Who’s ready for another PvPvE extraction title? Because that’s the new thing that Gaijin Entertainment and developer Targem Games is offering in the form of Star Wrath, which puts players into spaceships to harvest resources and… the DNA of slain enemies. Ew. “In Star Wrath, players build and customize modular spacecraft, head out on high‑risk raids, battle in PvE […]

Nikita Buyanov has snapped back at a user asking for help with an Escape from Tarkov support ticket on social media, shaming him.

The post Battlestate Head Responds to Tarkov Support Ticket in the Most Nikita Way Possible appeared first on Insider Gaming.

The fact that ARC Raiders’ use of generative AI development tools for its creation, particularly for its voice work, is a sticky wicket for many shouldn’t come as a surprise in the age of rising slop tides. Still, Embark Studios CEO Patrick Soderlund is not backing down and continues to defend the decision in an […]

The problems with using in-game voice chat are manifold, but one of those is that someone hearing you nearby might accidentally mistake your pleas for in-game help with pleas for help in meatspace. That appears to have been the case for one ARC Raiders fan, who had the police called on him because he was […]

Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon, feels like an enigma.

I was not all that impressed with the game's beta test earlier this year in April, and I was not alone. After a tepid reception and a lot of negative feedback, Bungie was forced to delay it from its initial September release date so it could run more tests and iterate on numerous changes.

But since then, a new juggernaut has entered the space: ARC Raiders launched last month and became an instant hit in the extraction shooter genre, bringing in a whole new swath of players who hadn't really experienced the game type before. It's consistently been a top-played game on Steam since its release, and it's even gotten a hold on console players, too. And I can't help but wonder what kind of effect it may have on Marathon's potential success, or failure.

With players like myself now enjoying the thrill of deploying, looting, surviving, and extracting, Marathon could bring us into the fold if it can nail the gameplay loop similarly to how ARC Raiders has. Similarly, the success of ARC Raiders could keep potential Marathon buyers from taking the plunge if they're still enjoying the new Embark Studios hit.

I do think there's room for both, as one is in third-person and one is a first-person shooter from a company that has excelled in the gameplay feel of that perspective. They are both stylistically quite different, too, with Marathon sporting a futuristic and colorful aesthetic versus ARC Raiders' grimy, post-apocalyptic setting.

Will ARC Raiders' friendliness factor carry over into Marathon? That depends. Leaks from recent tests claim that Bungie is adding proximity chat to Marathon after all, which is a big reason why ARC Raiders has been so fun for so many who normally don't enjoy the competitive nature of the genre.

I would not be surprised to see some ARC Raiders players now willing to try out Marathon if they weren't before. I'm certainly more excited for it after now truly grasping the extraction concept, thanks in large part to how good ARC Raiders is. The rest is up to Bungie to deliver a product that engages players and hits on multiple cylinders as ARC Raiders has, so the hope is that these past few months of extra testing on the game will have made a tremendously positive impact.

It certainly feels like extraction games are quickly becoming the next "big thing" in gaming, and I wouldn't be surprised to see some established IPs continue to explore it. Before Marathon launches, we have PUBG: Black Budget running a playtest next month, which is the battle royale game's spin on extraction.

Escape From Tarkov paved the way, but we've since had titles like Delta Force, Hunt: Showdown, and Dark and Darker twisting their own iterations, and I expect more companies to follow the trend, with rumors circulating that Call of Duty will bring back its extraction mode DMZ in next year's game.

There may come a point when extraction games become saturated, but for now, I think the industry is rife with potential, and Marathon could end up benefiting from the influx of new genre enjoyers after all.

What do you think about Marathon's potential? Will ARC Raiders help or hurt it? Let us know your own thoughts in the comments.

The post ARC Raiders is such a big success that it could end up helping Marathon—or hurt it just the same appeared first on Destructoid.

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 Steam Release Date

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.

Escape from Tarkov Steam Editions

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:

Standard Edition

• Base game of Escape From Tarkov

Left Behind Edition

• Base game of Escape From Tarkov
• Secure container (2×2 cells);
• Expanded stash (10×40 cells);
• Left Behind Edition gear and skills set.

Prepare for Escape Edition

• Base game of Escape From Tarkov
• Secure container (3×2 cells);
• Expanded stash (10×50 cells);
• Prepare for Escape Edition gear and skills set;
• Increased standing.

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.

Escape from Tarkov Gameplay

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.

Escape from Tarkov 1.0 Update Changes

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:

• A major wipe of player levels and stashes for PvP mode as part of version 1.0’s launch.
• Major updates to PvE mode, including a refreshed PvE experience and new content designed to broaden the game beyond just hardcore multiplayer raids.
• Performance and anti-cheat improvements: The devs have emphasised fixes for long-standing performance issues, cheating mitigation, and better stability underlying version 1.0.
• Integration with Steam’s features for the first time (achievements, friends list etc) while retaining server-wide compatibility (Steam and non-Steam players share servers).

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.

PC Specifications

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.

MINIMUM:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows® 10
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or similar
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: GTX 1660 or similar
• DirectX: Version 11
• Storage: 80 GB available space

RECOMMENDED:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows® 11
• Processor: Intel Core i7-14700F or better
• Memory: 64 GB RAM
• Graphics: RTX 4070 or better
• DirectX: Version 11
• Storage: 80 GB available space

Where Can I Watch The Latest Trailer?

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. 

The post Everything You Need To Know About Escape From Tarkov on Steam appeared first on Green Man Gaming Blog.

Last weekend we reported on the sorry state of the 1.0 release for PvPvE extraction FPS Escape from Tarkov, which has struggled under the weight of server problems, matchmaking issues, and heaps of bugs, among other things. As one might expect, this has put Battlestate Games on the back foot as the studio continues to […]