It's been eight years since the alpha test of Escape from Tarkov on August 4, 2016. As we approach 2025, the game is still in the "testing" phase. Despite this, Tarkov remains hugely popular, with a dedicated player base worldwide. So, what can we expect from this game, which has yet to be officially released, in 2025?

Competitors in 2025

In fact, by 2024, several competitors have already tried to capture Escape from Tarkov's market, such as Arena Breakout and Gray Zone Warfare. Unfortunately, they have not achieved great success, with their online player numbers only maintaining a basic level. However, these games are still in early release or testing phases, and as they iterate through versions, they may attract a large player base at some point, which will inevitably pose a threat to Tarkov. Moreover, there may still be new titles emerging in 2025.

Therefore, Tarkov needs to accelerate its update pace. We all know that updates currently occur every few months to half a year, but when every player is focused on when the next Tarkov wipe will happen, it indicates that the current game content is insufficient, and it's time to increase the update frequency. Your competitors certainly won't hold back; they only want to surpass you.

Steam Version

Can I play Tarkov on Steam? Over the past few years, this has been one of the most frequently asked questions by Tarkov players. Although everyone knows that Russia's international situation has affected the use of Steam, it is undeniable that the lack of a Steam version has become the biggest obstacle for players joining this game. After all, not everyone is willing to use a separate launcher for a single game. For Tarkov, it seems that its online player numbers have hit a plateau, with no significant growth for a long time. Releasing a Steam version, or even a console version, could be a shortcut to solving this issue. So, in 2025, we can look forward to the possible release of a Steam version.

Server Issues

Despite the availability of effective methods to reduce Tarkov lag and high ping, it's undeniable that Tarkov's servers are still not perfect. Many players, especially those in more remote areas, often experience server connection issues. Although Battlestate Games’ continuous optimization has somewhat improved this problem, it is still not adequately resolved. To continuously attract more players, ensuring server quality is crucial in a game that demands high connectivity. Increasing server deployment can effectively alleviate this issue.

Objectively speaking, in this game genre, Escape from Tarkov is still a top-tier presence, but it doesn't mean it can become complacent, as competition in the gaming market is always fierce. Let's look forward to new updates about Tarkov in 2025.