Tarkov’s Steam Launch Is a Complete Disaster

According to Kotaku, Escape from Tarkov finally launched its 1.0 version on Steam on November 15 after spending over eight years in beta status. The hardcore extraction shooter immediately received brutal user reviews that dragged its English rating down to “Mixed” status. Players are particularly angry about the $250 version of the game and the fact that existing owners need to repurchase it on Steam. Game director Nikita Buyanov apparently anticipated this negative reception. The technical problems are so severe that many reviews describe hours-long struggles just to launch the game, with one top review sarcastically calling it “the most premium piece of launcher software” they’ve ever purchased.

The pricing disaster

Here’s the thing about Tarkov’s business model – it’s always been controversial with its tiered pricing, but the Steam launch took it to another level. Asking players who already own the game to buy it again? That’s just asking for trouble. And that $250 version? That’s not some collector’s edition with physical goods – that’s literally just digital content. In an era where gamers are increasingly sensitive to monetization, this feels like Battlestate Games completely misread the room. They’re treating their most dedicated fans like walking ATMs, and those fans are finally pushing back.

Technical nightmare

The launch issues go beyond just pricing though. When your game’s most “helpful” reviews are sarcastic comments about the launcher being the real game, you’ve got problems. We’re talking about a game that’s been in development for nearly a decade, and they can’t even get the basic “click play and game starts” functionality right? That’s embarrassing. It makes you wonder what they were doing during all those years in beta. The whole point of early access is to work out these kinks before the official launch, but apparently nobody got the memo.

Worst possible timing

And the timing couldn’t be worse. Extraction shooters are having a moment right now – games like Arc Raiders are dominating the Steam charts, and the genre is more popular than ever. This was Tarkov’s chance to finally go mainstream and capitalize on the hype it helped create. Instead, it’s becoming a cautionary tale. While other extraction games are winning over players, Tarkov is alienating its core audience. It’s like watching someone fumble the ball at the one-yard line after an 8-year drive down the field.

Community backlash explained

Look, Tarkov players are known for tolerating a lot of jank. The game’s hardcore nature means its community expects some roughness around the edges. But there’s a difference between challenging gameplay and fundamentally broken systems. When reviews like this one and this sarcastic “positive” review become the face of your launch, you’ve lost the plot. Even longtime supporters are turning against the game. Basically, Battlestate Games took their community’s loyalty for granted, and they’re paying the price now. When your most dedicated fans start mocking you publicly, you know you’ve messed up big time.