The latest Escape from Tarkov wipe has ignited a firestorm across the player base and now, the developer is adding fuel to the fire. Battlestate Games’ Head of Studio, Nikita Buyanov, lashed out at a fan on social media after criticism over the game’s controversial new "hardcore wipe."
The reset, which went live just two days ago, was meant to be a return to the game’s unforgiving roots. But instead of uniting the community, it’s sparked widespread frustration. Many longtime players have taken to social platforms to vent their disappointment, with some calling the new state of the game unplayable or simply "broken." Here is the tweet that set it all off:
One frustrated fan bluntly posted to Buyanov:
"You destroyed your game, bro."
Buyanov’s response?
"oh shut the f*** up"
Though he quickly followed it up with a half-hearted walk-back saying that he was joking:
"i’m joking, don’t shut the f*** up. Every opinion matters"
the initial comment went viral however, igniting even more debate about the studio’s relationship with its community.
Community Reaction: Split and Heated
Responses to Nikita’s comment were divided. Some players rallied behind the bluntness, praising his no-filter attitude and labeling him a “real one.” Others were far less forgiving, seeing the statement as tone-deaf in the face of genuine player concerns.
Critics argue that the hardcore wipe stripped away too many quality-of-life features, making the game unnecessarily punishing. One user summed it up bluntly in a tale that seems to be as old as time:
"Your game lost identity cause you tried to please everyone. Listening to streamers ruined this game for you."
Tarkov has long struggled with cheating, stream sniping, and a perceived disconnect between player feedback and actual changes. Some players allege that ban waves are timed with game sales sometimes. This is a conspiracy theory that continues to float around the community, especially during controversial updates.
However, even with Battlestate’s increased transparency like public feedback reports and changes based on community surveys many feel it’s too little, too late. After nearly a decade in early access, some players see the recent wipe as a step backward rather than progress.
The latest hardcore wipe was supposed to challenge players. Instead, it’s challenging the relationship between the Tarkov community and its developer. While Buyanov’s response may have been intended as a joke, some players did not see that way, it also highlights growing tension around the game’s direction.
As Escape from Tarkov approaches a decade in early access, one thing is clear: fans are no longer willing to suffer silently and neither, it seems, is the developer. What will the results be? That remains to be seen. Stay tuned to Gamefragger.com for more updates as we get them.