Naraka: Bladepoint is going free-to-play 2 years after initial release

Naraka: Bladepoint, 24 Entertainment’s melee-focused battle royale game which was announced back in 2019 and released fully in 2021, is now going free-to-play. This will make all game modes and four starter heroes free for all players, however cosmetics and the rest of the game’s roster must be purchased with in-game currency.

On an FAQs page on Steam, the developers explain their reasoning for switching Naraka: Bladepoint’s monetisation model. “We want to make NARAKA accessible for as many players around the world as possible, so we’re making it free to play,” the developers write. “We hope that reaching this milestone will boost the game’s popularity and help us reach an even wider audience!”

Players who already own Naraka: Bladepoint, or purchase it between now and when the game goes free-to-play, will start with additional in-game gold to unlock new heroes, as well as several other cosmetic items. Going free-to-play won’t be the end of the game’s development, either; 24 Entertainment has described Naraka: Bladepoint as “a constantly evolving game“, with new heroes, cosmetics and other features planned for the future. All game modes, weapons, heroes, and Souljades will be available to everyone without having to spend real money. This notably sets the game apart from games like Overwatch 2, which controversially barricaded its long-awaited PvE game mode behind a paywall.

Switching to a free-to-play model to revitalise a battle royale like Naraka: Bladepoint isn’t a bad idea. Many of these kinds of multiplayer-focused games end up dying once its playerbase depletes and the more hardcore fans no longer have anyone to play with. By reducing the barrier to entry, more may be incentivised to play it and increase the amount of engagement. This would benefit the game in the long run, even if not all players plan on spending money. Naraka: Bladepoint will go free to play on July 13th 2023, and is playable on PC, Xbox Series X/S and PS5.