In early access since 2017, the tactical multiplayer extraction shooter Escape from Tarkov finally takes the spotlight with its version 1.0 release and debut on Steam. Unapologetically hardcore and ultra-gritty, the game is shaping up to be a standout in the extraction-shooter genre.
Bookmark this guide: below you’ll find everything you need to know about Escape from Tarkov on Steam, including the release date, gameplay details, editions, the 1.0 update changes, latest trailer, and PC specs.
Escape from Tarkov’s full release on Steam is officially scheduled for 15 November 2025. At this time, no release has been announced for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, or Nintendo Switch 2 – but reaching version 1.0 typically precedes a console launch, so a port may be on the horizon.
When you purchase Escape from Tarkov via Steam, you’ll select from multiple edition tiers — each offering progressively more starting gear, stash space and bonuses. Here are the details:
Important for existing players: If you already own the game via the official launcher and want to use the Steam version, you will still have to purchase any edition on Steam to play via Steam. Your account and progress can be linked, but you cannot bypass buying the game on Steam. In some positive news, however, if you have a higher-tier edition already on the original launcher and buy a lower tier on Steam, the system will grant you the higher edition automatically when launching via Steam.
While extraction shooters have been around for some time, few execute the formula quite like Escape from Tarkov. Set in the fictional Russian city of Tarkov, locked in endless conflict and lawlessness, you join one of the warring PMCs (private military companies) and find yourself cut off behind a blockade, surrounded by enemy PMCs and hostile locals.
Your goal isn’t just to survive, it’s to escape with valuable loot. What sets Tarkov apart is the risk: any gear you bring into a raid can be lost if you don’t make it out. That high-stakes tension is harder to find in many of its peers.
Beyond that, you’ll also encounter a variety of quests that diversify the gameplay, offering rewards and progression. One of your key hubs is the hideout—a base you can upgrade to craft gear, boost stats, and generate passive income.
The gunplay is intense and detailed. The injury system is highly realistic: a shot to your leg will hamper your movement, serious bleeding requires a tourniquet, broken bones need a splint – just popping a standard medkit won’t always cut it.
Overall, Tarkov favours careful, methodical play. With a minimalist UI, strong 3D audio and environmental cues, every footstep, gunshot and ambient sound matters. Charge in blindly and you’re likely to be eliminated quickly.
On the weapons side, customisation is incredibly deep. Every component of a gun—from optics and stocks to muzzle brakes and grips—affects handling, recoil and accuracy. Ballistics are sophisticated too: different rounds penetrate differently, and physics matter. The creative scope for firearm tuning is one of Tarkov’s biggest draws.
With version 1.0 arriving, the developers have confirmed several significant changes and milestones to mark this full release. Some of the key features and updates include:
These changes mean the game is not only getting a marketing push via Steam, but also a structural maturation: better defined release status, improved systems, and broader accessibility for new players — even if the hardcore loop remains the same.
Powered by the versatile Unity engine, Escape from Tarkov scales well across hardware (from mid-range rigs to high-end setups) with the specs below giving a good guideline.
The latest trailer for Escape from Tarkov is available to watch right now, and you can catch it above. Celebrating the highly anticipated version 1.0 release of Escape from Tarkov, this new trailer is packed with gameplay footage designed to excite existing players and introduce the world of Tarkov to newcomers alike.
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