Thu Jan 01 18:00:00 UTC 2026: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Extraction Shooter Pioneer Escape From Tarkov Officially Launches Version 1.0, Ten Years in the Making
[City, State] – [Date] – Battlestate Games today announced the full release of Escape From Tarkov (EFT), reaching version 1.0 after nearly a decade in development. This milestone marks a significant step for the title that is largely credited with creating the extraction shooter subgenre.
Escape From Tarkov has gained notoriety for its unforgiving realism, demanding gameplay, and high stakes – players must scavenge for resources and equipment within a hostile environment, risking everything to extract successfully. This tense and brutal experience has resonated with a dedicated player base, but also presents a challenge to newcomers.
“We created the genre,” stated Nikita Buyanov, CEO and director of Battlestate Games, in a recent interview. Buyanov, who has become the public face of EFT, emphasized the studio’s commitment to their original vision, even amidst the rise of competitors and internal debate about accessibility. “We’ve doubled down on everything that makes us who we are,” he affirmed.
Version 1.0 brings several key additions, including the long-awaited Story Mode and a release on Steam. The Steam launch is poised to bring in a new wave of players.
“My life is Tarkov, basically, Buyanov says. I can’t imagine myself without it. I lived through a lot of things as a developer, as a businessman and as a person. It didn’t give me joy, really. I just realised that life is hard. That’s how it will be for as long as I’m breathing. Always in the battle state.”
About Battlestate Games:
Battlestate Games is a game development studio founded by Nikita Buyanov. The company is known for Escape from Tarkov, the first extraction shooter.
###
First Piper 