After nearly a decade as a free-to-play game, **Quake Champions** is transitioning to a premium model on Steam, eliminating its previous monetization methods including battle passes, loot boxes, and premium currencies. The store associated with the game has also been removed. For players who previously participated in free events, they will receive an automatic upgrade to the full version of the game. Additionally, any premium currency purchases made in the last two months will be refunded.
This significant shift comes amidst broader changes within Xbox, which is undergoing substantial layoffs, impacting over 3,200 developers across various studios. Notably, **id Software**, the developer behind Quake Champions, was among those affected, with over 100 staff members laid off. This reduction has prompted parent company **ZeniMax** to concentrate on its major franchises, stalling development on various projects including new series and updates to titles like **Perfect Dark**.
While the team at id Software asserts their commitment to producing new games despite the layoffs, some industry voices express skepticism about the company’s future direction and strength. The recent announcement relating to Quake Champions arrives at a time when Xbox has also enacted further staffing cuts and studio consolidations.
The shift to a premium model for Quake Champions, while welcomed by some, signals a potential winding down of the game’s development, as indicated by the lack of planned future content. In the update, id Software introduced a new **Callvote System** to allow players to moderate their experience by kicking cheaters and improving network performance. However, this effort comes with a reduction in data centers, which may lead to variable server performance for players depending on their location.
In conclusion, while the move to a premium release for Quake Champions presents an opportunity to streamline user experience, it must be viewed in the context of Xbox’s restructuring and the uncertain future for many of its franchises. The gaming community remains hopeful that the changes will enhance the game’s quality and longevity, but ongoing challenges within Xbox may continue to influence its trajectory.
