Escape from Tarkov is Finally Releasing On Steam

Key highlights: 

• Escape from Tarkov is upgrading to version 1.0 on November 15.
• While the proper Steam release date is currently under wraps, everyone is expecting it to go live the day the 1.0 update drops.
• It’s been close to a decade that the game has existed in its beta stages, so this release is very important and has been in the making for a long time.

After a year of beta testing, Escape From Tarkov is finally gearing up for a Steam release. The game single-handedly set the ball rolling for the extraction shooter genre, with many games like Gray Zone Warfare following suit. 

Considering how popular the game is amongst fans, this announcement is major news. It was, however, met with a lukewarm response, which raises a few important questions. Either way, the Escape from Tarkov Steam release is finally on the cards, so all everyone can hope at this point is that the game works smoothly once it releases on Valve’s digital store front. 

When Does Escape from Tarkov Come to Steam?

As mentioned by Battlestate Games’ Head of Studio Nikita Buyanov, Escape from Tarkov has finally reached its 1.0 version, the update to which will be available on November 15. With the teasers already flowing in, it’s believed Escape from Tarkov will release on Steam on that very day. The developers have been preparing for this for a really long time, so they’ll be pulling out all the stops to ensure that the release is as smooth as it can be. 

With the developers yet to reveal more details about this launch, there’s very little to go on from here. However, when the Steam launch happens, it will definitely be the full version of the game, because it would make no sense to launch the beta version on a digital store front, while their proprietary launcher deals with a much more updated version.

In-game footage from Honkai: Nexus Anima

*The game is under development, and subject to change.
*This Nexus Bond Test is available in 5 languages: Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean. Support for more languages will be added in the future.… pic.twitter.com/gayxpcVOYV

— Honkai: Nexus Anima (@HonkaiNA) August 29, 2025

It would be a technological nightmare for both the developers and players. Whether the developers follow this up with a release on the Epic Games Store as well, still remains to be seen. Escape from Tarkov: Arena is currently available on the aforementioned digital store front, which is a tactical shooter experience. The original extraction shooter however, hasn’t made it to the platform, but will likely head there after its Steam launch. 

Also read: Despite Meeting Kickstarter Goal, Hollow Knight Silksong to Skip Popular Console

Is Escape from Tarkov Ready for a Steam Release?

With the developers moving forward with the 1.0 version release, it only makes sense to bring the game to a digital store front as popular as Steam. However, unless there’s a proper global preview, it’s hard to say whether Escape from Tarkov is ready for Steam or not. Following the announcement on social media, fans have raised two major concerns about this launch: 

• Escape from Tarkov, despite being in its beta stages, was a paid experience. So, with the game moving to Steam, will the older players be expected to purchase the game yet again? Or will there be a possibility of linking the Steam account to the launcher. 
• Secondly, which version are the devs bringing to Steam? If it’s a pre 1.0 release, then it’s going to be an absolute nightmare. 

The developers are yet to answer both these questions, which is something they’ll likely do once they have more information about the release. However, for now, the answers to these questions are pure speculation. 

Additionally, Steam does have a very lenient refund policy, and Escape from Tarkov does have a steep learning curve. So, chances are that players might end up refunding the game within the first few hours, because of the learning curve. This might affect the ratings and the popularity of the title, especially during the initial launch stages. 

That said, a few players got to try out the 1.0 update at an event this weekend. According to those who tried it out, the game is ready and is a massive upgrade to what everyone has experienced so far. With the game being in its beta stages for almost a decade, coming to Valve’s digital store front is a huge move. While it’s become a trend for most games to have a terrible Steam launch, hopefully Escape from Tarkov won’t experience a similar fate.

Also read: Sony Announces Major PlayStation Titles Set For Tokyo Game Show 2025