Halloween has arrived in Tarkov, and things are getting ugly. Battlestate Games has launched a major seasonal event for Escape from Tarkov, bringing infected enemies, dangerous new outbreak zones, and plenty of reasons to watch your back.
The outbreak’s epicenters are The Infected Lab and Infected Factory, two special locations now available through a dedicated map selection tab. Players can tackle a new questline by helping contain the infection in standard locations or take a bigger risk by venturing into outbreak zones to hunt for vaccine components.
The infected come in several varieties, including fast, slow, and ranged attackers with updated behaviors and surprise attacks. Things get even nastier with the return of Infected Tagilla, now armed with a scythe, alongside infected Black Division operatives. Night raids are particularly dangerous thanks to increased Cultist activity.
The event also brings exclusive rewards, including a commemorative poster, achievements, and valuable in-game resources. Just remember: insurance is disabled in the special outbreak locations.
Arena Gets a Classic Slasher Treatment
Meanwhile, Escape from Tarkov: Arena is getting its own Halloween treatment with Bloodlust, a new mode inspired by classic slasher movies.
The team-based 5v5 CheckPoint battles ditch firearms entirely. Instead, players enter wearing masks inspired by iconic horror movie killers and must settle their differences using melee weapons. It’s a straightforward recipe for Halloween chaos.
There are some worthwhile incentives, too. Players can earn double XP for matches and kills, a 1.5x Battle Pass progression bonus, cash prizes, and the special “Mask Off” achievement by completing the event questline.
Between infected raids and knife-only arena battles, Battlestate Games is giving Escape from Tarkov players a suitably nasty Halloween. Whether you’re hunting for vaccine components or simply trying to survive a masked melee brawl, it’s probably a good time to watch your back.
