Escape from Tarkov finally made it to Steam on November 15, 2025, after spending eight years in closed beta. This should have been a triumphant moment for Battlestate Games and the hardcore extraction shooter that basically created the genre. Instead, the launch has been an absolute disaster. The game sits at mostly negative reviews on Steam, servers are still melting down nearly 24 hours after launch, and players are furious that they have to rebuy a game they already own just to play it through Steam.
The Server Meltdown Nobody Saw Coming
Escape from Tarkov’s 1.0 launch went live on Steam at 3 AM PST on November 15, 2025. Within hours, the Battlestate Games servers were completely overloaded. Players couldn’t log in. Those who managed to get in faced constant disconnects and the infamous 1000 Backend Error that has plagued Tarkov for years. Nearly a full day after launch, the servers are still struggling to handle the player load.
Battlestate Games posted an update acknowledging the disaster: “Right now we are fighting for the backend stability. You all got excited and our login servers and site got overloaded unexpectedly fast. Although we added a lot of additional servers, game servers are totally fine. So we are improving current situation.” That’s a nice way of saying they completely underestimated how many people would try to play on launch day.
The Third-Party Launcher Problem
Here’s something that caught a lot of Steam users off guard. Even if you buy Escape from Tarkov on Steam, you can’t just install it and play like a normal Steam game. The game requires a mandatory third-party Battlestate Games account and launches through Battlestate’s own launcher. Steam is essentially just a storefront that hands you off to another platform.
This has infuriated Steam users who expected a typical Steam integration experience. One highly upvoted review stated: “Valve should change their policy over third-party launchers.” Others pointed out that having to create yet another account, download another launcher, and deal with another set of login servers defeats half the purpose of buying games on Steam in the first place.
You Have to Rebuy the Game You Already Own
If you’re an existing Escape from Tarkov player who bought the game years ago through Battlestate’s website or launcher, you might have assumed your purchase would carry over to Steam. It doesn’t. Battlestate Games confirmed in their FAQ that you must purchase Escape from Tarkov on Steam separately, even if you already own it on the Battlestate launcher.
Your account progress and edition entitlements do transfer over, which is something. If you bought the $250 Unheard Edition on the Battlestate launcher, you can link that account to Steam and access those bonuses. But you still need to buy at least the base game on Steam again to play through that platform. For players who spent hundreds of dollars on premium editions years ago, being told to rebuy the same game to access it through a different storefront feels like a slap in the face.
The Editions Are Still Expensive
Escape from Tarkov isn’t cheap. The Standard Edition costs $45 on Steam with a launch discount (normally higher). The Edge of Darkness Edition costs $250. That’s before any additional DLC or future content. For a game that’s been in beta for eight years and is launching with broken servers and mandatory third-party launchers, the pricing feels aggressive.
The Steam Reviews Are Brutal
As of this writing, Escape from Tarkov sits at mostly negative reviews on Steam with only 30 percent positive across all languages. That’s catastrophic for a major PC release. The review section is filled with complaints about server issues, the third-party launcher requirement, and the general state of the game at launch.
One particularly memorable review summed up the experience: “It is not a game. It is a cosmic punishment.” That quote has been circulating on social media and perfectly captures the frustration of trying to play a game you can’t actually access because the servers won’t let you in.
Many of the negative reviews come from players with less than an hour of playtime, which makes sense given that you literally can’t play the game when the servers are down. Some have criticized these reviews as unhelpful review bombing, but when a game is genuinely unplayable at launch, early negative reviews aren’t exactly unfair.
Battlestate’s History of Controversial Decisions
This isn’t the first time Battlestate Games has angered its community. Earlier in 2024, the studio faced massive backlash over the $250 Unheard Edition, which locked new PvE modes behind the paywall. Players who had already spent $150 on the previous highest tier edition felt betrayed. Battlestate offered a $50 upgrade path, but then only provided $50 refunds in the form of in-game credit, not real money. Players correctly pointed out that this was a coupon, not a refund.
Battlestate has also been accused of abusing YouTube’s DMCA system to remove negative videos about Escape from Tarkov. YouTuber Eroktic had 47 videos removed after criticizing the company, with Battlestate claiming the content spread false information and negative hype. This kind of heavy-handed response to criticism doesn’t build community trust.
What Went Wrong Here
The biggest failure was server capacity planning. Battlestate Games had to know that launching on Steam, the biggest PC gaming platform in the world, would bring a massive influx of new players. They even added extra servers in preparation. It wasn’t enough. Not even close. The fact that servers are still struggling nearly 24 hours after launch suggests this wasn’t just a minor miscalculation.
The mandatory third-party launcher should have been communicated more clearly before launch. While Steam does show a warning that a Battlestate account is required, many users didn’t realize this meant installing and running a completely separate game launcher. For Steam users who value the convenience and features of the Steam ecosystem, this is a deal-breaker.
Requiring existing players to rebuy the game was probably a business decision, but it’s a customer-hostile one. Other games that launch on new platforms typically honor existing purchases or offer heavily discounted upgrade paths. Making someone who spent $250 on the Unheard Edition pay even $45 more just to access Steam features feels exploitative.
Will Things Improve
Server issues are fixable. Battlestate will eventually get the backend stable, and players will be able to log in without constant errors. The question is how much damage has already been done to the game’s reputation on Steam. First impressions matter, and Escape from Tarkov’s first impression to the massive Steam audience has been terrible.
The third-party launcher requirement isn’t going away. That’s baked into how Battlestate operates. Players who can’t tolerate another launcher in their gaming setup should probably just request refunds now and avoid the frustration. The requirement to rebuy the game also isn’t changing, which means existing players need to decide if Steam features are worth the additional purchase price.
FAQs
When did Escape from Tarkov launch on Steam?
Escape from Tarkov version 1.0 launched on Steam on November 15, 2025, at 3 AM PST. The game had been in closed beta exclusively on the Battlestate Games launcher since 2016.
Do I need to rebuy Escape from Tarkov on Steam if I already own it?
Yes. Battlestate Games requires you to purchase the game on Steam separately, even if you already own it on their launcher. Your account progress and edition entitlements transfer over, but you must buy at least the base game again.
Why are the Escape from Tarkov Steam reviews so negative?
The game launched with severe server issues that made it unplayable for many users. Players are also upset about the mandatory third-party launcher requirement and having to rebuy a game they already own just to play through Steam.
Do I need a Battlestate Games account to play on Steam?
Yes. Even if you buy Escape from Tarkov on Steam, you must create and link a Battlestate Games account. The game launches through Battlestate’s launcher, not directly through Steam.
How much does Escape from Tarkov cost on Steam?
The Standard Edition costs $45 with the launch discount. The Edge of Darkness Edition costs $250. Prices may vary by region.
Are the server issues fixed yet?
As of November 16, 2025, Battlestate Games is still working to stabilize the backend servers. Login issues and the 1000 Backend Error continue to affect many players nearly 24 hours after launch.
Can I get a refund on Steam?
Yes. Steam’s standard refund policy applies – you can request a refund within 14 days of purchase if you’ve played less than 2 hours. Given the server issues preventing actual gameplay, many players are successfully securing refunds.
Conclusion
Escape from Tarkov’s Steam launch is a masterclass in how not to release a game on a new platform. After eight years in beta, Battlestate Games had one shot to make a great first impression on Steam’s massive audience, and they absolutely blew it. Server capacity planning failed spectacularly. The mandatory third-party launcher requirement feels customer-hostile. Forcing existing players to rebuy the game is exploitative. The result is a mostly negative review score and a community that’s angrier than ever. Whether Battlestate can recover from this disastrous launch remains to be seen, but the damage to Escape from Tarkov’s reputation on Steam has already been done. For a game that pioneered the extraction shooter genre and built a dedicated fanbase over nearly a decade, this is a disappointing way to finally go mainstream.