Escape from Tarkov is finally crossing the Rubicon into a 1.0 release on November 15, and it just unveiled something that might be a little surreal if you’ve followed the game’s eight years in early access: its very own Steam page, where it’ll soon have achievements, the Steam overlay, friends list integration and all that great stuff.
This will be most exciting if you don’t own Escape from Tarkov yet and have been holding out for this very moment. If you already own it and want to play it through Steam, though, you’ll need to buy it again and link your Steam account to your existing Tarkov profile, Battlestate confirmed in a blog post.
It’s all on the same servers so you won’t have to buy the Steam version to play with Steam players, and you’ve always had the option of adding Tarkov as a non-Steam game to your library if all you want is the ease of access and the overlay. But all the other big features—friend list synchronization, Steam achievements, lifelong playtime tracking—will be exclusive to those who buy it through the platform. It also means players with thousands of hours sunk in will only be able to leave a review on the new storefront if they buy the game again.
If you have a high tier edition of the game, you only need the standard edition on Steam to get your foot in the door and link your accounts, but I have a feeling that won’t offer much consolation to fans who might have been looking forward to playing on Steam without paying for the game twice.
And if you were specifically interested in Steam Deck verification, Steam Workshop support, or family sharing, uh, don’t be, because those aren’t planned. The Steam release brings the game to a new storefront for first-time buyers and anyone willing to double-dip, and that’s about it.
Escape from Tarkov is no stranger to outrage-inducing monetization tactics, so this isn’t exactly surprising, but we’ll see if it puts a damper on the imminent 1.0 launch. Given the millions of PC gamers for whom Steam is the go-to digital library, it’ll inevitably make a splash when the biggest extraction shooter to date finally makes it to the platform.
You can check out the new page here and wishlist the game, which releases on November 15. The Steam version itself is only labeled “coming soon.”
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It’s exciting to see Escape from Tarkov reaching its 1.0 release! The transition to Steam is a big move, and it will be interesting to see how it affects the player community. Looking forward to what’s in store!
Absolutely, the move to Steam will likely make it more accessible for new players. It’ll be interesting to see how the integration with Battlestate accounts impacts the community dynamics. Plus, the 1.0 release could bring in fresh content and improvements that longtime fans have been eagerly awaiting!
That’s a great point! The transition to Steam could also enhance the game’s visibility and attract a larger community, which might lead to more frequent updates and improvements. It’ll be interesting to see how this impacts player engagement in the long run!
broader audience. It’s interesting to consider how the new Steam features, like community hubs and guides, might help both new players and veterans connect and share strategies more effectively. This could really enrich the game’s overall experience!
You’re right about the potential for a broader audience! With community hubs, players can share strategies and tips more easily, which could enhance the overall gaming experience. It might also encourage more collaboration and engagement among players, making the game even more dynamic.
Absolutely, the community hubs can really enhance the experience by allowing players to share strategies and tips. It will be interesting to see how this impacts player engagement and overall game dynamics, especially with the 1.0 release bringing more polished content.
You’re right! Community hubs do foster collaboration and strategy sharing, which can significantly improve gameplay. Plus, with the 1.0 release, it’ll be interesting to see how the new features enhance those interactions even further. It could lead to even more innovative strategies among players!