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A promo code drop turns into a community wide joke

Escape from Tarkov players woke up to a surprise this week, as Battlestate Games released a brand new redeem code that looked almost too good to be true. Studio head and Tarkov director Nikita Buyanov shared what he called a “special promo” on social media, complete with an image showing stacks of top tier gear like a FLIR optic, an Altyn helmet, piles of Bitcoins, and a THICC case. For a game known for its brutal difficulty and punishing loot system, it was enough to get every fan’s attention.

The code in question was PAY2WIN, and yes, that was the first hint that something wasn’t quite right.

What Players Actually Received From the ‘PAY2WIN’ Code

After rushing to redeem the code, players quickly discovered the punchline. Instead of game changing loot, the free bundle contained what many consider the weakest and most useless item combination in Escape from Tarkov.

Here is what the code grants:

  • 12x 12/70 Dual Sabot slugs
  • UZRGM fuze
  • GP coin
  • Rye Croutons
  • Tac-Kek FAST MT helmet (Replica)
  • Transformer Bag (T-Bag)
  • TOZ-106 bolt action shotgun
  • Blicky (20x1mm toy gun)
Escape from Tarkov code

Image Credit: Battlestate Games

Veteran players didn’t take long to point out why this bundle is so bad. The Dual Sabot slugs have only 17 penetration, making them nearly useless against the Class 4 armour that most Tarkov players run. The TOZ-106, infamous for its slow cycling and tiny magazine, is a weapon rarely used even in budget builds. The Blicky toy gun, firing rounds at 20 metres per second, is a meme item more than a weapon.

Things don’t get much better on the defensive side. The Tac-Kek FAST MT replica helmet sits at Armor Class 1, offering almost no protection. The T-Bag backpack provides just nine slots, making it one of the least efficient ways to carry loot. As for the extras, the GP coin is barter fodder, Croutons grant a tiny amount of energy at the cost of hydration, and the fuze can’t even be thrown without assembling a full grenade.

A Friendly Joke From the Director

While some players were briefly disappointed, most took Buyanov’s code for what it is, a lighthearted jab at the long running community jokes about Tarkov being “pay to win.” Although some fans have raised concerns about certain systems over the years, the wider community does not generally consider the game pay to win, and the code’s name appears to be a tongue in cheek reference to that criticism.

Buyanov did not mention how long the code will stay active. Given that it’s intentionally useless, it may remain redeemable for quite some time.

Why the Joke Landed So Well

Escape from Tarkov has a history of giving out free promo bundles, many of them quite generous. Over the years, players have come to expect occasional freebies tied to events, updates, or community milestones. That track record made the misleading preview image even more believable, and for a few hours at least, social media was flooded with excitement as players imagined what the code might include.

The reveal that the bundle was intentionally terrible only added to the humour, with fans sharing screenshots, laughing at the item list, and joking about attempting raids armed with the TOZ, a replica helmet, and a bag of Croutons.

Players Are Taking It In Good Fun

Most fans seem to agree this was a harmless joke from the studio head rather than a dig at the player base. With many more legitimate redeem codes released throughout the year, the community isn’t expecting this to replace future giveaways. Instead, it serves as a rare moment of levity in a game defined by tension, loss, and high stakes risk.

Whether you decide to redeem the PAY2WIN code or simply enjoy the laugh from afar, it’s yet another memorable moment in Tarkov’s ever evolving community culture.