‘Escape from Tarkov‘ Launch Plunged into Chaos as Players Face Endless Queues
November 16,2025,07:38:37 AM CET – The highly anticipated launch of Escape from tarkov has been met with widespread frustration as players report being unable to access the game due to server overload and lengthy queue times. The disastrous rollout is sparking outrage within the community, with many expressing concerns about the two-hour refund window on Steam rapidly closing.
The situation unfolded as the game transitioned to new servers intended to support the launch, according to Battlestate Games. However, the system buckled under the strain of player demand, leaving many unable to log in at all. Others find themselves trapped in seemingly endless queues, racing against the clock to secure a refund before the Steam policy expires. This launch debacle arrives as competition in the extraction shooter genre intensifies, with titles like Arc Raiders gaining traction-Arc Raiders has already sold four million copies in two weeks.
“Almost four hours have passed with attempts to log in. This is not a gaming experience. this is hell,” one player wrote on Steam, reflecting the sentiment of many within the Escape from Tarkov community.
Battlestate games boss Bikita Buyanov acknowledged the issues via social media, stating there was no excuse for the problems and that the team is working to resolve the server instability.
Escape from Tarkov, which first emerged in 2017, pioneered the extraction shooter genre. The gameS prolonged path to a full launch has allowed numerous competitors to enter the market. The current launch issues threaten to further erode player confidence and perhaps cede ground to rivals.
