Escape From Tarkov was released more than five years ago, but it has proven in 2022 that it has some real staying power. In a report published by StreamsCharts.com, it was revealed that Escape From Tarkov was the sixth most-watched shooter on Twitch this year, beating out the likes of Rust, Overwatch, PUBG, and Rainbow Six Siege in the same category. It came in just behind Call of Duty: Warzone, and it was only the heaviest hitters like Fortnite and VALORANT that were more popular.
Not only that, but LVNDMARK, one of the most recognisable Escape From Tarkov streamers, made it into the top-ten most-watched creators in the category. It was a considerable achievement for Escape From Tarkov, but as of late, the game has suffered somewhat under the weight of several issues. From streamers dropping the game for other titles to somewhat meaningless updates, and from stability issues to a plague of cheaters, Tarkov has had its fair share of concerns this year.
Escape From Tarkov Makes For Good Viewing
Image Credit: StreamsCharts
In the report published by StreamsCharts, it was written that:
‘Escape From Tarkov is probably the most unique game on this list. Despite the game still not being in a “fully released state”, it’s (already) very popular, with players from all over the world enjoying its gameplay. It was watched for 269 million hours in 2022.’
Escape From Tarkov does offer something of a unique viewing experience, with no two ‘raids’ ever going the same way. It’s a gruelling game for many, boasting complex mechanics such as inventory and weight management, convoluted healing processes, and intense weapon customisation and loadout features. It’s an unforgiving game, and that’s putting it lightly, but there’s something exhilarating about watching a skilled player raid in and out of the various maps in the game.
In November, Call of Duty Warzone 2.0 launched, and along with it, DMZ. This is Activision’s attempt to rival Escape From Tarkov somewhat, and it offers up a very similar experience in a more ‘arcade’ kind of fashion. There are very few titles on the market right now with the depth and complexity of Escape From Tarkov, and it’s infamous for its incredibly tough learning curve for newcomers.
The Sheer Resiliency
Image Credit: Battlestate Games
Escape From Tarkov has managed to remain in a popular, positive position for years now, despite many ‘teething’ issues. It’s officially still a beta product, and every six months or so, the game ‘wipes’ – it resets the entire playing field, stripping players bare and resetting their accounts. It’s a balancing mechanic, but it’s the main draw for Tarkov, as when ‘wipe hits’, there will always be an update that introduces new bosses, maps, quests, weapons, and more.
In the coming days, a wipe is expected to hit, bringing the first iteration of a long-awaited map, along with a huge array of updates, amendments, and changes. There’s already a lot of anticipation circulating within the community, as if Battlestate Games, the developer, can pull it off, then Tarkov will boost to the top of the charts once again.
Every wipe, Escape From Tarkov doesn’t just feature in the most-watched shooters on Twitch – it tops the table.
Will it do so again when the wipe hits in the next few days?
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