Did Fall Guys Ever Cost Money? A Comprehensive Look at the Game‘s Pricing History and Shift to Free-to-Play

Fall Guys took the gaming world by storm when it launched in August 2020. The colorful battle royale party game offered a fresh take on the popular genre. But did Mediatonic‘s hit title always boast a free-to-play model? Let‘s take a in-depth look at Fall Guys‘ pricing history and examine the impacts of its switch to F2P in 2022.

The Original Premium Pricing Model (2020-2022)

When Fall Guys first arrived on PC and PlayStation 4 in August 2020, it came with an upfront price tag. The standard edition cost $19.99 USD across both platforms. This was a premium price point for a multiplayer-focused party game at the time.

For PlayStation console gamers, there was a way to get the game at no initial cost. Fall Guys was one of the free monthly PlayStation Plus games in August 2020. PS Plus subscribers could download and play the title for free as part of their membership benefits that month. However, the game still retailed for $19.99 on the PlayStation Store for non-PS Plus accounts.

On Steam for PC, there were no free options – you had to purchase the game upfront to play. There were occasional free trial weekend events, but otherwise Fall Guys required payment.

So while a portion of PlayStation players got the game for free via PS Plus, Fall Guys did originally launch as a premium paid title across consoles and PC. According to SuperData estimates, Fall Guys grossed around $185 million in its first 30 days from in-game purchases and the initial $20 price tag.

The Transition to Free-to-Play in 2022

In March 2021, Epic Games acquired Fall Guys developer Mediatonic. This led many to speculate that Fall Guys would eventually go free-to-play with in-game transactions, similar to Epic‘s massively popular Fortnite.

Those predictions proved accurate when on June 21, 2022, Fall Guys officially transitioned to a free-to-play model across all platforms. It also released on Xbox and Nintendo Switch as a free download that day.

The shift to free has resulted in an explosion in Fall Guys‘ player base. According to analytics site activeplayer.io, Fall Guys had around 13,000 active players on Steam in May 2022 before going free. In July 2022, after going F2P, it spiked to over 150,000 active Steam players – over a 10x increase!

Analyzing the Impacts of the Pricing Shift

Transitioning to free-to-play has clearly reinvigorated Fall Guys and introduced it to a host of new players. But how has this pricing change impacted revenue? And how does the new F2P model compare to other leading games in the industry?

Monetization and Revenue

With no more $20 upfront payment, Fall Guys now relies entirely on in-game transactions for revenue. The main monetization avenues are the Season Pass, costumes, and Show-Bucks currency.

According to SuperData estimates, Fall Guys generated around $50 million in revenue in July 2022, its first full month as a free title. For comparison, the game grossed $185 million in its first month in 2020 as a paid game. So while going free has expanded the player base, it has resulted in lower overall revenue so far.

However, industry analysts predict revenue to rise over time as players get invested in the game and begin spending money on seasonal battle passes and customization. Games like Fortnite and Apex Legends have proven that free games can generate steady long-term revenue through in-game transactions.

Comparison to Other Top F2P Titles

Speaking of Fortnite and Apex, how does Fall Guys‘ approach compare to other industry titans? Fall Guys seems to be following the proven blueprint of those games quite closely:

• Fortnite: Free to download and play, premium Battle Pass for each season, in-game cosmetics shop
• Apex Legends: Free to download and play, premium Battle Pass for each season, in-game cosmetics shop
• Fall Guys: Free to download and play, premium Season Pass, in-game shop for costumes and currency

This shows how Fall Guys is strategically embracing the popular free-to-play model that has worked so well for other multiplayer hits like Fortnite and Apex. Fans can enjoy the core game for free while still having plenty of optional paid cosmetics and season passes to drive long-term revenue.

The Verdict: A Smart Move to Reach More Players

As both a longtime player and industry analyst, I believe going free-to-play was the right call for Fall Guys. The initial $20 price point felt quite high for a party game in retrospect. Making the game free has allowed SO many new players to experience the zany fun.

Sure, it may have been nice to reward early adopters with lifetime free access or something. But when it comes down to it, I think Fall Guys is much better positioned for long-term success as a free-to-play title. The expanded player base provides stability, and the seasonal monetization gives incentive for ongoing development.

With its burst in popularity and integration into Epic‘s ecosystem, I predict Fall Guys will continue thriving as a free-to-play game for years to come. Mediatonic has shown they understand how to smartly monetize a F2P experience. Get ready to see tons more new seasons, costumes, and features added over time. Just try not to get hit by THAT giant swinging hammer!