A new update has launched for Escape From Tarkov that finally adds the expansions hub that has been promised for years. The hub allows players to purchase in-game items directly in the client, using a new premium currency that can be purchased for real money.
The new Escape From Tarkov expansions hub is primarily an improved way to purchase microtransactions that were previously only available through the game’s official website. Now, you can simply boot up Tarkov, head to the expansions hub and purchase these items directly in the game, making a massive quality of life improvement for players.
However, the new hub does make some changes, primarily the introduction of TarCoins as an in-game currency. Previously these were in game items that could be found in raids and then sold on the flea market if you wished. Now, while they can still be found in raids as rare loot for free, the coins will automatically be stashed in your TarCoin wallet, and added to your balance. This means they can no longer be sold on the flea market.
You can use these TarCoins to purchase most of the Escape From Tarkov expansions in the expansions hub. Things such as clothing and cosmetics, voice packs and, perhaps most excitingly, stash upgrades can all be purchased by using TarCoins. That means, if you get lucky enough while playing, you could theoretically unlock these premium extras for free by collecting enough TarCoins in raid.
Of course, players can also purchase TarCoins for real money if they wish. TarCoins are available both in game, and on Steam to purchase, with 500 TarCoins costing $4.99. If you buy larger bundles, you will be given more coins for your cash, with a $9.99 bundle giving 1100 TarCoins for example.
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The prices for the in game cosmetics are not terrible, with a single bit of in game clothing costing around 600-700 TarCoins, similar to the cost on the website expansion store, but they do follow the typical pricing structure a lot of games use where they are priced so that they will almost always require you to buy more coins than you actually need for the item you want.
Also included in the expansion hub are bigger upgrades such as different editions of the game and the PvE mode expansion. These cannot be purchased with TarCoins, only with real money, and follow the same pricing model as before.
The Escape From Tarkov expansion hub is a nice addition to the game and makes things a lot easier for players who wish to drop more money on Tarkov. The pricing structure isn’t the most egregious ever seen, and being able to find TarCoins in game is a massive positive, so in general this change seems like a good thing. However, it remains to be seen what other content will be added, and without a regular stream of new items and expansions this could end up feeling like a bit of a waste of time for players who have already unlocked all the core gameplay bonuses and do not wish to buy cosmetics.