The hardcore shooter Escape from Tarkov is currently on the rise. But players are wondering if it will also be released on Steam.
What is Escape from Tarkov? The currently very popular hardcore shooter from Battlestate Games places you in the fictional Russian city of Tarkov. There, the goal is to escape from the area where the game puts you. You fight against other players and must proceed very carefully and tactically. Because thanks to physically correctly calculated bullet trajectories, even a grazing shot can be fatal.
If you cannot escape and get eliminated on the way, you will lose all your gear that you are carrying. Therefore, it is important to consider which weapons and items you take with you and which ones you stash in your hideout before a match.
Is it coming to Steam?
How can you currently play Escape from Tarkov? The shooter is in closed beta and is regularly supplied with updates. It is possible to buy access through the official website escapefromtarkov.com. You then play through a dedicated client.
What about a release on Steam? The developers explained some time ago that they are currently avoiding Steam. Because Escape from Tarkov is not finished yet. A lot of work is still being done on it. Therefore, the team fears that they will have to deal with many refunds because players might not be satisfied with the early status of the shooter.
Steam allows a refund of games within two weeks with less than two hours of playtime.
Escape from Tarkov is a challenging game that requires dedication, which is why some might be deterred not only by the unfinished state but also by the initial difficulty.
In an interview with wccftech.com from 2016, the developers stated: “We will first release the game on our platform and then on Steam. That is the plan.”
Steam has advantages and disadvantages
What are the advantages of Steam? Steam is a platform through which game developers can reach many customers. There are over a billion accounts with more than 90 million active users.
Especially online games thrive on a large number of players, and the more potential customers a studio can reach, the better. That is why it is important to offer a game on Steam as well.
What are the disadvantages of Steam? Valve takes 30 percent of the revenue for allowing developers to offer their game on the platform. That is not insignificant. Additionally, there is the refund option mentioned earlier. Especially with games that require some time to get into and do not show what they are really capable of within the first two hours, this can lead to some refunds.
Is Escape from Tarkov now being released on Steam? The FAQ of the game still states that a release on Steam is planned. However, the FAQ has not been updated since 2015. There is also no contrary statement from the developers on the subject. Therefore, it can be assumed that Escape from Tarkov – as the developers already mentioned – will be released on Steam shortly after release when the game is in good condition.
And the game is slowly getting there, as many patches make it worth a look now.
