Escape From Tarkov update 0.12.12.15.4 patch notes: DLSS, new guns, skill reworks

Andrew Highton
player holding shotgun in escape from tarkov

Battlestate Games are constantly striving to make Escape From Tarkov a deeper and more complete experience, and this is very evident with the new 0.12.12.15.4 update patch notes.

Escape From Tarkov is not for the faint of heart, as this punishingly difficult FPS makes use of hyper-realism to create a compelling and challenging game.

The game has enjoyed a lot of success and attention thanks to one of the game’s biggest fans – Dr Disrespect – and players continue to enjoy its deviation away from the formula of mainstream FPS games.

Escape From Tarkov is still technically in its early access phase, despite being available since 2016, and constant updates are being deployed to fine-tune and iron out niggles. The 0.12.12.15.4 update is the latest round of changes by the devs, and we have the full patch notes for it.


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EFT player holding gun sideways
The popularity of Escape From Tarkov continues to rise, especially with popular streamers showcasing it.

Escape From Tarkov update 0.12.12.15.4 release date & time

The 0.12.12.15.4 update for Escape From Tarkov was released on April 13, 2022, and is live in the game right now.

It includes all the patch notes that we will list below for you to read.

Escape From Tarkov 0.12.12.15.4 update features: DLSS, QOL changes & fixes

The headline addition in the new Escape From Tarkov update has to be the welcoming of Nvidia DLSS to the game. For those unaware, this sophisticated piece of technology greatly enhances the game’s performance on your system, boosts the frame rate, and makes the graphical fidelity sharper and crisper.

Furthermore, Revolvers have been added to the game, along with some new ammo types to discover during your salvaging sessions.

Not only that, but the devs have adjusted some of the Skills to balance them out a bit and address a large number of Quality of Life fixes.

player in escape from tarkov reloading clip
Escape From Tarkov is an FPS unlike any other on the market.

Escape From Tarkov 0.12.12.15.4 patch notes

Optimizations:

  • Added several optimizations for the game server and network component;
  • Optimized memory consumption of 3D models;
  • Added optimizations for physics and CPU time for processing light source visibility;
  • Optimized shadow and cloud shaders;
  • Improved game stability during issues with backend connection;
  • Improved the speed of loading into a raid;

Functionality:

Nvidia DLSS 2.3.1 has been added to the game.

DLSS is developed to increase frame rate during high GPU usage. If the game already runs on your PC at a high frame rate, then your graphics card’s frame rendering time may be faster than the DLSS execution time. In this case, DLSS is not needed because it will not increase the frame rate. However, if the game is heavy on the graphics card (FPS is below 60fps), then DLSS will provide an optimal performance boost. In this case, you can increase your graphics settings to get the most out of DLSS.

    • DLSS will give an FPS boost only if your graphics card worked under 97-100% usage before DLSS;
    • If the GPU doesn’t work with high usage, you can increase it by selecting higher graphics settings, and then enabling DLSS;
    • DLSS works best at high resolutions, we recommend using it with monitors with a 2560×1440 resolution and higher.
  • Auxiliary tools used in some crafting recipes will return back to stash after production completion;
  • Added weapon and armor repair kits. These kits can be found in raid, but can only be used while not in a raid. The effectiveness of repair kits is affected by the Weapon Maintenance and Intelligence skills;
  • Added revolvers:
    • Chiappa Rhino 200DS chambered in 9×19
    • Chiappa Rhino 50DS chambered in .357
  • Added new ammo types:
    • .357 Magnum Soft Point
    • .357 Magnum JHP
    • .357 Magnum Hollow Point
    • .357 Magnum FMJ
  • In the near future, we will also add two more versions of Chiappa Rhino chambered in .40 SW and 9×21 ITA.
  • Added leveling for revolver mastering;
  • Improved Rogue AI to enhance their teamwork interactions;
  • Reworked the spawn mechanics for Scavs in order to exclude spawns near players and inside objects. Additionally, it’s aimed to remove the ability to spawn at Scav or Rogue sniper positions as player scavs;
  • Added the ability to click the NEXT button on the PMC USEC/BEAR faction selection screen before the models are fully loaded;
  • Updated the sounds of pouch interaction for several weapon and magazine types;
  • Reworked the stats of the Endurance elite level skill
    • Increases breath recovery speed by 50% (was 100%)
    • Increases stamina by 20% (was 25%)
  • Added the ability to sort tasks by location in the quest menu;
  • Reworked the Scav behavior mechanics on Factory while players are fighting Tagilla;
  • Added inertia for bots when accelerating and decelerating, added speed settings for bots during stationary turning and running;
  • Bots will no longer shoot while switching stance (for example, when trying to go prone or stand up);
  • Added the ability to replace an operational task in the trader quest menu. The replaced task will be considered failed. The cost of each subsequent replacement will increase until the task’s completion timer runs out;
  • Disabled environmental sounds (like wind or rain) while loading into raid;
  • Added a new type of operational task – elimination while using a specific weapon class, like sniper or assault rifles;
  • Added overheating ability for several weapon attachments;
  • The death screen now shows a player’s nickname if you were killed by a Player Scav;
  • Added the Connection Type tab to the game settings section, select HTTP in case of issues with access to the functional sections of the lobby. The setting does not affect the game performance during raids;

List of fixes:

  • Bots are now aggressive to Player Scavs again if they shoot at another Player Scav;
  • The cultist knife toxin durability now remains correct after it’s picked up by another PMC
  • Added the NVG enable/disable sounds for other players;
  • Control settings in the Live client no longer reset to default if the player has the ETS client installed with different control settings;
  • Fixed possible interface freezes when interacting with inventory and closing it by pressing the Tab key;
  • Glukhar’s guards no longer stop shooting at players when switching weapons after Glukhar’s death;
  • Fixed visual water artifacts at the reservoirs on Lighthouse;
  • Objects are now correctly displayed in thermal vision goggles with high values of resampling enabled;
  • The weapon mastering is now leveling correctly while using MTs-255-12
  • Bots now correctly decide to use prone positions when engaging a player;
  • Bots no longer appear right in front of players on Customs;
  • Postman Pat task can now be finished correctly after completing all objectives;
  • Ammo no longer disappears from the inactive weapon while unloading chamber with a hotkey immediately after swapping weapons;
  • Fixed some places on locations where the airdrop supply crate could get stuck;
  • The NEXT button no longer disappears if the players returns to the faction selection screen from the character appearance/voice or nickname screens;
  • Active Headset sound effect no longer persists between offline raids;
  • Low graphics settings no longer distort object textures while using night vision devices;
  • Switching between tabs on the character screen now remains possible after deleting a plan map by hotkey and buying a new one;
  • The killer’s name now displays correctly on the killed player’s dogtag if they were operating a stationary weapon;
  • Fixed an issue with not being able to place multiple MS2000 Markers in one raid if the player performed other hand actions while placing the marker;
  • Shooting and environmental sounds no longer change after reloading in an offline raid;
  • Informational loading screen banners now auto-switch again;
  • Bullet impacts on water now display correctly on Customs;
  • Fixed the aiming zoom for MTs-255-12 and MP-43-1C shotguns.

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About The Author

Andrew Highton is a former Games Writer for Dexerto. He has a Creative Writing degree from Liverpool John Moores University and has previously written for games websites such as Twinfinite and Keengamer. With 13,000+ PlayStation Trophies to his name, Andrew is a fan of a huge variety of video games, his favourites being God of War and Metal Gear Solid. Contact him at andrew.highton@dexerto.com, on Twitter @AndyHighton8 or at www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-highton.