Patch 0.15.5.0: New Features, Achievements Rewards, QoL Updates and Halloween Event!

The latest Escape from Tarkov Patch 0.15.5.0 is up and it brings an array of gameplay improvements, quality-of-life updates, and the Halloween event. Let’s delve into the new features, rewards, and what players can expect from this packed update.

Inventory Interaction During Matching: A Game-Changer

One of the standout updates in this patch is the ability to interact with your inventory while waiting in the matchmaking queue. Now, players can organize their stash, list items on the Flea Market, and check on active tasks—all during the initial matchmaking phase. This addition saves valuable time, especially for players who like to clean up their stash, manage Flea Market listings, or get a quick overview of pending tasks while waiting to deploy. While the anticipated Hideout access during matchmaking didn’t make it into this patch, the stash interactions are a strong start.

Achievement Rewards: Earn Once, Keep Forever

This update introduces achievement rewards that carry over across wipes, which can be reclaimed with each new wipe. Players who earned multiple achievements from the Tarkov Mystery event will now receive a reward for each achievement. Additionally, the Master of ULTRA achievement now grants the Adik Tracksuit, replacing the previous Stylish One task requirement, making this popular reward easier to obtain.

Pin and Lock Stash Items: the QoL improvements we all waited for

After what felt like an eternity of "are we there yet?" and "soon" moments, the long-awaited "pin" and "lock" functions have graced Escape from Tarkov at last! Here’s what you need to know:

• Locked Items: These are like the sacred relics of your stash, immune to accidental mishaps—no selling, no crafting, no deleting, no moving. They’re locked down tight!

• Pinned Items: You can keep these precious items out of auto-sorting's reach, yet they remain free agents for all other activities—sell them, craft with them, delete them, move them… if you dare.

  
  

And the holy grail of inventory management—the auto-arrange function—is now fully operational to keep your stash in pristine order. No more Tetris nightmares!

Halloween Event: Labs, Zombies, and New Questlines

Adding to the excitement, Escape from Tarkov launched a Halloween event alongside this patch. Labs is currently free to access and has been overtaken by infected zombies, creating a tense atmosphere for players venturing into its corridors. These zombies move quickly and some are even armed with pistols loaded with AP ammo, so players will need to stay alert. For a deeper look into the Halloween event and strategies, check out the dedicated Halloween event article.

The event introduces a taskline that begins with Jaeger and involves gathering samples of infected blood. Labs also features a new area that requires power to access, where valuable loot and quest items await players who dare to explore. This Halloween event is set to spread across maps, with the infection expected to escalate and potentially affect other areas by the weekend, adding another layer of challenge to the game.

Unity 22: Why It Didn’t Make the Cut in This Patch

Although Unity 22 was highly anticipated in Patch 0.15.4.0, which ultimately never saw the light of day, Nikita confirmed in the recent Tarkov TV podcast that the engine upgrade didn’t make it into this patch due to technical hurdles. Despite nearing completion, the complexity of Unity 22—which impacts core aspects of the game’s foundation—led to the decision to delay its release until the New Year’s patch (0.16). For a full breakdown of the Tarkov TV podcast and Nikita’s insights, you can refer to the Tarkov TV podcast article. This approach allows the team more time to refine the update and prevent potential issues that could disrupt gameplay.

New Weapons and Attachments

For those looking to expand their arsenal, the patch adds the MPS Auto Assault-12 (AA-12) shotgun, available in Gen 1 and Gen 2 models. This automatic shotgun has strong potential to shift the meta, particularly in close-quarters combat, where its stopping power and rate of fire can deliver significant damage. Pairing this shotgun with powerful ammunition, like Magnum Buckshot, could make it a go-to choice for players seeking a new way to dominate tight spaces.

In addition to the AA-12, new bipod mounts and attachments for SCAR, G36, and AUG rifles have been added, meeting a long-standing request from the Escape from Tarkov community. Players have been eager to see more weapons capable of mounting bipods to fully utilize the game's recently added feature that allows for weapon stabilization on bipods.

Final Thoughts

With an exciting blend of new features, achievement rewards, and quality-of-life improvements, Patch 0.15.5.0 has something for every type of player. The Halloween event brings fresh tension and rewards, while updates like stash interaction during matching and the improved pin-and-lock options provide new ways to streamline gameplay. With even more anticipated content on the horizon, including Unity 22 and a winter-themed New Year’s patch, Escape from Tarkov continues to evolve in thrilling new directions.