I’ve been tracking Escape from Tarkov since the days when finding it on Steam was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Back in 2020, the game was a Twitch darling, but it was nowhere to be found on Valve’s storefront. If you wanted in, you had to go straight to the game’s official website, create an account, and buy it there. No Steam, no wishlist, no easy refunds. That was the deal. Fast forward to 2026, and the cat’s out of the bag: Escape from Tarkov finally hit 1.0 and landed on Steam. Better late than never, right?

The writing had been on the wall for years. An old interview between WCCFTech and Battlestate Games developer Pavel Dyatlov confirmed that a Steam release was planned once the game reached version 1.0. At the time, EFT was still in beta, and an exact date was anyone’s guess. Dyatlov also mentioned that a console release was possible after the PC and Steam versions were out. That interview is now over five years old, and a lot has changed. For starters, 1.0 finally arrived on November 15, 2025, and with it, the Steam launch. Long story short, the wait is over.

But hold your horses—console players shouldn’t pop the champagne just yet. As of early 2026, there’s still no official PlayStation or Xbox version of Escape from Tarkov. Battlestate Games has kept its cards close to its chest. The same old interview suggested console ports could happen after PC and Steam, but that’s not a promise. It’s more of a “maybe someday.” I’d take any console rumor with a grain of salt. The studio has a habit of moving at its own pace, and rushing them is like herding cats.

Now, let’s not forget the elephant in the room: the controversy surrounding Dyatlov. In that same interview, he made some tone-deaf comments about female characters, saying women can’t handle the stress of war. Battlestate Games was quick to distance itself, calling him ‘not a key BSG employee.’ He was reportedly reprimanded, though it’s unclear exactly when. That whole episode is a reminder that old interviews can come back to bite you. In 2026, the game has moved on, and so has most of the community. But it’s still a part of EFT’s messy history.

So, where does that leave us? Let’s break it down.

I’ve spent a lot of time in Tarkov, both before and after the Steam release. The core experience hasn’t changed much. It’s still a brutal, unforgiving extraction shooter where every raid can end with you losing your gear and your dignity. The Steam version does add some conveniences—achievements, cloud saves, and a proper store page—but you still need a Battlestate Games account. It’s a small hoop to jump through, but it’s better than the old website-only days. No more sketchy payment pages or wondering if your download will work.

The 1.0 launch was a big deal. It brought new maps, weapons, and quality-of-life improvements. But it also brought a flood of new players. Some are veterans from the beta, others are fresh meat. The Steam reviews have been mixed, mostly because Tarkov is not for everyone. It’s a game that will chew you up and spit you out. But for those who stick with it, there’s nothing else quite like it.

Looking ahead, the big question is: will console ever happen? Battlestate has said they want to focus on PC first, and with 1.0 out, that focus hasn’t changed. A console port would require a massive redesign of controls and UI. It’s possible, but it’s not in the pipeline right now. If you’re a console-only gamer, you might be waiting a long time. Don’t hold your breath.

What about the future of the game on Steam? It’s stable, it’s popular, and it’s finally where most PC players expect it to be. The old WCCFTech interview was accurate for its time, but it’s ancient history now. The game has evolved, the studio has evolved, and the community has evolved. If you’re new, you can now buy Escape from Tarkov on Steam and jump right in. If you’re a veteran, you can finally have all your games in one library. That’s a win-win.

In the end, the journey from website-only to Steam has been a long one. It took five years, a global pandemic, and a lot of patience. But it happened. Escape from Tarkov is now a Steam game. The console version is still up in the air, and the controversy is a footnote. As I write this in 2026, I can’t help but smile. The game I used to explain to confused friends—“No, it’s not on Steam, you have to go to their website”—is now just a click away. That’s progress. And in the world of Tarkov, progress is rare. Cherish it.