For shooter players, sound is extremely important. Whether it’s Call of Duty, Rainbow Six: Siege, or Counter-Strike, everyone wants to hear footsteps as clearly as possible. Often players complain that the sound is too poor, but now in Escape from Tarkov, players are complaining that the sound is too good.
What about the sound in Escape from Tarkov? The extraction shooter Escape from Tarkov (EFT) is known for its good sound, but there were also problems that players openly criticized.
One of these problems was the so-called “Crab Walking,” where players moved crouched at minimal speed. The Crab Walking was too quiet and therefore too effective.
On April 15, Escape from Tarkov introduced a change to the sound with patch 0.14.5.5, increasing the volume of Crab Walking—crouched running at minimal speed is now louder.
Additionally, the volume for searching containers, the volume of your gear, and the sound of weapon switching were adjusted. In general, new sounds were added for weapon switching depending on the length and type of weapon.
Why is the sound now too good? Even though many players really like that Crab Walking is now louder and more clearly audible, the shooter community criticizes that Battlestate Games has gone overboard.
Shortly after the release of the patch, content creator “ThatFriendlyGuy” tested the distances from which Crab Walking can now be heard. The result: 43 meters. Additionally, his teammate could hear him sprinting over 100 meters with a very light loadout. (via X.com). With light loadouts, you are faster and quieter in EFT than with heavy or overloaded loadouts.
What exactly are the players saying? The topic has been discussed within the community on Reddit, and many players feel that the volume of various movements can now be heard over too great distances. Reddit user TastyBeefJerkey writes: “All distances from which something can be heard are too long.”
User doctorwoofwoof11 adds: “At the moment, I am convinced that BSG thinks all operators are as loud as when you come home late and try to quietly get into the house and into bed without waking your girlfriend.” Reddit user Ingmarr also criticizes the change: “I hate this change as a solo player.”
Some players see a new meta emerging with the patch. Instead of the Crab Walking meta, there will now be the “Statue meta,” it is stated in the comments, because every step can be heard loudly. Reddit user Febraiz writes: “No one will move now.”
Other players, however, suggest that the headsets you can wear in the game that give you an advantage in sound perception should be removed or nerfed. That would solve the problem.
If you are still looking for headphones that allow you to hear footsteps in shooters as well as possible, MeinMMO editor Dariusz has an affordable recommendation: Audio expert designs headphones for under 30 € and I’ve never heard footsteps so well in a shooter
