Datamining is now a bannable offense in Escape from Tarkov
Escape from Tarkov is renowned for its high level of difficulty and mercilessness towards new players. The game deliberately hides vital information such as spawn rates and penetration values. Typically, players can turn to external websites for this information, but a new policy change may put an end to that.
Datamining Now Prohibited in Escape from Tarkov
On June 23rd, 2023, Battlestate Games, the developers of Escape from Tarkov, tweeted from its official page regarding the “Illegal Datamining of information.”
Datamining involves extracting raw data from game files, often revealing information not intended for public release, such as details about upcoming events. In Tarkov, datamining can also uncover changes in ballistics and quests.
The post explains what data mining is and how it violates several clauses in the license agreement. It also states that datamining removes the “wow factor” from the game and makes it more predictable, which contradicts the development vision.
Image by PC Invasion
Battlestate Games’ stance on sharing datamined information is likely to cause controversy. The post suggests that anyone sharing this information risks a ban and that further action could be taken against them. Battlestate Games also mentions that the Wikia is an official resource, even though it may not always be up to date.
Unforeseen events in Escape from Tarkov always generate excitement within the community on social media platforms such as Reddit. However, without dataminers, we may not be privy to game-changing details, leaving us to rely on guesswork.
As a long-time player of Escape from Tarkov, I remember heavily relying on external resources to survive my first wipe. On one hand, this new policy may make the game even more challenging. On the other hand, not knowing everything on day one could be an invigorating change for the community.
If you’re preparing for the next wipe and trying out Warzone DMZ, check out our guide hub.
Escape from Tarkov is infamous for its steep learning curve and brutality for newcomers. Many helpful stats like penetration values and spawn rates are hidden from the player by design. Usually, a quick browse of external websites can shed light on information like this. In the future, that might not be the case, thanks to a new policy change.
Datamining is now a bannable offense in Escape from Tarkov
On June 23rd, 2023, Battlestate Gamesthe developers of Escape from Tarkov, tweeted from its official page regarding “Illegal Datamining of information.”
Datamining is where raw data is pulled from the game files. Usually, it reveals information unintended for public consumption, like details on upcoming events. In Tarkov, this data can also reveal changes in ballistics and quests.
The post explains the definition of data mining and how it breaches several clauses in the license agreement. The post goes on to say that data mining removes the “wow factor from the game but also makes the game much more predictable, which does not align with the development vision.”
Image by PC Invasion
The part that’s likely to draw ire is Battlestate Games’ stance on sharing data-mined information. The post eludes to bans for any “personalities” sharing said info with the potential for further action. Battlestate games also mention that the Wikia is an official resource, although it’s not always up to date.
Sudden events in Escape from Tarkov always have the community buzzing on Reddit and other social media platforms. The concern: we won’t know game-changing details without the help of data miners, and the community will have to rely on guesswork.
I’ve played Escape from Tarkov for years and remember how much I relied on external resources to survive my first wipe. On one hand, this policy might make the game even more insurmountable. On the other, maybe the community not knowing everything on day one will be a refreshing change.
If you’re trying out Warzone DMZ in preparation for the next wipe, check out our guide hub.
