After nine years, Escape From Tarkov finally achieves "the result we've all been waiting for"

While Arc Raiders is currently the extraction shooter in the spotlight, it may not stay there for very long. The godfather of the genre, Escape From Tarkov, has been in early access for close to a decade now, but in a couple of weeks' time, it will finally fully release - and that includes being available on Steam for the first time. Ahead of that day, Battlestate Games' COO Nikita Buyanov has announced that EFT has achieved "the result we've all been waiting for" - the game's 1.0 version has gone gold.

The last few years have been awash with new extraction shooters reveals and releases. Escape From Tarkov is the inspiration behind so many of them. One of the best FPS games for those looking for an intense, immersive, and hardcore survival shooter experience, Battlestate has weathered all manner of issues and controversies since its alpha launch in 2016. Tarkov has a large, dedicated playerbase, but has only been accessible through its own launcher, often meaning its success can fly under the radar. But with its 1.0 release coming to Steam, there's a huge opportunity for it to reach a new audience - especially seeing as Arc Raiders has just convinced swathes of more casual shooter fans that extraction games aren't so bad after all.

With the Escape From Tarkov 1.0 release date set for Saturday, November 15, Buyanov has now announced that it has reached the most important milestone in the game's nine-year history.

"Escape from Tarkov has gone gold!" he reveals in a post on X. "The final version is complete - production is finished, and the final countdown to release has begun. Years of hard work, testing, and refinement have peaked in the result we've all been waiting for.

"For us, this is more than just a date on the calendar - it is a symbol of the journey we've traveled together with the community. Thank you for your unwavering support and feedback over these ten years. Your ideas have helped breathe life and depth into the game.

"For me personally, this is the most important and significant moment in my life. See you in Tarkov!"

I'm really intrigued to see how Tarkov does on Steam, and what changes when it transitions to version 1.0. We already know that multiple "endings" are planned, but that these are considered to be "lifetime achievements" that only the best, most dedicated players will be able to achieve. There'll also be a new location, which has a series of events tied to it in the initial weeks after launch. But I'm sure there are a whole host of surprises to look forward to.

For more high-stakes competitive experiences, head to our best multiplayer games list. If you want the crispiest aim in shooters like Tarkov, you should do two things: practise like clicking heads is an Olympic sport, and take a look at our best gaming mouse guide.

Are you excited to see Tarkov come to Steam and finally hit 1.0 after all these years? If so, come by the PCGamesN Discord server to share your thoughts.