I feel bad for Battleborn, I really do, because despite it being a solid title many straight up wrote it off in favour of Blizzard’s Overwatch (which launched in the same period). As a result, Gearbox’s shooter has all but been forgotten.
The easiest way to remedy the dire situation Battleborn finds itself in I believe, would be to take the free-to-play route. That model has worked for, oh I don’t know, just about every mainstream MOBA in existence (and many other titles too). Call me crazy, but I really do think Gearbox should follow suit if they want their shooter to find some proper loving.
And it looked like they were going to, at least according to Kotaku. They had a source tell them that Battleborn would be going free-to-play as soon as mid-November. CEO Randy Pitchford has since come out though and said that’s just not happening (via Game Informer):
I was just told about a reckless story about Battleborn going F2P that is false. There are no plans to convert Battleborn free to play.
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) September 29, 2016
So, there’s no free-to-play coming to Battleborn unfortunately. There is an alternate plan in the works for the shooter however:
We have some unannounced plans to do a trial version of the game that would be free and from which retail can be purchased along with DLC.
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) September 29, 2016
Free trial plans are not firm yet – months away. Expect great continued support and awesome line up of DLC.
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) September 29, 2016
Maybe this free trial will let people play until a certain level (just like WoW), or give them access to handful of heroes? Gearbox have yet to confirm. Whatever it entails, I just hope it’s enough to get people interested in Battleborn.
Otherwise, it will inevitably need to go down the free-to-play road it’s so desperately trying to avoid.
Last Updated: September 30, 2016
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 30, 2016 at 11:36
Yes Randy, I’m sure all 145 people playing right now are super excited for the DLC. Everyone stop this reckless reporting or there will be trouble! Maybe even a mean tweet.
Matthew Figueira
September 30, 2016 at 11:46
http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/There-Are-Dozens-of-Us-Tobias-Funke-Arrested-Development.gif
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
September 30, 2016 at 11:41
Someone should tell Randy that the only way keep your game alive when no one is buying it is to Evolve
Matthew Figueira
September 30, 2016 at 11:45
xD
The Order of the Banana
September 30, 2016 at 15:42
Oh Randy….