Escape from Tarkov Unheard Edition controversy explained: Why players are angry over paywalled PvE mode
Battlestate GamesEscape From Tarkov’s January 26 update has introduced major balance changes.
Escape from Tarkov players and its developer Battlestate Games are at odds over the announcement of the Unheard Edition which paywalls a previously promised PvE mode and other features. This is the story so far.
Battlestate Games, the company behind Escape from Tarkov, an arena-based looter shooter with millions of active players, released a trailer for the next set of DLC, the Unheard Edition, and content on April 25. The announcement featured access to a new co-op PvE Mode, pay-to-win elements such as more slots on the in-game market, and a hefty $250 price tag.
Escape from Tarkov players are not just uncomfortable with the price tag and pay-to-win elements, but were actively angry as the developer previously promised the new mode would be part of the season pass they purchased with the last edition.
Battlestate Games has since responded to the community, by initially saying the mode wasn’t DLC, and then eventually reversing course.
This outline will showcase the timeline of events, the developer’s response, and how players expressed their outrage.
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Escape from Tarkov PvE controversy
Escape from Tarkov players were told during the rollout of the Edge of Darkness Edition in late 2022 that a purchase of the DLC pack would come with a season pass. That Edition was later discontinued in late 2023 and removed from the in-game store. According to the developer at the time, the season pass from the $150 edition would include all future DLC content and future modes, like PvE.
Battlestate Games then announced the Unheard Edition, which featured a new mode. However, the developer seemingly reversed course on the decision to give season pass holders access to the new mode. They said in a social media post shortly after dropping the trailer for the Unheard Edition that the PvE mode is exclusive to those who purchase the new edition.
Players who already spent $150 on the previous edition, and the season pass promising more content down the road, now had to shell out another $250 to get access to PvE and other elements of the new pack.
The company’s lead community manager, Daniel Mavlyuberdinov, said in the game’s community Discord that the mode is not considered “downloadable content” but a feature of the new edition.
The news was not received well by players as they immediately voiced their displeasure on Reddit, and sent a horde of spam bots to the Discord.
Battlestate Games accused of misleading players
Players and internet onlookers have said what Battlestate Games has done by reneging on previously promised content is, at best, misleading their audience. The developer has even been caught changing the language on its website describing what is purchased with the Edge of Darkness Edition.
Below are two screenshots, one from last year showing that “free access to all subsequent DLC, such as Escape from Tarkov: Arena” was included in the description of the Edge of Darkness Edition, and the other updated language that has removed the reference to Arena
Battlestate Games
Battlestate GamesOne Tarkov player has even published step-by-step instructions for how players can file a complaint to the United Kingdom government, where the company is incorporated, for potentially violating consumer rights laws and false advertising.
Battlestate Games responds to criticism
Initially, players only had the community manager’s response to go off of from the developer. The Battelstate Games social media account instead tried to dunk on rival title Arena Breakout Infinite the day of the controversy, who took a shot at Tarkov while promoting its own gameplay following the initial outcry.
The developer did not address players’ concerns until April 26 when it said on Reddit, via its CEO CEO Nik Buyanov, that Edge of Darkness owners would get access to some features from the new edition. Players with the season pass will get increased perks and the ability to skip quests for free, as well as access to the PvE mode and high-priority matching for six months.
The community has not received the response well, as players in the announcement thread are incensed that they will only get temporary access to the new mode.
“Dude. Wdym ‘6 months’ are you joking? Give us PERMANENT access to the DLC you PROMISED us you would,” the top comment said.
On April 27, the company’s CEO returned to Reddit again to clarify that Edge of Darkness Edition owners would get access to PvE when the game fully launches. Buyanov explained that every player can’t access the mode to start due to server capacity issues. He also announced a 50% discount for Edge of Darkness owners to “test” the new mode.
Players did not receive this news well either so Buyanov released another statement on April 28, caving to the community’s will.
“First of all, I would like to say that I am very sorry that fans and the game community in general are experiencing these feelings. Unfortunately, I somehow did not foresee the fact of such a reaction and now I have drawn conclusions for my future decisions,” he said.
The Escape from Tarkov PvE mode is now open for EoD owners for free and players will be gain access, “in waves” due to server capacity. The CEO also promised to balance out the pay-to-win elements in the Unheard Edition.
Many players, however, are still unhappy with the CEO and developer as the change is too little too late, and the apologies are insincere.
“‘I’m sorry you feel this way’ is really not how an apology should sound. I don’t really expect much better than this, however, considering all that has happened. Par for the course.
The corrective actions are now on the right track, but hardly enough… Tarkov was not in a great state even before all this – don’t think we’ve forgotten the past issues – and I’m definitely not the only one whose confidence in BSG was shattered. How can we trust you to deliver on any non-trivial promise at this point?” One commenter posted on the April 28 announcement.
As of April 29, the Escape from Tarkov subreddit is full of negative posts about Battlestate Games, its CEO, and the direction of the game.
This article will be updated as the story develops.
