Escape From Tarkov Devs Confirm CQB Stances and AK Animation Overhauls

Battlestate Games is doubling down on the punishing realism that defines Escape From Tarkov. In a recent developer diary, technical 3D animator Mikhail Ivanov confirmed that the studio is working on several highly requested features, including tactical stance shifting and a major overhaul for the game's most iconic weapon platform.

CQB Stances and Weapon Realism

For years, players have requested the ability to manage how their PMC carries their firearm. Ivanov confirmed that the team is officially planning to add High Ready and Low Ready stances to the game. Currently, players are locked into a default High Ready position. The new Low Ready stance will allow players to hold their weapon in a more relaxed grip, conserving stamina and reducing muscle fatigue during long raids, though it will come with a delay in reaction time when a threat appears.

Ivanov noted that these additions are intended to increase player immersion while also making AI combatants move and react in more believable, human-like ways.

AK Platform and Animation Overhauls

The AK weapon series is slated for a significant visual and mechanical update. According to Ivanov, the animation work and modding logic for the platform are already finished. Players can look forward to more granular customization, such as independent control over handguards and gas tube covers—including the ability to run an AK without a gas tube cover entirely. While the team is currently navigating implementation challenges due to the sheer number of existing AK presets and changes to the underlying weapon skeleton, they expect the update to arrive in one of the major patches coming soon.

Beyond the AK, the studio is moving through a full animation overhaul for other weapons, with the Mosin rifle next in the queue. Development is also currently underway on new magazine loading animations. Because of the diverse range of magazine types—from standard boxes to complex drum and P90 mags—the process is complex, but the team expects to roll these out sometime in 2026.

The Road to Season 1

Battlestate has outlined a busy schedule for the coming months. July kicks off with a 'Blackout' event, serving as the lead-in to the launch of Season 1. The season is set to introduce a complete task rework, the ability for groups to share kill objectives, and balance adjustments to both the hideout progression and the insurance system. Players can also expect new gear, weapons, and additional support for beginners.

Looking further ahead into the third quarter of 2026, the Game Updates roadmap includes the arrival of ranked leagues, a full rework of the Lighthouse map, and the move to the Unity 6 engine alongside FSR 4.0 integration. The developer is also exploring several quality-of-life additions, including a simplified GPS system, new friend-invite incentives, and the option to bypass Prestige requirements for a significant in-game fee.