The new Icebreaker event is finally here.

Credit: Battlestate Games

The massive Icebreaker event in Escape From Tarkov has finally launched after over a year of teases, with the latest set of patch notes announcing the details and arrival of the new map and story campaign.

The Escape From Tarkov 1.0.5.0 patch notes have been released, with the update currently being installed on the live servers. The headline addition of the patch is the arrival of the Icebreaker event, which has been teased as the biggest event in Tarkov history.

Thanks to the patch notes we now know that Icebreaker brings a new map that is set on a large ship that is stuck in a blockade and a new story campaign based around it. The map is mostly vertical, a key difference to almost every other Tarkov map, and is also solo or co-op only, meaning you will not be running into any hostile PMCs while on the ship. It appears that the recent in-game events have served as somewhat of a precursor to the Icebreaker event.

This storytelling map brings with it some new features for Tarkov, including a non-linear story with choices that impact how it plays out, and the addition of security systems and doors that use numberpads as security. To get past these new systems you’ll need to find a code and enter it correctly to progress. A new boss can also be found on the ship in Icebreaker, along with new AI enemies who will put your skills to the test.

While the highlight of the patch notes is obviously the Icebreaker event, there are also some other changes worth noting. A new system that uses your crosshair area to identify the direction of quest items should remove the need for pixel hunting for the hard to find items, and there are new clothing items available for both USEC and BEAR characters. Thanks to another recent update, owners of the premium edition of Tarkov can equip these on either faction.

To coincide with the new patch and Icebreaker event, a new Twitch Drops campaign will launch tomorrow, May 26. Viewers can earn in-game gear, weapons and other rare items by watching selected streamers who are playing Tarkov. The campaign will run until May 30, so you do not have a lot of time to get your free loot.

With the Escape From Tarkov servers currently down while the Icebreaker event is installed there is still a lot to learn about the biggest event in Tarkov history. However, as soon as they come back up you can be sure the elite Tarkov players will have the map figured out and completed in a matter of hours.