Nikita Buyanov Calls Escape from Tarkov a 'Testing Phase' for Future Projects

For nearly a decade, Escape from Tarkov has served as the foundation of the modern extraction shooter genre. Its brutal gunplay and punishing mechanics from Battlestate Games defined a specific brand of hardcore gaming. However, studio head Nikita Buyanov recently shared a perspective on the project that may surprise long-time players.

In a recent interview with IGN, Buyanov described his work on Escape from Tarkov as a long-term learning experience. "I guess the Tarkov experience, it was like a testing phase for us for 10 years in a row, that we should start making some real games now, something that will be even more challenging to do," Buyanov said. He noted that he intends to use the lessons learned from the title to explore new genres, potentially creating something entirely new as he did with the extraction shooter format.

A Transition to Rant Gaming and Sci-Fi

Buyanov is currently leading a new studio, Rant Gaming, where he is developing a project titled Fragmentary Order. While the announcement of a new venture might cause concern regarding the status of his previous work, Buyanov emphasized that he remains committed to the future of Escape from Tarkov. He explained that moving into a more established genre with Fragmentary Order brings a unique set of challenges, stating that the development process is currently "several times" more difficult than the early days of Tarkov.

"Creating Tarkov, nobody understood what it is, and we basically were in the middle of nothing. We didn't understand what it is all about, how it will be," Buyanov explained. "In Fragmentary Order, it is more clear, but it doesn't mean that it will be easier."

The Vision for Fragmentary Order

While Fragmentary Order is set to maintain the hardcore first-person shooter DNA of its predecessor, it will move away from the modern-world military settings fans know. Instead, the game will take place within a science fiction universe spanning the solar system.

The team at Rant Gaming aims to push the boundaries of grounded realism to an extreme. Rather than focusing solely on weapon handling and tactical combat, the objective is to build a cohesive universe where mechanics are deeply integrated with the narrative lore and visual aesthetic. The goal is to create a living, breathing environment where players feel fully immersed on a global scale. As of now, Fragmentary Order remains deep in development with no confirmed release window.