Battlestate Games, the developer behind 'Escape from Tarkov'—the game that essentially pioneered the extraction shooter genre—made an appearance at ChinaJoy 2026. The visit was even teased with the arrival of the studio's head, Nikita Buyanov. Before leaving, I wondered if it was really necessary for Nikita to make an appearance, but the moment I stepped onto the show floor, it all made sense.

As soon as I entered the venue, it was clear that Tarkov's popularity in China was beyond imagination. I frequently ran into people cosplaying as Tarkov bosses, and the Battlestate Games booth was packed with crowds. I managed to secure an interview with Nikita on-site, where I was able to ask him about his thoughts on participating in ChinaJoy, as well as the current state and future of Tarkov.

How do you feel about participating in ChinaJoy 2026.

"This is my first time participating in ChinaJoy. I think it will be a very positive experience for Battlestate Games as a whole.

Let's start with your recent activities. You recently held the 'Icebreaker' and 'Blackout' updates. First, what was the reaction to the Icebreaker update?

" Through this update, we confirmed that players respond positively to these types of events and find them enjoyable. Based on the data we collected, we plan to create more similar events in the future. Our development process was further refined while preparing for this update, so you can look forward to even more impressive events ahead.

Were there any particular difficulties during the development of Icebreaker?

" Creating new areas and features is time-consuming, but there were no major difficulties. We had the opportunity to optimize our internal processes during development, which I believe will be a great help for future projects.

What kind of combat experience did you want to provide to players through the Blackout event? Please tell us if there was any specific motivation or inspiration behind planning this event.

" We wanted to provide a hardcore and intense combat experience for players seeking a serious challenge. That’s why we introduced the Blackout mode, where players engage in combat in total darkness using only night vision goggles and flashlights. Rather than a specific inspiration, the starting point was our desire to capture the atmosphere of the 'Black Division' that the community loves, and we thought it would fit perfectly if we had players engage in combat in a laboratory set entirely at night.

I'm curious about the future narrative expansion of Tarkov. How do you plan to further expand the game's narrative.

" We plan to expand the narrative by introducing more story-driven quests. This will help players explore the world of Tarkov.

Could you briefly explain the changes that will come with the launch of a Battle Pass in Tarkov.

" The Battle Pass system will allow players to unlock various cool items as they play the game. As for the specific items or changes you can acquire, I'll leave that as a surprise, as we really like it when players discover things for themselves rather than us explaining everything directly.

Many players are looking forward to PvE Prestige.

" PvE Prestige will definitely be released within this year. One thing I can say for sure is that the rewards will be different from those in PvP Prestige. We want to give PvE players unique rewards.

What are Tarkov's goals for the remainder of this year.

" To continuously improve the game and provide new DLC. We want to meet the deadlines promised in our roadmap before the year ends.

Lastly, please say a word to the Korean Tarkov fans who will be reading this interview.

" Hello to our Korean users! First of all, thank you so much for playing Tarkov. I am well aware of how passionate you are about the game. I sincerely appreciate your love and support. I hope you will continue to believe in the vision of Tarkov, and I will do my absolute best to ensure that Escape from Tarkov delivers the best possible gaming experience. I hope you all enjoy the first season of Tarkov, KORD BREACH!

Tarkov's First Season, 'KORD BREACH'

Meanwhile, following the interview, Battlestate Games continued with an introduction to Tarkov's first season, 'KORD BREACH'.

The key features of KORD BREACH include a new narrative, a Battle Pass, and a modifier system.

First, along with new content, players can experience quests that expand the narrative of the Black Division, one of the key factions in the Tarkov universe. The free Battle Pass system provides exclusive rewards fitting for the season. As for the modifier system, it allows players to enjoy the game in a more hardcore way or simplify certain aspects of the game for a more casual experience.

The KORD BREACH season will be applied on August 3rd, and detailed information can be found on the official website.