Escape from Tarkov studio — Battlestate Games — is facing the ire of the internet as it locks a brand-new mode behind its $250 The Unheard Edition, which comes bundled with better stash size, more Flea Market slots, and other game-altering advantages. Needless to say, fans aren’t happy, especially with previous editions getting gutted to give this version more allure.
Forbes reports that the studio made this change, which is even more bitter as those who purchased the Edge of Darkness, which promised all DLC at the time, were now stripped of that promise. Giving some level of defense, though, Battlestate’s lead community manager refutes that this new game mode is DLC, as it’s a feature rather than downloadable content, and that it’s a “featured game mode” of the edition.
Following some time, a level of compromise was made, while many still feel that it’s scummy and new game modes locked behind a paywall are still generally considered DLC, the studio is letting Edge of Darkness owners get access to the mode… for six months. Once those six months are up, it’s back to being exclusive to The Unheard Edition.
Frankly, we can’t imagine how tone-deaf this is and the mental gymnastics Battlestate had to pull to rationalize this decision. It’s not a good look for a game that continues to have a decently strong fanbase.
