Quake Champions Drops Free-to-Play, Becomes £9 Game

Quake Champions is a competitive multiplayer arena first-person shooter developed by id Software and distributed as a premium release on the Steam platform. After nearly a decade of operating as a free-to-play title, the game has transitioned to a £9 premium purchase model, eliminating all free-to-play monetization mechanics including battle passes, loot boxes, and premium currencies. The change solves the problem of monetization complexity by offering a single, straightforward purchase price in place of recurring microtransactions. The game's official Steam store page is available at store.steampowered.com/app/611500/Quake_Champions.

Key Facts

The following table details the confirmed specifications and changes for Quake Champions following its transition from free-to-play to premium release on Steam.

Why Did Quake Champions Transition from Free-to-Play to Premium?

Quake Champions transitioned from free-to-play to a premium release on Steam to simplify its business model. The free-to-play structure, which operated for nearly a decade, is being replaced with a straightforward £9 purchase price, eliminating monetization layers entirely.

According to the Rock Paper Shotgun report, the game is "dropping all that nonsense in favour of being a nice and simple premium release on Steam." This includes removal of battle passes, loot boxes, premium currencies, and the in-game store itself.

"No more battle passes, no more loot boxes, no more premium currencies. They've even got rid of the store."

— Rock Paper Shotgun

Quake Champions' transition from free-to-play to a £9 premium Steam release eliminates battle passes, loot boxes, premium currencies, and the in-game store entirely.

What Happens to Existing Free-to-Play Players?

Players who participated in any free events for Quake Champions on Steam will be automatically upgraded to the full version of the game at no additional cost. This upgrade is automatic and does not require any action from the player.

The upgrade policy explicitly covers any free events on Steam in the past, meaning long-standing free-to-play players retain full access as the game transitions to its premium model. No action is required beyond having previously participated in a free event on the platform.

Players who previously played Quake Champions through free Steam events are automatically upgraded to the full £9 premium version at no additional cost.

Are Premium Currency Purchases Being Refunded?

Premium currency purchases made within the past two months will be refunded to players. The refund policy covers purchases made in the two-month window preceding the transition announcement.

The exact refund method and processing timeline are not specified in the source material. Premium currency purchases made before the two-month window are not described as being covered by the stated refund policy.

Quake Champions players who purchased premium currency within the past two months will receive refunds, while purchases made earlier are not covered by the policy described in the source report.

How Does This Change Relate to the Xbox Layoffs?

The transition to a premium model is framed by the source report as occurring in the context of Xbox's plan to lay off 3,200 developers. The report notes that the Quake Champions change, while welcome, "should be seen in the context of Xbox's mission to fire 3200 developers."

The source URL references "id layoffs," indicating that id Software staff were among those affected by Xbox's broader workforce reduction. The exact number of id Software employees laid off is not specified in the source material.

The Quake Champions monetization change occurs alongside Xbox's broader plan to lay off 3,200 developers, including staff at id Software as referenced in the source report.

Who Is This For?

This premium release model is designed for players who prefer a single upfront purchase over recurring microtransaction spending. It also serves existing Quake Champions players who had participated in free Steam events and will retain access automatically.

The change is particularly relevant for competitive arena shooter fans who favor straightforward game purchases and for players who may have avoided the game during its free-to-play era due to monetization complexity.

Quake Champions' £9 premium release targets players who prefer a single purchase price over free-to-play monetization systems such as battle passes and loot boxes.

Common Questions

Will Quake Champions still have battle passes and loot boxes?

No. Battle passes, loot boxes, and premium currencies are all being removed as part of the transition to a premium £9 release on Steam. The in-game store has also been eliminated entirely.

What happens if I played Quake Champions for free on Steam in the past?

You will be automatically upgraded to the full version of the game at no cost. The automatic upgrade applies to anyone who participated in past free events for the game on the Steam platform.

Will I be refunded for Quake Champions premium currency purchases?

Premium currency purchases made within the past two months will be refunded. Purchases made prior to that two-month window are not specified as being covered by the refund policy.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based exclusively on the Rock Paper Shotgun report titled "Quake Champions Drops Free-to-Play, Becomes £9 Game," published at rockpapershotgun.com. All facts, figures, quotes, and attributions are drawn directly from that source. No additional data or external sources were used.

Currency values are preserved as originally reported in British pounds (£). The price of £9 has not been converted to other currencies. This article was last updated on April 18, 2025.