Many players have referenced other games that offered Steam keys to pre-existing owners when they later moved to the Steam store — a move that can spare long-time supporters from buying a second copy. On Reddit, some users pointed to examples like Elite Dangerous and Fallout 76 as precedents for issuing keys to non-Steam purchasers. Others have been more vocal, describing the decision as a final slight against the community.
Critics argue that it’s feasible for developers to provide Steam keys to verified owners, and some suspect Battlestate may be trying to avoid issues like key reselling. However, given Tarkov’s size and age, that rationale doesn’t fully satisfy many players.
There are also speculations that requiring a Steam purchase might refresh Steam reviews by bringing in new, less jaded players — though several community members predict the game will still face significant criticism on release. With recommended specs reportedly suggesting 64GB of RAM and an RTX 4070 or better for an ideal experience, some expect a mixed reception.
Not everyone plans to repurchase. “I’ve used Steam for decades and own many titles there — but I will keep Tarkov off Steam if it means paying again,” one user commented on the subreddit.
Valve recently updated the Steam client with long-requested improvements like UI scaling and other quality-of-life features, a change some users have welcomed.
Source: gamesradar.com
