These are explained below via the game’s GamePedia page: There are currently four different modes to choose from, and four more are in the works (Story Mode, Open World Mode, Arena Mode, Premium Mode). The gameplay is built around similar “looter shooter” style FPS games such as PUBG (PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds), but also includes many MMORPG elements found in games like World of Warcraft. This forms the basis of the game, as players choose between these factions vying for power or selecting the option to be a “Scav” who is unaligned and seeks potential treasure and loot as a freelance faction. With conflict in the zone escalating, the region’s borders were sealed off, trapping those inside within the war zone. In Tarkov, a political scandal involving these corporations erupted into an armed conflict between Russian Internal Troops, United Nations peacekeepers and the two private military companies: United Security (USEC) and BEAR. The creation of this zone then attracted malicious corporations looking to take advantage of potential wealth and the city of Tarkov became the center for the conflict. The plot of this title revolves around a fictional conflict in Northwestern Russia, surrounding a “special economic zone” that served as a gateway between Russia and Europe.
Initially, development for Escape from Tarkov began in 2012 with plans for the game to receive a traditional full purchase release with no free-to-play or microtransaction elements.