Yesterday we told you that Battleborn was probably going to become a free-to-play title given the hints to such by a new patch.
It turns out we were wrong. Battleborn is not, and will never be a free-to-play game according to the people who make it. Instead it’s getting a “free trial” that allows gamers to play the game’s multiplayer suite with no limit, for perpetuity. Yes, you can play Battleborn without paying a single cent right now and forever. Words apparently have no real meaning, so it’s not a free-to-play game, despite much of it being completely free-to-play. The single player campaign, as an example, will still require a purchase. Given that said campaign is essentially just training wheels for the multiplayer, it all seems like strange nomenclature.
Entire game is not free. ENTIRE campaign, for example, requires retail purchase.
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) June 6, 2017
Every week there will be a new rotation of 6 of the games 30 heroes that can be played without cost (not free!). Player account and hero progression will both be persistently tracked, just as they would be in a free-to-play game of this sort.
If you happened to mistakenly buy Battleborn before this announcement thinking it was Overwatch, you’ll be afforded some shiny Founder’s Content.
- 1,000 Platinum
- 50,000 Credits
- Exclusive “Founder” player title
- Gold skins for Mellka and Deande
- 5 Core Loot Packs
- 1 of each Command Faction Pack (5 total)
- 1 Exclusive “Founder Loot Pack” that includes…
- 1 guaranteed piece of legendary gear
- 1 guaranteed piece of legendary boss gear
- 2 guaranteed pieces of common (or better) gear
- Guaranteed exclusive legendary “Shard of Solus” gear item (a 0 activation cost LLC Shard Generator)
- 4 guaranteed Flair items including exclusive “Founder’s Crown” Flair item
The Battleborn Free Trial is now available globally on Steam and Xbox One, and will be available for PS4 players in South Africa on June 13.
Last Updated: June 7, 2017
Gavin Mannion
June 7, 2017 at 10:16
Not free to play… it’s just free if you want to play. so it’s different.
Magoo
June 7, 2017 at 10:52
It’s not f2p it’s p4f.
Allykhat
June 7, 2017 at 11:22
This… play 4 free sounds better. Double the amount of freeness than f2p
miaau
June 7, 2017 at 11:24
Yeah, it seems to cost lost money
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 7, 2017 at 10:22
I find everything about this game to be a trial.
Ottokie
June 7, 2017 at 10:36
So it’s the WinRAR of games?
Alessandro Barbosa
June 7, 2017 at 11:18
This is the best metaphor for this insanity
Matthew Figueira
June 7, 2017 at 11:55
Ok, you win xD
Original Heretic
June 7, 2017 at 10:42
I’m thinking of the title of a Black Eyes Peas song. But the title before they had to change it because of SJW reasons.
Matthew Holliday
June 7, 2017 at 11:48
Allykhat
June 7, 2017 at 11:21
30gb update too for those who already have it installed. Thanks Gearbox.
Matthew Figueira
June 7, 2017 at 11:55
“If you happened to mistakenly buy Battleborn before this announcement thinking it was Overwatch, you’ll be afforded some shiny Founder’s Content.”
Looooooooooooooooooooooooool xD
Kromas Ryder
June 7, 2017 at 11:57
I don’t get why you are angry. Remember Randy also called Alien:CM a huge “Success”.
Fnuik
June 7, 2017 at 13:16
So will the “free trial” still require plus to play on ps4?
Geoffrey Tim
June 8, 2017 at 10:20
Yes