Escape From Tarkov Players Will Have to Buy the Game Again to Play the 1.0 Release on Steam

After nearly a decade in early access, Escape from Tarkov is officially preparing to launch its long-awaited 1.0 release on Steam on November 15, 2025. However, Battlestate Games has confirmed a decision that may frustrate long-time players: if you want to play the game on Steam, you’ll have to buy it again, even if you already own it through the Battlestate launcher.

The news came to wider attention after esports journalist Jake Lucky highlighted the situation on X (formerly Twitter): Jake Lucky Post.

According to Battlestate’s official FAQ, existing players who purchase Escape from Tarkov on Steam will be able to link their Battlestate account and retain their progression. However, the catch is that an additional purchase is required to access the Steam version:

“Yes. To play Escape from Tarkov through Steam, you must purchase any edition of the game on Steam. You can then link your existing Battlestate Games account with an active copy of the game to your Steam profile. If the editions differ, it will automatically use the higher edition of the two when launching the game through Steam.”

For those who prefer, the game will still remain fully playable through the Battlestate Games launcher, meaning there’s no forced repurchase. Still, for players who prefer to keep all their games consolidated in Steam, this creates an unfortunate double-dip scenario.

Despite this controversy, the larger milestone remains significant: Escape from Tarkov, a game often criticized for feeling like it was “stuck in early access forever,” is finally crossing over into a full release after nine years of development. The Steam launch will mark a new era for the extraction shooter, and fans are hopeful the release will deliver the stability and polish that comes with version 1.0.

Would you pay again just to have Escape from Tarkov on Steam, or will you stick with the original Battlestate launcher? Let us know your thoughts below!