Bethesda Ends Free-to-Play Model for Quake Champions in Final Update

Bethesda and id Software have rolled out patch 1.31 for Quake Champions, which is likely to be the final update for the game. The patch notes indicate that “no additional content updates are planned at this time” as the game transitions into a “new chapter.” This signifies the conclusion of an era for Quake Champions, which entered early access in 2017 and officially launched in 2022.

A significant change accompanying this update is the shift in the payment model. Since 2018, Quake Champions has been free-to-play, allowing anyone to download and enjoy the game. Moving forward, it will become a paid title available exclusively on Steam for $9.99. Players who previously accessed Quake Champions on Steam will be able to download the new paid version at no extra cost. However, those who played via the Microsoft Store will need to link their Bethesda.net account to their Steam account to access the new version, with this service available only until October 7.

As part of the transition to a paid model, all champions and 30 seasons’ worth of past content have been unlocked for all players, along with most vanity items. Battle passes, microtransactions, and in-app purchases have been completely removed. The game has also received various general fixes aimed at enhancing stability before it ceases to receive support. A notable new feature is a callvote system, enabling players to vote to kick cheaters or abusive players during matches, with a limit of three votes per game. Additionally, the number of data centers has been reduced to streamline player matchmaking, which may also help lower support costs.

id Software, a subsidiary of ZeniMax Media (which was acquired by Microsoft in 2021), has faced challenges recently. Following the announcement of significant layoffs affecting 3,200 employees across Xbox, it was reported that id Software’s team was cut in half, impacting many of its coders. This was surprising given id’s crucial role in gaming technology, such as the id Tech engine. Recently, Xbox has also seen further layoffs, particularly affecting Halo Studios, and is currently a target of campaigns from the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.

It’s been a challenging period for Team Green.