If you want to play Escape from Tarkov offline with friends, looks like it’s going to cost you. Developer Battlestate Games announced on Thursday a new special edition of the game, called The Unheard Edition, which comes with many exclusive features and content, including an offline co-op PvE mode, for $250.
Many players have purchased other editions that gave them special features like access to the early test server, more equipment, and a larger inventory, so the existence of The Unheard Edition is nothing new. However, an earlier edition called Edge of Darkness was discontinued in January and promised that buyers would gain access to all future DLC via a season pass. So the assumption among players was that the PvE mode would be considered DLC.
Lead community manager Daniel Mavlyuberdinov, who goes by the handle ‘appl3z0r’, explained in the official Discord that the DLC Season Pass did not apply to the new PvE mode or other features in The Unheard Edition. “DLC means additional downloadable content. PvE is a feature and a game mode. Just because you all want it to be a DLC doesn’t mean it is one. It includes a game mode for the new edition of the game,” he wrote.
When asked if the PvE mode will be available to other players, Mavlyuberdinov continued that it will be a “unique feature” for Unheard Edition buyers, although the company will keep Edge of Darkness owners informed of new features. The message was also echoed on
PvE mode is a unique feature only available to owners of The Unheard Edition.
We will keep you informed of new features, exclusively for EOD owners#Escape from Tarkov
— Escape from Tarkov (@tarkov) April 25, 2024
In addition, Tarkov players have noted that The Unheard Edition will include unique weapons and more flea market slots. Characters also do not lose progress and have a higher starting level after clearing the server. Longtime players will remember a time without server wipes, where players who could collect the most loot during a run (which was added to their permanent collection) would wipe out newer players. Clearing the server resets everyone to the same level, so players who pay for the new bundle will have a big advantage.
The news has not been well received by the community. Fans call the edition ‘pay to win’. Discord members copied and pasted a note that reads in part: “For eight years we have been recommending this game to friends, bringing more and more players to the community. And what was the response from the developers? They have blown us away, refuse to comment and only encourage those who have lost all respect for themselves and continue to pour in money (…) This cannot be tolerated.”
We’ve reached out to Battlestate Games for comment and will update this story if we hear back.