Battleborn is finally going free-to-play, eight months after Gearbox Software founder Randy Pitchford chided Kotaku for reporting the planned changes. Those unwilling to pay for the hero shooter still won’t have access to the game’s campaign; however, anyone with a passing interest will have access to the multiplayer features. . The studio has officially announced Battleborn Free Trial; a partial release of the shooter that gives players unlimited access to all of the multiplayer stages and match types currently featured in the game.And Gearbox says it has no plans to implement a level cap or time limit on the “free trial.”
Reactions to Battleborn have been mixed since the game hit PC and consoles in May 2016. Some critics praised the game for trying something new while others criticized Battleborn ’s unresponsive and tedious gameplay. But regardless of one’s feelings on the project, few would argue that the dominance of Overwatch is at least partially responsible for the lackluster response to Gearbox Software’s first hero shooter. Despite having relatively little in common, Blizzard’s first shooter has flourished over the last 12 months, moving more than 75 million copies during that time, while the already meager support for Battleborn has waned to the point that the project doesn’t even make it onto Steam’s list of the 100 most popular games (by player count). An unusually strong release calendar, that began last summer/fall and continued through Spring 2017, didn’t help either.
Now Gearbox is hoping that a free taste of its latest IP might be enough to lure a few players away from the cornucopia of top-tier releases currently on the market. Those who download the Free Trial will also have access to a pool of six heroes, which rotates each week, and the standard progression system (without a level cap) for each. Additional content, like the story mode, XP boosters (but remember, it’s not F2P) or additional cosmetics for your favorite hero, can also be purchased via the Marketplace.
The biggest difference between the free and paid versions of Battleborn , as far as most outsiders are concerned, is the fact that trophies/achievements can’t be earned until you purchase the full game. It’s a decision that all but guarantees trophy and achievement hunters will continue ignoring the game, if they haven’t picked up a copy of Battleborn already, but one that makes sense given the studio’s clear desire to sell more copies of the full game. Gearbox also plans to distribute a plethora of goodies, including additional loot boxes and new pieces of flair, to anyone who already owns a copy of the game. Current Battleborn players will also be recognized as Founders.
Battleborn is currently available on PS4, Xbox One and PC.
