Battlestate Games has released a major update, 1.1.0, for Escape from Tarkov, which completely changes the familiar gameplay experience. The developers have placed a major emphasis on quest chains: merchant leveling progression is now non-linear, and group mission completion has received long-awaited mechanics.
Previously, players had to follow a strictly defined path. Now, this new feature unlocks a whole host of side missions as merchants’ loyalty levels increase. You choose where to go first.
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How does shared progress work in a squad?
A key step toward player satisfaction is the introduction of the shared progress system. Now, the contribution of each soldier in the group is accounted for simultaneously, eliminating the need to visit the same location five times for a single quest.
How exactly squad progression works in patch 1.1.0:
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Completing tasks together: Eliminating targets, finding quest items, and marking objects are counted for all group members simultaneously.
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Regardless of quest status: Progress is credited even to teammates who don’t yet have the quest on their active list—as long as it’s unlocked by their trader level.
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Reduced tedium: Teams no longer need to share rare quest scavengers or perform runs for each PMC in turn.
Squad efficiency has increased significantly. This significantly lowers the entry barrier for newcomers coordinated by experienced teammates.
Key changes to side quests in 1.1.0: what’s easier and what’s more challenging
Battlestate Games studio hasn’t simply reshuffled the conditions; they’ve carried out a comprehensive balance overhaul. Some iconic missions have become passable, while others have become a real headache for solo players.
Quests Made Easier to Complete
Some traditionally “stuffy” quests have been significantly simplified. The developers have reduced item limits and simplified map requirements:
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Tigr Safari (Customs): Instead of raiding three Tiger armored vehicles, you now only need to equip a marker to one vehicle.
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Bad Habit (Cigarette Collection): The requirement to collect 5 packs of Strike, Marlboro, and Wilston is gone. Now you need to accumulate 15 packs of any cigarette.
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Regulated Materials: The required number of military shells for surrender has been reduced from 5 to 3.
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Informed Means Armed: The developers have completely removed the cache point on Customs, leaving the missions only on the Woods and Interchange maps. Quests with significantly more challenging conditions
Fans of fast runs will have their work cut out for them. A number of initial missions now require a more hardcore approach:
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Stirrup: Previously, you needed to eliminate three PMCs with a pistol in any location. Now you need to eliminate ten operators, and only on the Factory map.
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Safe Corridor: The objective has changed fundamentally. Instead of simply clearing the subway on Reserve, you now need to eliminate five Scavs and hand over three keys to this zone with the “Found in Raid” (FIR) checkmark.
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Urban Medicine: Simply exploring the laboratory behind the Lexos dealership no longer completes the quest; the game now requires eliminating ten Scavs on the Streets of Tarkov.
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Fishing Gear: You no longer need to hide a sniper rifle and multi-tool in a container. The new stash kit includes a multi-tool and UNTAR armor.
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Chumming: The Interchange location is completely excluded from the requirements—you’ll only have to shoot targets at Customs and in the Forest.
Comparative analysis of key quests in 1.1.0
To save you from having to reread Wikipedia articles, we’ve compiled the main changes to the mechanics into a convenient table:
Practical takeaway for players
Rework 1.1.0 breaks the usual pattern of leveling up at the start of a wipe. You won’t be stuck in the early stages searching for rare cigarette brands or shells anymore, but the “Stirrup” quest will turn the Factory into a real bloodbath. Plan your initial raids as a squad to get the most out of the new shared progression system.
