Games That Had To Go Free-To-Play

Key Takeaways

Making a game free-to-play can revitalize dwindling player numbers and increase revenue.
Switching to free-to-play saved struggling games like Lord of the Rings Online and Fall Guys.
Free-to-play models attract new players while monetizing through expansions and microtransactions.

As someone who’s spent countless hours huddled behind walls and sprinting across digital battlefields, I can’t help but reflect on the fascinating journey of these iconic video games. The rise and fall of these titans is akin to watching a dramatic rollercoaster ride.

In these times, studios and publishers face immense stress to ensure that their major game releases run flawlessly, as a rocky debut could spell doom for the game before it garners a devoted fanbase. Typically, there’s limited room for a developer to revive a struggling game. One of the most daring moves they might take is offering the game for free-to-play and banking on the low barrier to entry attracting new players.

Making such a transition could be considered daring due to gamers often being hard to impress, and the term “free-to-play” often triggers caution in players’ minds. Although there are numerous excellent free-to-play games on PC, it’s typically not a positive indication when a game that was once paid transitions into a free model. Historically, this has occurred quite frequently, and if executed successfully by the developers, it can rescue a game that appeared to be failing.

1 The Lord Of The Rings Online

Even A Massive IP Couldn’t Save It

Unfortunately, even great games like The Lord of the Rings Online can experience failure in the gaming industry. Despite receiving favorable reviews and a passionate player base, it faced difficulties from the start in building a substantial following and quickly lost those it initially attracted. Its subscription-based model was a significant deterrent for many players, leading to its decline by 2010, teetering on the brink of disappearance.

To boost their game’s success, creators switched from a subscription-based system to one that is free-to-play. As reported by the publishers, this decision proved beneficial and within just half a year, the game’s income tripled. Although it may not be as prominent as other MMOs, the game remains popular and ranks among the top free-to-play MMOs available. Most of its content is accessible for free, while premium content for advanced players is locked behind LOTRO points, which can either be bought with real money or earned within the game by persistent play. Players who wish to support the developers have the option to subscribe at a VIP level if they prefer.

2 Fall Guys

Couldn’t Stay On Top

In the year 2020, Fall Guys emerged as one of the unexpected sensations. This visually adorable “battle royale obstacle course game” was launched at a point when the battle royale genre seemed to be overly populated. It played like a fusion of popular shows such as Total Wipeout, Takeshi’s Castle, and a challenge by YouTube sensation Mr. Beast. Gamers found it irresistible, and it quickly became the preferred game for streamers, outperforming heavyweights like Fortnite and Among Us. For a while, at least.

Initially, people found the gameplay a bit monotonous and predictable, and as more games entered the market, its appeal dwindled rapidly. This was concerning because the game required substantial player numbers to function optimally, causing a downward spiral in its user base. In 2022, Mediatonic took a bold step by making Fall Guys free-to-play. This strategic move rejuvenated the game, and it quickly rose from 10 million monthly players to over 17 million. Features like live service elements such as seasons and battle passes have kept players engaged, and Fall Guys remains one of the top battle royales on PS5 and other platforms.

3 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

More Money In Microtransactions

Since the debut of the original “Counter-Strike” in 2020, this gaming franchise has become synonymous with top-tier competitive first-person shooters. It seems strange, then, to assert that Valve felt compelled to convert “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive” into a free-to-play game, given its tremendous success. One might wonder why Valve would offer for free one of the most frequently played games on Steam and one of their highest-rated titles?

To maintain its dominance, Valve decided to make Counter-Strike free-to-play in the cutthroat competitive FPS market. This move was essential to prevent the game from losing ground. Innovation is key to staying on top, and going free-to-play helped expand the esports community, attract more players, and gain visibility with streamers. In essence, Valve likely earns more revenue through microtransactions and esports in this model than they would have if they continued charging for Counter-Strike. If it hadn’t been made free-to-play, the game might have seen a decline as newer free-to-play games potentially drew away its player base.

4 The Sims 4

Keeping The Cash Cow Alive

Electronic Arts (EA) has earned an enormous sum from The Sims 4. Ever since its launch a decade ago, the game has generated billions of dollars for the company and continues to be popular today. In the realm of life simulation games, there isn’t much fierce competition, and EA understands that by continuously releasing downloadable content and expansions for the game, they are essentially minting money. It is worth noting that EA is not particularly renowned for its treatment of gamers, so it came as a bit of an unexpected move when they made The Sims 4 free-to-play in 2022.

In reality, Electronic Arts (EA) realized that The Sims 4 was nearing exhaustion of its primary revenue source. Every additional content release for The Sims 4 received unfavorable reviews, and it became apparent that casual gamers had a finite budget for their beloved game. By transitioning to a free-to-play model, The Sims 4 managed to attract millions more casual players enticed by the low price point. Once these players were engaged, EA could start selling them Downloadable Content (DLC). To enjoy all that The Sims 4 offers, fans would need to invest around $1000. Despite being free-to-play, The Sims 4’s primary revenue source is still thriving and prosperous.

5 Rocket League

Live-Service That Works

Due to the extraordinary success of Rocket League after its launch in 2015, Psyonix faced an uncommon dilemma. The game quickly attracted a dedicated fanbase that yearned for additional content. However, producing new content requires investment, and there was only so much the existing player base was prepared to spend. By 2020, the player count began to dwindle, leading Psyonix to take a challenging step and transform Rocket League into a free-to-play live service game.

At first, fans were hesitant, but the developer stayed faithful to their promise. The latest version significantly boosted the team’s productivity, providing existing players with fresh goals and encouraging newcomers to return for more. In a way similar to Valve with Counter-Strike, Rocket League has become far more lucrative than it was as a paid game, demonstrating that the live-service model can succeed if developers and publishers avoid becoming excessively greedy. Despite facing potential risks of losing popularity, Rocket League remains just as popular now as it was before 2020.

6 Star Wars: The Old Republic

Getting Star Wars Fans Hooked

Initially launched in December 2011, Star Wars: The Old Republic, despite its massive production cost of over $200 million and association with one of the most prominent IPs in entertainment, found itself in a precarious situation by the end of November 2012 when it transitioned to a free-to-play model. Surprisingly, this wasn’t due to the game being poor; on the contrary, it boasted one of the best narratives among Star Wars games, offered engaging gameplay, stunning cutscenes, and had a successful debut. However, within just a year, the game was teetering on the brink of extinction.

The Old Republic once they are captivated by it.

7 Fortnite

No One Remembers Save The World

The immensely popular game known as Fortnite rules over the video gaming world, particularly the battle royale genre and streaming platforms. It has raked in at least $30 billion for Epic Games (with the actual amount likely being significantly higher). However, what most fans may not comprehend is that this success story was largely an unexpected stroke of luck. Initially, Epic had a completely different vision in mind.

Initially, Epic Games introduced a trial version of Fortnite: Save the World in July 2017, which combined elements of third-person shooter games, tower defense, sandbox survival, and looter shooter genres. The game’s development required substantial funding, yet the trial wasn’t financially successful. In response to the success of PUBG, Epic swiftly shifted focus and launched a free-to-play battle royale mode in September 2017, using the earnings from Fortnite: Battle Royale to support the main game’s development. However, Fortnite: Battle Royale gained immense popularity, overshadowing Fortnite: Save the World, which was subsequently put on hold. In 2018, it was announced that Fortnite: Save the World would become free-to-play, but it eventually launched in 2020 as a pay-to-play game. While technically still in existence, Fortnite: Save the World is barely active now, and the original concept has essentially been overshadowed by its free-to-play spinoff, which has become a gaming phenomenon.

8 PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)

Clinging On To Relevancy

Initially, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) began as a mod for ARMA 2 named DayZ: Battle Royale in the year 2013. This mod rapidly gained a devoted fanbase and was later developed into a separate game in 2017. The resulting game, PUBG: Battlegrounds, achieved immense popularity and is often credited with kick-starting the entire battle royale video game genre. In no time at all, it inspired numerous imitators and became a staple among popular streamers. The days were golden.

By 2022, the game faced challenges due to its own prosperity. Although numerous imitators, such as Sony’s H1Z1, rapidly faltered, games like Fortnite outshone PUBG. These games, developed by larger studios, offered polished gaming experiences, while PUBG continued to be plagued with bugs and glitches. It was being overshadowed. To keep up with the growing number of high-quality free battle royale games, PUBG transitioned into a free-to-play model. The intention was to regain some players, rejuvenate its community, and generate income through battle passes and cosmetics. This strategy was effective for a while, but PUBG’s heyday is now over. Apart from those seeking the most challenging battle royale experience, PUBG no longer holds the dominance it once did.

9 Destiny 2

Making Money Through Expansions

There was great anticipation for the launch of Destiny 2 in 2017, especially since its predecessor, created by Bungie known for Halo, had been successful. Fans were eager to discover what the sequel would offer. Regrettably, it didn’t meet expectations. At its release, Destiny 2 was not a poor game; it included all the elements that made the original so appealing. However, it also seemed like more of the same, even for the franchise’s most devoted followers, who had to acknowledge that the sequel fell short compared to the original.

Despite seeing a decrease in both sales and active players, Bungie persevered with their plans to roll out the announced expansions for Destiny 2. Interestingly, they found that even though player numbers dwindled, there was still a dedicated group of fans who were eager to spend premium money on these expansions. In light of this discovery, Bungie decided to make Destiny 2 free-to-play in the year 2019. Although the main game was accessible for free, players had to purchase the expansions. This strategic move attracted a host of new gamers, many of whom, once captivated, chose to invest in the game’s numerous expansions. Bungie has continued with this model, consistently releasing expansions nearly every year. Although it doesn’t boast the player base of other popular live-service games, its free-to-play structure has cultivated a community of devoted followers who are willing to pay top dollar for additional content.

2024-09-16 10:05