Free-to-Play
Ongoing coverage on Free-to-Play.
Latest coverage
Highguard Closing Next Week
Wildlight Entertainment announced that its free-to-play shooter Highguard will be shutting down on March 12th. This decision follows unexpected developer layoffs, suggesting a challenging period for the company.
Pirate Ships Release
Pirate Ships, a free-to-play PvP strategy game where players build and battle with sailing ships, has launched on PC via Steam. A release trailer showcases the game's combat mechanics.
Free PS5 Shooter Being Delisted, Shuts Down Later This Month
The free-to-play PlayStation 5 hero shooter Highguard, developed by Wildlight Entertainment, will shut down its servers on March 12, 2026, just over a year after its release. The developer cited an inability to build a sustainable player base despite a final update adding new content. Reports indicate Tencent, a major funder, pulled its support, leading to layoffs.
Highguard to end service on March 12
Wildlight Entertainment announced that its free-to-play shooter Highguard will cease operations on March 12, just 45 days after its launch on January 26 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X. Despite a significant player base at launch, the developer cited an inability to build a sustainable community. A final update adding new content is planned before the shutdown.
Warframe arrives for Nintendo Switch 2 later this month, alongside a host of new content
Warframe is launching on Nintendo Switch 2 on March 25, 2026, with a new update titled The Shadowgrapher. The Switch 2 version will feature 60fps at 1080p resolution, improved load times, and enhanced textures. The update includes new quests, a new 1v4 asymmetric multiplayer mode called Follie's Hunt, and the 64th Warframe, Follie. Details for TennoCon 2026, including ticket sales and event programming, were also announced.
Compete Without Spending Money – Expert Game Reviews
This guide provides strategies for free-to-play users in Diablo Immortal, focusing on realistic expectations, resource optimization, and efficient progression systems. It details daily and weekly activities, resource allocation, legendary gem strategies, and psychological approaches to maintain enjoyment and competitiveness without spending money.
MMO Week in Review: The clock strikes Midnight
This week's MMO news roundup covers the early access launch of World of Warcraft: Midnight, BitCraft entering its second early access phase, and Gamigo reviving Gloria Victis. The article also touches on layoffs at Corepunk, Discord's postponed age verification rollout, and various updates and issues across numerous other MMO titles.
XDefiant Season 01 Is Here! - The Game Fanatics
Ubisoft has launched Season 1 for its free-to-play first-person shooter, XDefiant. The update introduces a new battle pass, maps, weapons, cosmetics, and game modes. XDefiant is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X, with purchases limited to cosmetics and boosters.
Report: Fewer than 20 staff remain at Highguard dev Wildlight Entertainment
Fewer than 20 employees reportedly remain at Highguard developer Wildlight Entertainment following significant layoffs after the game's troubled launch. Sources indicate the studio ran out of money, despite being initially funded by Tencent subsidiary TiMi Studio Group. The free-to-play shooter lost approximately 90% of its player base within a week of its January 26 release.
Former Highguard level designer suggests "sweaty" competitive 3v3 play "was the biggest thing that turned a lot of players off"
A former level designer for Highguard suggests that the game's focus on intense 3v3 competitive play alienated many players. The game's complex rules and high skill requirement for team-based play created a steep barrier to entry. This comes amid reports that Tencent pulled funding from developer Wildlight shortly after the game's launch, leading to layoffs.
Xbox's co-op brawler Towerborne drops free-to-play and monetization plans for 1.0, but crossplay is bizarrely gone too
The action RPG Towerborne is shifting away from its planned free-to-play model for its 1.0 launch. Additionally, the game will no longer feature crossplay, a significant change from its initial multiplayer plans.
Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy Pre-Registration Now Live on iOS and Android
Square Enix has announced that pre-registration for Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy is now open on iOS and Android, with a planned 2026 launch as a free-to-play title. The game features 3v3 boss battle arena combat with streamlined controls for mobile devices and a Japanese-voiced story. A pre-registration celebration campaign offers in-game rewards and a raffle for exclusive merchandise.
Wish GTA 6 was free, anime, and actually coming out soon? PS5 exclusive Neverness to Everness could be your next…
Hotta Studio has announced that the free-to-play open-world anime RPG Neverness to Everness will launch on April 29, 2026, for PlayStation 5, PC, Android, and iOS. The game will feature cross-platform progression and utilizes Unreal Engine 5 with ray tracing technology. Over 25 million players have already pre-registered.
EA makes layoffs at Skate developer Full Circle
Electronic Arts has conducted layoffs at Full Circle, the studio developing the skateboarding game Skate. The company stated that these changes are necessary to better support the free-to-play title, despite its strong initial player engagement. The exact number of impacted employees has not been disclosed.
Mobile revenue remained flat across 2025, but PC gaming "sees another record year" | Sensor Tower State of Gaming 2026
Sensor Tower's State of Gaming 2026 report indicates flat revenue for mobile games in 2025, while PC and console gaming experienced double-digit growth, with PC achieving a record year driven by Steam sales. Shooters saw strong performance, with Battlefield 6 topping PC/console sales, and strategy games led mobile revenue growth. The report highlights a shift towards player retention and monetization in the mature mobile market.
Report: Tencent was Highguard's secret financial backer
A report indicates that Tencent, through its subsidiary TiMi Studio Group, was the primary financial backer for Wildlight Entertainment's hero shooter, Highguard. Neither company has officially confirmed the report, though Wildlight CEO Dusty Welch has previously declined to discuss funding sources. Highguard launched as a free-to-play title in January 2026 but reportedly failed to meet internal expectations, leading to significant layoffs shortly after its release.
Battlefield Redsec boosts Battlefield 6's Steam numbers, but not enough to get anywhere close to those launch heights
Battlefield Redsec, the free-to-play battle royale mode for Battlefield 6, has seen an increase in concurrent players on Steam since its launch, reaching approximately 550,000. However, this number falls short of the game's initial launch peak and does not appear to be attracting the same level of attention as other popular battle royale titles like Warzone.
Battlefield 6’s battle royale mode is called… Redsec and it’s coming out today
EA and Battlefield Studios have officially announced that Battlefield 6's battle royale mode is named Redsec and will launch today alongside Season 1. Redsec is a free-to-play title that incorporates elements from traditional Battlefield gameplay, such as destruction and vehicles, alongside battle royale staples. The mode has undergone testing in Battlefield Labs and is expected to compete with titles like Call of Duty: Warzone.
Grab this official Minecraft game for free, now on PC and Xbox Series S and X
Minecraft Legends is available for free on PC and Xbox Series X|S through Amazon Prime Gaming until June 4. This real-time action-strategy spinoff from Mojang Studios, developed with Blackbird Interactive, focuses on commanding armies and base-building rather than traditional mining and crafting. The game offers co-op and PvP modes and proved popular at launch, exceeding three million players in its first ten days.
10 Free Fighting Games for PC in 2025: (With Download Links)
This guide lists 10 free fighting games available for PC in 2025, offering intense combat and diverse rosters for all player types. The selection includes titles like Brawlhalla, Killer Instinct, and Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Free Edition, with details on system requirements and download links.
