Sifu Developer Doesn’t Think All Online Games Need To Be F2P

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Summary

  • Sloclap’s Rematch soccer game will release as a $30 premium title, deviating from the F2P model.
  • Tarno believes a good, original game at a reasonable price can succeed without being free-to-play.
  • Helldivers 2’s success as a premium game priced at $30 supports the idea that original and solid games can thrive.

Although many modern online games now adopt a “free-to-play” (F2P) approach by earning income through cosmetic items, themes, and other elements, there are still some who are hesitant about this business model when it comes to newly launched games.

Sloclap, the creators behind the hit brawler Sifu, believe that not every game needs to be free-to-play to achieve success. They’re putting this philosophy into practice for their upcoming soccer game, Rematch, which will be sold as a premium title at $30.

Sloclap Never Considered F2P For New Game In Development

During my latest tour of the studio, I shared some thoughts with PC Gamer about what makes an online game successful – and it’s not always about being free. What truly matters is delivering a great gaming experience.

Tarno stated, “I’ve never thought about free-to-play, and he emphasized that one of the aspects he enjoys most about creating games is that there isn’t a magic formula or anything. Instead, the best approach—or perhaps the only viable method—to achieve commercial success is simply by crafting an exceptional game.

In simpler terms, according to Tarno, launching a non-F2P (Free-to-Play) online game doesn’t necessarily guarantee failure. If the game is high quality and competitively priced, it can still succeed in today’s market.

Terno stressed his belief that a game doesn’t necessarily have to be free-to-play just because it’s competitive online. Instead, he thinks that if the game is innovative, well-made, and reasonably priced, players will still be willing to purchase it.

Contrary to what many might think, the concept that Tarno proposed was validated by one game: Helldivers 2. This is a recent title developed by Arrowhead Game Studios, which sells for $30. Despite this being a premium online game, it has garnered significant success and manages to earn income through both the number of units sold and its live-service features.

Should you not be acquainted with Rematch, it represents a significant shift from Slocalp’s previous works, Absolver and Sifu. Instead of the action RPG genre, Rematch is a high-speed 5vs5 soccer game that emphasizes arcade-style gameplay rather than simulation-like games such as EA Sports FC.

Rematch will be released on June 19 for $30 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Might Sloclap achieve the same level of success as Helldivers 2? Although being a sports game may initially deter some non-sports enthusiasts, it could also resonate strongly with soccer fans. If this happens, it would immediately attract a player base, which is a primary focus for all online games from their very inception.

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2025-04-12 20:38