Online Games That Would Benefit From Going Free to Play in 2019
Artifact
With a 24-hour peak of just over 1,000 players, it’s safe to say that Artifact has been a flop and certainly not the Hearthstone-killer Valve would have been hoping for.
At the core of the issue was the manner in which Artifact’s progression was based around monetization beyond its asking price. In brief, not only do players have to pay for their copy, they then have to pay for card packs and certain game modes.
It all felt like a bit of a cash grab, and players didn’t respond kindly to it. And so it’s time for Valve to face the facts and change Artifact’s revenue model.
Ultimately, the longer they wait to make this a free-to-play title, the harder it’s going to be to push forward with its revival.
Although players have expressed their concerns with other areas of the game, like its stream viewing experience and learning curve, it’s the cost of admission that’s gatekeeping Artifact the most. It’s down 97% in players since launch.
If Valve doesn’t do something about the price, there are few paths forward for this game.
Online Games That Would Benefit From Going Free to Play in 2019
Fallout 76
Talks of Fallout 76 going free to play have been debunked by Bethesda recently, but, if true, I’d be surprised if this is a long-term decision.
Fallout 76 may have been the most disappointing game of 2018. Be it the unimpressive world, mundane story, lack of NPCs, an embarrassing amount of bugs, or that miserable $200 Power Armor edition of their game, Fallout 76’s reception was the kind of bad that people write listicles about.
It’s something a series as legendary as Fallout should never have been allowed to happen.
Moving Fallout 76 into a free-to-play phase and properly compensating those who paid for it could be the start of a comeback Bethesda needs.
The gaming community is no stranger to holding publishers and developers accountable for their shortcomings over a long period of time. Nobody wants to risk becoming the next EA, right?
Online Games That Would Benefit From Going Free to Play in 2019
Overwatch
On its face, Overwatch is one of the most successful games in the world. Under the surface, the Overwatch experience for your everyday player is far from perfect.
Despite having won Best Esports Game at The Game Awards, there are several changes that must be made to Overwatch’s online ecosystem.
Players have been pleading for console cross-play, an improved scoreboard, demos, ranked queue changes, and much more. Rod “Slasher” Breslau, the pundit probably closest to the game, argued all of these points in a recent post to Inven Global.
So, how would cutting the $39.99 price tag benefit those current playing? Immediately, it wouldn’t.
However, now that the Overwatch League has once again established itself as one of the most dominant esports leagues on the planet, resources need to go towards non-professional play. I hope that 2019 is the year that Overwatch sees a concerted push towards improving the game for the average Joe.
To punctuate these efforts, Overwatch should consider a free-to-play release. Look no further than League of Legends for proof of how a world-class esports league can afford to have its title available free of cost while still raking in billions.
OWL is the saving grace of Overwatch right now, and the game could grow a lot from welcoming a rush of new players after they address these fundamental issues holding it back.
With the way things have looked recently for Heroes of the Storm and Diablo, Blizzard could really use a surprise change like this to energize one of their most passionate fan bases.
Online Games That Would Benefit From Going Free to Play in 2019
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) is one of many battle royale titles that had a big piece of their pie stolen by Fortnite. At $29.99 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, that’s not too surprising.
PUBG Mobile is already massively successful at 200 million players.
This is in big part because the game plays and feels so much better on mobile than Fortnite does, but there are still many battle royale fans who prefer the visuals and gameplay of PUBG. There’s also the fact that PUBG is completely free on iOS and Android.
To compare, PUBG on Steam has barely peaked above a million players in the last 30 days. We can’t pretend to know just how many new players would pick up PUBG if it became free to play, but aren’t those numbers staggering —200 million on mobile to just a million on Steam?
This would lead you to believe that the mobile space has become Bluehole and Tencent’s focus.
So, what are the risks of releasing for free on consoles and PC? Imagine if they tried to sell PUBG Mobile for what they’re charging customers on Steam. Fortnite would be dominating every mobile battle royale game.
With how successful and profitable PUBG Mobile has become, Bluehole can afford to take this chance.
Online Games That Would Benefit From Going Free to Play in 2019
Rocket League
Rocket League’s Steam player count has been pretty consistent around the 50k mark for the past three years, but this racing-meets-soccer hit is also available on the big three consoles.
With how many players that adds up to, why go free? With full cross-platform play, a release across every major platform, unique and addictive gameplay, and a modest esports scene, Rocket League has plenty going for it.
Well, I’ve thought since the game’s launch that Rocket League could have been one of the world’s biggest esports —and I really wish it was. Opening the floodgates, as they’ve done on a few free-to-play weekends, would really give the title a chance to see some growth in this area.
Major tournaments do see big viewership on Twitch, but I’d like to see a regular season get the same numbers that League of Legends or Overwatch pulls.
As ironic as it sounds, going free could really see some revenue benefits for Psyonix, too. How about a system like Fortnite’s Battle Pass? If it works for one of the hottest games out right now, there are surely ways that Psyonix could implement it in Rocket League. The seasonal structure is even already in place.
It’s unfortunate that there aren’t any major Rocket League competitors out now, because I think that would be enough to nudge Psyonix towards a free release.
Online Games That Would Benefit From Going Free to Play in 2019
Destiny
The news of Destiny developer Bungie splitting from Activision was met with jubilation. With their focus now on Destiny 2, why not keep the feel-good vibes going with a free release of Destiny?
Released in late 2017, Destiny 2 continues to be a big success today. This leaves the first Destiny game as a bit of an afterthought. One of the best ways for Bungie to hype up the community and support their sequel would be to make Destiny free to play.
It’s been many years, but the first Destiny is still a great game and it’d make an excellent appetizer for bringing in fresh blood for Destiny 2. This would obviously cause Destiny to see a rise in players, but I think it’d do great things for Destiny 2, too. If new players realize that the first game is worth playing, a boom in Destiny 2 sales is sure to follow.
This would be a great gesture to the gaming community and also show loyal Destiny 2 fans that they’re committed and dedicated to developing the game. Giving away Destiny for free could be Bungie’s way of waving a final goodbye to the title while devoting all efforts and resources into Destiny 2.
After their divorce with Activision, Bungie was applauded. This is one more way that they could win the hearts of gamers.
