Battle Pass
Ongoing coverage on Battle Pass.
Latest coverage
Fortnite Chapter 7, season 2 countdown: Exact start time and date
Fortnite Chapter Seven, season two, titled "Showdown," is set to launch on Thursday, March 19, with downtime expected to begin around 3am CT and the season going live at approximately 6am CT. This new season will introduce new locations, loot, quests, characters, and cosmetics, focusing on rivalries and clashes between opposing characters, and is expected to run for approximately 79 days.
Fortnite Responds to Fan Uproar Over V-Bucks Changes, as Players Say They'll Skip the Next Battle Pass and Cancel Subscriptions - IGN
Epic Games has responded to significant player backlash regarding changes to Fortnite's V-Bucks pricing and availability. Players are upset about receiving fewer V-Bucks for their money and in the Fortnite Crew subscription, leading some to cancel their subscriptions and vow to skip the next battle pass. Epic Games cited increased running costs as the reason for the price adjustments.
NieR: Automata Returns and Pop Team Epic Joins Call of Duty: Mobile in Season 3 - Paranoia
Call of Duty: Mobile Season 3, titled "Paranoia," launches on March 18, introducing the DMZ: Recon Quick Play mode and collaborations with NieR: Automata and Pop Team Epic. The season also features a new Battle Pass with the MX Guardian shotgun and the Black Market Battle Royale class.
PEGI Rating Changes Will See Loot Box Games Classified Much Higher
PEGI is updating its rating system to classify games featuring loot boxes and similar randomized microtransactions at PEGI 16. Games with battle passes or time-limited systems will be rated PEGI 12, with an option to lower to PEGI 7 if in-game purchase toggles are available. These changes, aimed at closing loopholes and addressing concerns about predatory monetization, will take effect in June.
Loot Boxes And Battle Passes Are About To Impact Game Ratings More Harshly
The Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) rating system is implementing stricter guidelines for games featuring loot boxes, microtransactions, and NFTs starting in June. Games with loot boxes will be rated PEGI 16, while those with battle passes will typically be PEGI 12, potentially dropping to PEGI 7 if spending can be disabled. Games featuring NFTs, social casino elements, or communication features will receive an instant PEGI 18 rating.
"It's almost as if they're trying to kill off the game": Fortnite faces fan backlash over V-Bucks price increase, while Epic lead argues "paying the bills" helps devs keep "building stuff you love"
Fortnite developer Epic Games is facing fan backlash over an increase in V-Bucks prices and a reduction in the value of the Battle Pass. Senior director Andrea Balta defended the decision, stating it is necessary to "pay the bills" and allow teams to continue developing content. Players have expressed anger and disappointment, with some suggesting the changes are detrimental to the game's longevity.
Bungie is adding more shell skins to Marathon's battle pass after feedback
Bungie is adding more cosmetic skins to Marathon's season one battle pass in response to player feedback regarding the $10 price point. Three additional Runner Shell Styles and a WSTR Shotgun Style will be added to the free and premium tracks in mid-April. New Arachne-themed shell skins will also become earnable through the Codex.
Fortnite, the Biggest Game in the World, Wants You to Help Pay Its Bills
Epic Games is increasing the price of V-Bucks in Fortnite starting March 19, 2026, citing increased operational costs. While the pack prices remain the same, players will receive fewer V-Bucks per purchase. The cost of the Battle Pass will be reduced to 800 V-Bucks, and Fortnite Crew subscriptions will also provide fewer V-Bucks.
Star Trek Online hands out 16th anniversary gifts while Neverwinter activates a new battle pass
Star Trek Online is celebrating its 16th anniversary with daily login gifts for players. Meanwhile, its sister MMO Neverwinter is launching a new battle pass called 'For Gods and Glory' on March 10th, coinciding with the release of Module 32.5 and new content for Star Trek Online on PlayStation and Xbox.
Issues and Activism
Veteran developer Greg Costikyan has criticized the GDC 2026 "Festival of Gaming" rebrand, calling it out amidst a significant industry crisis. The article also touches on issues with The Marathon's battle pass, suggesting it is poorly implemented.
Marathon players rip ‘worst value for your money’ battle pass, and they definitely have a point
Players of Bungie's new live-service shooter Marathon are criticizing its first battle pass, calling it the "worst value for your money." Concerns include the lack of premium currency rewards and the overall low quality of cosmetic items offered, especially compared to other live-service titles. Players are urging others to not purchase the pass to send a message to the developer.
WWE 2K26 Review - The Main Event Wrestling Game We Need Right Now
WWE 2K26 is a significant improvement over last year's entry, addressing long-standing issues with quality-of-life upgrades across various modes. While new match types are largely reskins, the game excels in its best-playing experience in years, featuring a new battle-pass-style "Ringside Pass" system for content unlocks and an improved Showcase mode with the "Showcase Gauntlet" option. Despite some dated animations and a less engaging MyRise mode, WWE 2K26 offers substantial upgrades making it a worthwhile wrestling game.
Marvel Rivals is bringing back Chrono Rush, among other fixes, in its latest patch: 'With no cap on how many points…
Marvel Rivals has reintroduced the Chrono Rush event, allowing players to earn unlimited Chrono Tokens for battle pass tiers and cosmetics. The event runs for two weeks and also offers a way to exchange surplus tokens for in-game units, though with a cap. The latest patch also includes fixes for bugs related to Angela's Assassin's Charge and Doctor Strange's portal.
Marathon promises to avoid stressful FOMO-inducing battle passes
Bungie has addressed player feedback regarding the upcoming game Marathon, assuring that it will not feature stressful FOMO-inducing battle passes. The developer shared this information as part of a recap of player discussions during the third day of the Server Slam event.
Everything That Happened in Gaming While You Were Busy | TAG
Bungie's Marathon has received an age rating for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, though official last-gen support remains unconfirmed. The studio also announced that Marathon's battle passes will not expire, allowing players to progress at their own pace. Additionally, the Pokémon TCG schedule for 2026 revealed the return of Mega Evolutions, and Five Nights at Freddy's 2 is set to stream on Peacock on April 3, 2026.
Bungie reveals Marathon’s Reward Passes never expire and can be completed anytime
Bungie has revealed details about Marathon's "Reward Passes," which function like battle passes but do not expire and can be completed at any time, eliminating FOMO. Seasonal content will be free for all players, with no "pay for power" mechanics. While players can purchase previous seasons' passes, the premium currency "Lux" is primarily for cosmetic items and cannot be used to speed up battle pass progression.
Hallelujah, Bungie's confirmed that Marathon's battle passes don't expire, you can purchase old ones, and…
Bungie has confirmed that Marathon's battle passes will not expire and can be purchased retroactively, alleviating concerns about FOMO. The game will feature seasonal wipes that reset progress but introduce new content like maps and weapons. Marathon will use two currencies: Silk, earned through gameplay for battle pass progression, and Lux, a premium currency for the in-game store.
Battlefield 6's New Patch Addresses QoL and Stability Issues, As Well As UI and Battle Pass - IGN
Battlefield 6 has released update 1.2.1.5, focusing on quality-of-life improvements, stability fixes, and addressing issues with the UI and Battle Pass. The patch also restores missing store content and resolves critical revive and gadget interactions across PC and consoles. This update comes as the game faces community backlash and a 'Mixed' Steam user score.
Battlefield 6's next season will speed up battle pass progression, and make it so Redsec players who don't own the game can actually make progress
Battlefield 6's upcoming Season 2 will introduce significant changes to player progression, including faster Battle Pass advancement and improved XP earn rates for both the full game and the free-to-play Redsec mode. The update also addresses weapon recoil, movement mechanics, and audio issues, with a new map and LTMs planned.
Battlefield 6 Season 2 delayed like many of us expected, but we're getting a new update and a bonus battle pass path
Battlefield Studios has delayed the launch of Season 2 for Battlefield 6 by nearly a month to February 17, 2026, to further refine content and incorporate player feedback. The current Season 1 will be extended to the same date. An update arriving January 20, 2026, will introduce new weekly challenges, a bonus battle pass path called Frostfire, and continue daily login rewards and double XP events.
