Grab a free key for Escape From Tarkov as the extraction shooter finally hits 1.0

For almost ten years now, Battlestate Games has toiled away on Escape From Tarkov with the help of its community. The hardcore, realistic survival FPS game birthed the extraction shooter genre, paving the way for the likes of Hunt Showdown, Arena Breakout Infinite, and Arc Raiders. This weekend, it finally reaches 1.0, providing players with an actual way to, well, escape from Tarkov. To celebrate this momentous occasion, we've teamed up with Battlestate to give away ten codes for EFT so you can dive in for free.

With the arrival of Escape From Tarkov version 1.0 (and its Steam debut, too), the extraction shooter has an opportunity to lure even more players into its punishing and intense action. After years of experimentation and tuning, Battlestate tells us that 1.0 will set Tarkov up for a life of "balanced hardcore" gameplay, and while there is now a true, Call of Duty campaign-esque ending available for players to experience, it won't be an easy task reaching it.

Requiring a disciplined trigger finger (and precise aim when you do have to go loud), Tarkov is as much about stealth, strategy, and awareness as it is gunning down AI-controlled opponents and other players looking to pinch your gear. While you can sprint for limited bursts in moments of desperation, slow and methodical movement is the name of the game, and when it comes to healing during gunfights, make sure you have plenty of time and cover. Damage can be inflicted on specific sections of your body, including your arms, legs and chest, and using items to heal those body parts will take time. The goal is to increase your stash of excellent gear and loot, but death will cause you to lose any uninsured items forever, and you can only keep what you've found during a raid if you reach an extraction point.

As well as playing as your account's main character, a soldier for the PMC, you can also occasionally hop into active raids as a Scav. This character spawns in with random gear, and gives you the chance to go on a quick looting run with less risk to your main character's existing equipment. However, all the same mechanics and survival principles apply.

While new content has steadily flowed into Tarkov during its years in alpha and beta, even bigger plans are now set for the game post-1.0. For example, Battlestate has already confirmed a DLC is coming called Scav Life, which expands the Scav experience.

With 1.0 now out in the wild, we've got ten Escape From Tarkov codes to give away. These will grant you a free copy of the standard edition of the game, but must be redeemed on the official EFT website - these codes can't be redeemed directly on Steam. To earn an entry into this giveaway, simply complete one of the tasks in the widget below. We'll be ending this competition on Thursday, November 20 at 5am PST / 8am EST / 1pm GMT / 2pm CEST.

PCGN - Escape From Tarkov 1.0 code giveaway

Good luck, and maybe we'll be bumping into you out in the urban streets, abandoned facilities, and hostile wilds of Tarkov. Please don't steal our loot, we promise not to shoot first… In the meantime, you can also check out more of our lengthy interview with Battlestate, including its views on Steam review bombing and why it's got a few "tricks" up its sleeve for dealing with cheaters.