Escape From Tarkov’s Insanely Priced PvE Mode Sparks Massive Backlash From Players

Escape from Tarkov developer Battlestate Games has come under fire from the extraction shooter’s community after it announced plans to lock its upcoming PvE mode behind a very expensive paywall.

For context, most AAA games are currently priced at around the $65 to $75 range. Battlestate, however, is planning to sell access to the PvE mode as part of its $250 Unheard Edition. The bundle will also include free access to all future DLCs and various in-game perks like additional storage and flea market slots and a unique and exclusive melee weapon.

Players who purchased the Edge of Darkness Edition will also get access to all future DLCs as promised but will only get six months of free offline access to the PvE mode. To gain permanent access, they’ll need to shell out $100 more to upgrade their packs to the Unheard Edition. The Edge of Darkness Edition has also been pulled from sale just in case you were thinking of going that route.

As you might expect, the announcement has lit a white-hot fire across the game’s community which was further fanned by Battlestate’s insistence that the PvE mode is a “unique feature” and won’t be considered as a DLC, although Twitter users beg to differ.

“New game modes are generally accepted as DLC if put behind a paywall,” they said. “Battlestate sold [Edge of Darkness] with the promise that they would receive ‘free access to all subsequent DLCs.”

“Doubling down is INSANE,” reads a reply to Battlestate’s tweet. “You’re essentially telling everyone who bought [Edge of Darkness] and has supported your broken, hacker infested, mess of a game over all of these years to go f*ck themselves.”

Meanwhile, discussions about the pricey pack on Discord have now been limited to just two channels, but the game’s Twitter page is afire with complaints if you want to join the protest.

PvE mode is a unique feature which is available only for the owners of The Unheard Edition.

We will keep you updated on new features exclusive for EOD owners#EscapefromTarkov

— Escape from Tarkov (@tarkov) April 25, 2024