The time has come, and the beta playtest of Tarkov: Arena has finally begun! I’ll spare you the details about the game and it’s features (check out here) and focus on the main question: when and how will you get access to Arena?

The closed beta testing is rolling out in waves to prevent server meltdowns. Nothing unusual here so far, as we all know how bad/overloaded servers affect the in-game experience. The first wave began right after the first Tarkov: Arena tournament (Hannover, Germany) came to an epic end.

To get Tarkov: Arena access, you need either the EOD edition of the game or the standalone purchase of Arena. If you own EOD, make sure to log into your account on the Arena website to be officially “registered” for participation. How long you must wait to play the game depends on when you purchased EOD. It seems that today (Sunday), only a few long-time veterans (2015) and some large content creators got in. Don’t be too sad, however: BSG will launch further waves as soon as they have ensured server stability, which might be already tomorrow. My forecast is that everyone owning EOD and Arena will be onboarded no later than by the end of this week, i.e., before Christmas. Stay tuned, and good luck in the Arena!

-your kraynd