Escape from Tarkov has seen a lot of success in the last few years. It’s so popular that it practically spawned the extraction shooter genre singlehandedly, and it still sits at the pinnacle of its field. Until today, that is: Battlestate Games has just unveiled the Escape from Tarkov Unheard Edition, a $250 USD package that includes exclusive access to the game’s PvE mode, causing the community to revolt against the developers for allegedly breaking earlier promises.
The outcries against the new Unheard Edition began earlier today with the release of Tarkov’s newest patch. The patch brought some minor changes to the game’s hit registration and armor penetration systems, but more significantly, it introduced the expensive new package with a whole heap of benefits, including the following:
- Access to PvE co-op mode with persistent progression (Progression will not be reset with wipes)
- Free access to all subsequent DLCs (Season pass)
- Access to the Early Test Server (ETS)
- Numerous other pieces of in-game upgrades and content
At first glance, these might seem like pretty nice features to have access to. However, the community quickly took up arms against the way the PvE co-op mode was being gated behind this new package. After all, Tarkov’s EOD Edition, which has been available for years now, also previous promised “free access to all subsequent DLCs,” leading people to believe it would allow them to experience the co-op mode when it finally released.
Needless to say, online Tarkov communities began voicing their discontent in droves. The several existing Tarkov subreddits are loaded with unhappy customers, and Twitter/X is seeing well-known Tarkov content creators and even Techland’s own Community Manager speak out against Battlestate’s latest decision:
How to kill your game in a few simple steps:
1. Renege on your promise to certain buyers they’d get future content for free
2. Create a new $250 version of your game including said future content
3. Start beef with competitors in the genre YOU helped create
RIP Tarkov. https://t.co/B4KAg00NWH
— Westie (@MrProWestie) April 25, 2024
1. Release an edition promising "free access to all subsequent downloadable content"
2. Remove it from the store, release even more expensive edition with exclusive access to PvE mode
3. Remove the line saying that EoD edition grants "free access to all subsequent downloadable… https://t.co/m7ZqfAFcz8— Uncy (@Uncy8) April 25, 2024
The official Tarkov account responded to tweets by stating that “PvE mode is a unique feature which is available only for the owners of The Unheard Edition. We will keep you updated on new features exclusive for EOD owners.” They also removed the benefit line on the EOD Edition that promises access to all subsequent DLCs shortly after this began, which only made them look worse.
There’s an argument to be made that the PvE mode might not fall under the banner of “downloadable content,” and thus might not be inherently owed to those who purchased the EOD Edition. Still, if that were the case, it should have been made clear a long time ago that the EOD Edition wouldn’t grant access to such a mode. Countless users purchased that version of the game in hopes of being able to play co-op with their friends, and to have that suddenly stomped on and treated like no big deal by the development team is disheartening to see.
Hopefully, Battlestate Games will take a second to realize the error of their ways and make amendments. We’ll be sure to update readers once we hear an official response from the team.
More MP1st Reading: