Controversy Erupts Over Escape From Tarkov's $250 Bundle

Escape From Tarkov, the popular first-person shooter developed by Battlestate Games, recently found itself embroiled in controversy following the announcement of a new edition of the game. The "Unheard Edition," priced at a staggering $250, promised players access to a new cooperative PvE mode and various in-game advantages. However, the decision was met with swift backlash from the gaming community.

One of the primary issues that players took umbrage with was the fact that the new content was gated behind a hefty paywall. Prior to the Unheard Edition, Battlestate Games had released the "Edge of Darkness" edition, which cost $100 and included a promise of access to all future DLC. However, owners of this edition were dismayed to find out that they would not have access to the new PvE mode included in the Unheard Edition.

Adding fuel to the fire, players also raised concerns about the perceived pay-to-win nature of the new content. The Unheard Edition offered significant gameplay advantages, such as increased item capacity, improved abilities, and the ability to make NPCs non-hostile, which many felt gave an unfair advantage to players willing to pay the premium price.

Daniel Mavlyuberdinov, the chief community manager at Battlestate Games, addressed the issue of the PvE mode not being included in the battle pass. He explained that the new mode was not considered DLC and, therefore, was not covered by the Edge of Darkness edition. He suggested that players could purchase the Unheard Edition for $250 to gain access to the new content.

However, the response from players was overwhelmingly negative, leading to the closure of several game channels due to the high volume of complaints. In response to the backlash, Nikita Buyanov, the CEO of Battlestate Games, clarified on Reddit that the new content was not considered DLC because the game had not been officially released yet. As a result, the company decided to offer all the content from the Unheard Edition to everyone who had purchased the Edge of Darkness edition, upon the game's release.

Despite this gesture, fans remained discontented, as the game's release date remained uncertain. To appease players, Buyanov offered a limited-time 50% discount to upgrade to the Unheard Edition for those who already owned the Edge of Darkness edition. However, this did little to quell the anger among the player base.

As the situation continues to unfold, the future of Escape From Tarkov remains uncertain. It is clear, however, that Battlestate Games' decision has left a lasting impact on the game's community, with many players expressing their frustration and disappointment.