Escape From Tarkov is set to go offline for at least 24 hours while the 1.0 launch patch is deployed in advance of the November 15 release date.
Starting at 11 GMT / 6AM EST on November 14, all of the Escape From Tarkov servers will be taken offline, meaning both Escape From Tarkov and Escape From Tarkov Arena will be completely unplayable. Both games will be down for at least 24 hours while the 1.0 patch is deployed, but if previous patch deployments are anything to go by, that could take even longer.
Assuming the downtime does last 24 hours, that means that Escape From Tarkov will launch worldwide at 11 GMT / 6AM EST on November 15. However, given this is the largest update in Tarkov history there is a very good chance that the servers will get slammed and you may not be able to get in and play instantly.
When the servers come back up, Escape From Tarkov will have officially left beta and launched, including being available on Steam for the first time. The update will bring the story mode quest line, the end game content that lets you escape from Tarkov, and a wipe in the PvP mode, PvE players will be able to choose if they wish to wipe or not. Escape From Tarkov Arena will also partially wipe when the servers come back online on November 15.
Prior to the launch, at 11AM MSK, 8AM GMT, 3AM EST, 12AM PST on November 15, there will be a special launch TarkovTV stream. This should finally give us a look at some of the unknown features that are coming in the launch patch, and hopefully a bit more info on the end game content that has so far not been shown off outside in person events.
For anyone looking to play Tarkov on Steam, the game is now available for pre-purchase and pre-load. There is also a special launch discount for the Steam version, with a 25% discount currently available for anyone looking to purchase the game on Steam. Of course, anyone who already owns Tarkov will be able to play through the Battlestate Games launcher as normal, but will not be able to play through Steam without purchasing it again.
While 24 hours of downtime is not ideal, the launch of Escape From Tarkov will only happen once and this will no doubt help to build the excitement for fans who have been waiting years for this day.