thing that no matter who you are... you should help those you can help. It is good and it is right and it will make our world a better place".

He bid farewell, mentioning an upcoming Tarkov TV podcast, and acknowledged feeling slightly unwell but wanting to rest.

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There’s always something new to discover in Escape from Tarkov! Stay up to date with the latest News, Tips & Tricks, and In-Depth Guides, by checking out our links or starting from our Homepage. New to the game or just looking for more insights? Don’t miss our EFT: Tutorial section!