The uproar caused by the “Unheard of” edition of Escape from Tarkov priced at 11 thousand rubles has left fans disappointed with Battlestate Games. In response to the controversy, the developers engaged in a dialogue with representatives of the gaming community to clarify their stance. A leaked transcript of the conversation surfaced online, shedding light on the situation, which was later addressed by Battlestate’s CEO Nikita Buyanov.
The validity of the leaked content was verified by the studio’s community manager known as appl3z0r. According to him, Battlestate convened active community members worldwide to ”explain their position and provide answers.” Here are the main takeaways from the leak:
- The studio does not view the announcement of the controversial edition as a mistake. Buyanov emphasized that the team is gearing up for a full release, and the purchase of the Unheard Edition is optional, serving as a test of true support for the developers.
- Releasing a cooperative PvE mode to all players simultaneously is financially burdensome and technically challenging. Initially exclusive to the Unheard of edition, this feature was later promised to Edge of Darkness edition owners within six months.
- Battlestate reassured that they are not facing financial difficulties and the transition of Tarkov from early access is proceeding as planned.
- During the discussion with community representatives, the developers had no immediate plans to take further actions to appease the community, focusing solely on providing bonuses to EoD owners.
- EoD purchasers were guaranteed access to all future DLCs, despite concerns that the promise was broken. Battlestate representatives clarified that EoD edition owners will indeed receive all future expansions.
- Claims that the description of the Edge of Darkness edition content was altered on the website post-scandal were refuted by experts, although conflicting evidence exists online.
- There is contemplation within Battlestate about selling the PvE mode separately after the full release.
The community manager emphasized that the leaked transcript does not represent the official stance of the studio. Shortly after, Nikita Buyanov addressed the Escape from Tarkov audience directly. He clarified that the PvE mode should not be considered a DLC.
In our view, DLCs are substantial game additions with new features and content released post-official launch in thematic packs (e.g., the “Wild Life” DLC).
Nikita Buyanov
Buyanov reiterated the technical challenges associated with the PvE mode and explained that players can still access the company’s servers, albeit on a separate network infrastructure due to resource limitations.
Edge of Darkness edition holders will gain free access to the PvE option post-release, once the server infrastructure is expanded. Additionally, EoD owners can purchase The Unheard Edition at a 50% discount, with those who upgraded at the old price receiving a free key to the Left Behind Edition.
Plans to sell the PvE mode separately were confirmed, with early access and a 70% discount guaranteed for EoD owners.
Furthermore, the developers of Escape from Tarkov intend to rebalance and impose restrictions on special items from the Unheard of edition.
Source from stopgame.ru