Tarkov Players Must Rebuy Game for Steam Access

Escape from Tarkov players are voicing frustration after Battlestate Games announced that existing owners must repurchase the game to access it on Steam.

The hardcore extraction shooter entered early access in 2017 and is scheduled for its full 1.0 release on November 15, 2025, coinciding with its Steam debut.

The studio's FAQ clarifies that veteran players using the standalone launcher will need to buy the Steam version separately – even after years of investment.

"To access Escape from Tarkov through Steam, players must purchase any edition via Steam," states the FAQ. "Your existing Battlestate account can then be linked, with the system recognizing whichever edition offers superior benefits."

While the original launcher remains functional, the community criticizes the lack of free Steam keys – especially since all players share the same servers and require Battlestate accounts regardless of platform.

"Requiring Steam purchases from existing customers lacks justification," argued one longtime player. "Other developers like Path of Exile 2 issued free Steam keys seamlessly."

"This crosses ethical lines," wrote another player, while a third commented: "Unbelievable disregard for loyal supporters."

A highly upvoted post explained: "The account linking makes this particularly questionable. Buying a basic Steam edition just to access your premium Edge of Darkness content feels like paying a Steam tax upfront."

"This finally gives veterans a meaningful platform for criticism," noted another user. "But ironically, only newer players unaffected by years of frustrations will likely review the Steam version."

Some players suggested adding the launcher version to Steam manually, though this provides none of Steam's native functionality. Battlestate Games has not addressed the growing controversy.

The backlash follows July's contentious Hardcore Wipe, which introduced punishing difficulty spikes, removed content, and significantly slowed progression – leaving many players struggling to regain their previous standings.