Quake Champions Drops Free-to-Play Model and Store Following id Software Restructuring
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Quake Champions has ditched its free-to-play systems and store for a flat nine-pound price tag on Steam, though the change arrives alongside studio layoffs and confirmation of no future content updates.
Quake Champions is leaving the free-to-play ecosystem behind, transitioning into a straightforward premium title on Steam for nine pounds. As reported by Rock Paper Shotgun, the update scraps battle passes, loot boxes, premium currencies, and the in-game store entirely. Players who previously accessed the game during free Steam events will receive an automatic upgrade to the full version, and anyone who purchased premium currency over the last two months will get a refund. Alongside the pricing overhaul, the patch introduces a new callvote system to tackle cheaters and toxic behavior, alongside netcode improvements and server consolidations.
This shift away from live service monetization arrives in the wake of significant restructuring at id Software. Microsoft layoffs hit the legendary studio hard, resulting in the departure of over one hundred developers as part of broader cuts across Xbox. With ZeniMax shifting its focus exclusively toward massive flagship franchises, the remaining team at id has confirmed that no additional content updates are planned for Quake Champions moving forward.
While paying a flat fee for a complete game is a refreshing departure from standard modern monetization, the transition highlights a sobering reality for players. Remaking the shooter into a self-sustaining offline and online package is certainly preferable to a complete server shutdown, but it marks a quiet final chapter for the arena shooter as corporate consolidation continues to reshape the industry.
Tags: Quake Champions, id Software, PC Gaming, Steam, Industry News
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun