Free-to-play

This article is about the business model for video games. For business models other than for games, see Freemium. For the Dota 2 film, see Free to Play (film).

Free-to-play (F2P or FtP) video games are games that give players access to a significant portion of their content without paying or do not require paying to continue playing. Free-to-play is distinct from traditional commercial software, which requires a payment before using the game or service. It is also separate from freeware games, which are entirely costless. Free-to-play's model is sometimes derisively referred to as free-to-start due to not being entirely free.[1] Free-to-play games have also been widely criticized as "pay-to-win"—that is, that players can generally pay to obtain competitive or power advantages over other players.

There are several kinds of free-to-play business models. The most common is based on the freemium software model, in which users are granted access to a fully functional game but are incentivised to pay microtransactions to access additional content or more powerful in-game assets. Sometimes the content is entirely blocked without payment; other times it requires immense time 'unlocking' it for non-paying players, and paying the fee speeds the unlocking process. Another method of generating revenue is to integrate advertisements into the game. And another is to sell cosmetic upgrades such as new outfits: these upgrades do not necessarily help the player win or compete.

The model was first popularly used in early massively multiplayer online games targeted towards casual gamers, before finding wider adoption among games released by major video game publishers to combat video game piracy.

The model has been used by games such as Star Wars: The Old Republic, Apex Legends, Fortnite Battle Royale, and the majority of the MOBA games, which offer the "full version" of a product free of charge, while users are charged micropayments to access premium features and virtual goods, often in a piecemeal fashion.[2][3][4][5]

  1. ^ Pereira, Chris (March 23, 2015). "Here's Why Nintendo's CEO Dislikes the Term "Free-to-Play"". GameSpot. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  2. ^ Tack, Daniel (October 12, 2013). "The Subscription Transition: MMORPGs and Free-To-Play". Forbes. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  3. ^ Lejacq, Yannick (December 13, 2012). "Freemium Games Make Up 80% Of $10B Mobile App Market In 2012: Flurry Report". The International Business Times. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  4. ^ Gill, Bobby (December 14, 2012). "'Freemium' Games Pave the Way to Riches for App Developers". Archived from the original on January 3, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  5. ^ LeJacq, Yannick (September 15, 2012). "Something For Nothing: How The Videogame Industry Is Adapting To A 'Freemium' World". The International Business Times. Retrieved December 17, 2012.