The announcement of the Unheard Edition by developer Battlestate Games has caused tension between Escape from Tarkov players and the company. The edition has placed a paywall on a previously promised PvE mode and other features, leading to a current state of disagreement.
The Unheard Edition DLC for Escape from Tarkov, an arena-based looter shooter with millions of active players, was announced by Battlestate Games on April 25 through a trailer. The announcement included details about new content, such as a co-op PvE mode and pay-to-win features like expanded market slots, and comes with a price tag of $250.
Despite the developer’s previous promise that the new mode would be included in the season pass purchased with the last edition, players of Escape from Tarkov are not only dissatisfied with the price and pay-to-win aspects, but also express anger towards them.
Battlestate Games initially stated that the mode was not DLC in response to the community, but later backtracked, ultimately causing further frustration among its player base.
This outline will highlight the sequence of events, the developer’s reaction, and the ways in which players expressed their displeasure.
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Escape from Tarkov PvE Mode Controversy Explained
During the release of the Edge of Darkness Edition in late 2022, players of Escape from Tarcov were informed that purchasing the DLC pack would entitle them to a season pass. This offer was discontinued in January, but those who had purchased the $150 edition would receive all upcoming DLC content and access to new modes such as Arena.
Despite initially announcing that the PvE mode would only be available to those who purchased the Unheard Edition, Battlestate Games appears to have changed their stance according to a social media post (https://x.com/bstategames/status/1783575279815848412). In the game’s community Discord, lead community manager Daniel Mavlyuberdinov clarified that the mode is not considered downloadable content, but rather a feature included in the new edition.
PvE mode is a unique feature which is available only for the owners of The Unheard EditionWe will keep you updated on new features exclusive for EOD owners#EscapefromTarkov
— Battlestate Games (@bstategames) April 25, 2024
Upon hearing the news, players quickly expressed their dissatisfaction on Reddit and flooded the Discord with spam bots.
Did Battlestate Games engage in fraudulent activities?
Some individuals, both players and those who observe from the internet, believe that Battlestate Games’ actions of not delivering previously promised content could potentially be deemed as fraudulent or a scam. Evidence of this can be seen in the developer’s alteration of the description of items included in the Edge of Darkness Edition, which can be viewed on the archived version of their website.
Initial description of the Edge of Darkness Edition from 2022.
The description of the Edge of Darkness Edition as of April 26, 2024.
No legal experts have offered their opinions on the possibility of the developer facing a lawsuit. However, a Tarkov player has shared detailed instructions on how players can lodge a complaint with the United Kingdom government, where the company is registered, for potential violations of consumer rights laws and false advertising.
Battlestate Game’s Response to Escape from Tarkov Players
At first, the developer’s response through the community manager was the only information available to players. However, on the day of the controversy, the Battelstate Games social media account took a jab at rival game Arena Breakout Infinite, which had previously criticized Tarkov while promoting its own gameplay.
The developer only responded to players’ concerns on April 26, announcing on Reddit that Edge of Darkness owners would receive certain features from the new edition. Season pass holders will also receive additional benefits such as the ability to skip quests at no cost, access to the PvE mode, and high-priority matching for a duration of six months.
The announcement has been met with displeasure from the community, as players in the thread are outraged that they will only have temporary access to the new mode.
“The top comment expressed frustration, asking for a permanent solution to the issue rather than the proposed 6-month timeframe. They also reminded the person in charge of their promise to provide access to the DLC.”
Some other players in the thread have also suggested that Battlestate Games may potentially charge for prioritized matchmaking in the future, based on the temporary implementation of “high-priority matching”access.
This piece will continue to be revised as the narrative progresses.
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