Towerborne Abandons Free-to-Play for Premium, Offline Experience
In a significant pivot that could redefine its market position, Xbox Game Studios’ upcoming side-scrolling action RPG, Towerborne, is ditching its original free-to-play, always-online model in favor of a premium, buy-once, offline-playable game. This strategic change, announced ahead of its February 26th launch, comes as a direct response to community feedback and aims to deliver a more complete and player-friendly experience.
A Transformative Decision Driven by Players
Originally conceived as a free-to-play title requiring constant online connectivity, Towerborne’s development team at Stoic has spent the past year undertaking “deep structural rebuilding.” Trisha Stouffer, CEO and president of Stoic, elaborated on this transformation in an Xbox Wire blog post: “You will own the complete experience permanently, with offline play and online co-op. This change required deep structural rebuilding over the past year, transforming systems originally designed around constant connectivity. The result is a stronger, more accessible, and more player-friendly version of Towerborne — one we’re incredibly proud to bring to launch.”
The decision was heavily influenced by insights gathered during the game’s Early Access and Game Preview phases. An official FAQ stated, “After listening to our community during Early Access and Game Preview, we learned players wanted a complete, polished experience without ongoing monetization mechanics. Moving to a premium model lets us deliver the full game upfront—no live-service grind, no pay-to-win systems—just the best version of Towerborne.”
What the Premium Model Means for Players
This shift promises a wealth of benefits for players. Upon its 1.0 release, Towerborne will feature a “complete” story, introducing new bosses and a “reworked” difficulty system designed for a more cohesive experience. Crucially, all in-game cosmetics will be acquirable for free through gameplay, eliminating the need for any cosmetic purchases. This move directly addresses common player frustrations with live-service monetization, offering a refreshing alternative.
In an increasingly crowded market dominated by popular, time-consuming live-service giants like Fortnite and Roblox, Towerborne’s pivot to a premium, offline-playable experience could prove to be a shrewd move. It caters to a growing segment of players who seek a definitive, self-contained gaming experience without the pressures of continuous engagement or microtransactions.
Launch Details and Availability
Towerborne is set to launch on February 26th across a wide range of platforms, including Xbox Series X / S, Xbox on PC, Game Pass, Steam, and PS5. The standard edition will be priced at $24.99, with a deluxe edition available for $29.99. Existing early access players will seamlessly transition to the full game. This multi-platform launch ensures broad accessibility for players eager to dive into this reimagined action RPG.
For more details, visit our website.
Source: Link
1 Comment