Tarkov Players Must Rebuy Game For Steam Access

Escape from Tarkov players have voiced strong criticism toward Battlestate Games after the studio clarified that moving the game to Steam will require a separate, full-price purchase.

The tactical extraction shooter first launched in early access in 2017 and recently announced its full 1.0 release for November 15, 2025. Alongside this milestone update, the title is preparing for its debut on Steam.

However, a review of Escape from Tarkov's FAQs makes it clear that even loyal players who have used the game's dedicated launcher for years "must purchase" it again to add it to their Steam library.

"To play Escape from Tarkov through Steam, you must purchase any edition of the game on Steam," the FAQ states. "You can then link your existing Battlestate Games account with an active copy to your Steam profile. If the editions differ, the system will automatically apply the higher-tier edition when launching via Steam."

Although the option to play via Battlestate’s own launcher remains, many in the community have criticized the developer for not offering complimentary Steam keys. This decision is especially contentious because both Steam and launcher users will play on the same servers, and everyone—regardless of platform—must have a Battlestate account.

"There’s no justification for forcing existing owners to buy another copy just to access their account on Steam," commented one player. "The developer has the means to distribute Steam keys to current players, just as the Path of Exile 2 team did."

"This feels genuinely underhanded," one player wrote, while another added: "This is shocking. It shows zero respect for the fanbase."

A highly upvoted comment observed: "It might be understandable if account linking weren't possible—if a Steam purchase meant starting over with a new account. But the fact you can link your existing account and it upgrades to the higher edition is what feels off. Spending $30 on the Standard Edition just to link and unlock your $120 Edge of Darkness edition? At that point, you're essentially paying a fee to access your own account through Steam."

"Countless players have waited years for a platform where their feedback might actually be heard," noted one user. "Without a doubt, once Steam reviews become available, they will flood in. But you can't review a game you don't own. So, many long-time players who've been repeatedly let down are unlikely to spend more money. That means most reviews will come from newcomers experiencing the polished 1.0 version, without the years of frustrations."

"I'm surprised people are acting shocked now," remarked another. "Given how bitter and resentful parts of this community have become, handing out free keys would instantly drown the Steam page in negative reviews—even from players who haven't touched the game in years."

Some have pointed out that players can still add non-Steam games to their Steam library as a workaround, though this only creates a shortcut and doesn't provide Steam features like achievements. Battlestate Games has not yet publicly addressed the backlash.

The community expressed similar frustration after July's Hardcore Wipe, which introduced sweeping changes—increasing difficulty, removing quests and maps, and slowing progression. This wipe proved especially punishing, making it significantly harder for players to regain their pre-wipe status and inventory.