Quake Champions takes a shower, shedding all its 2017 live-service grime and becoming a $10 game
Quake Champions has undergone a significant transformation, transitioning from free-to-play to a paid $10 game on Steam. This shift represents a complete overhaul of the game’s monetization structure that defined its original 2017 launch.
The latest patch eliminates virtually all live-service mechanics that characterized the game’s previous approach. Removed elements include the battle pass system, weekly and event challenges, the in-game store, premium currencies (Platinum and Shards), and loot boxes. Additionally, daily login rewards and the champion progression system tied to shard rewards have been discontinued. Most vanity cosmetic content is now made available to all players at no additional cost.
The developer framed this transition as marking a new chapter for Quake Champions, with no additional content updates planned. Importantly, players who previously owned or played the game on Steam will retain access without paying the new price—a preservation measure that rewards early adopters and maintains goodwill with the existing community.
This dramatic shift away from aggressive monetization represents a significant reversal in philosophy, moving toward a straightforward paid model that aligns more closely with classic Quake principles rather than modern live-service conventions.