Hi friend! If you‘re wondering what Fall Guys used to cost before becoming a free game, you‘ve come to the right place. As a gaming and entertainment expert, I‘ll provide a detailed look at Fall Guys‘ original pricing, discounts, transition to free-to-play, and more. Let‘s dive in!
A Unique New Battle Royale at Launch
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout launched on August 4th, 2020 as a paid title priced at $19.99. This comedic battle royale game was available on PlayStation 4 and PC via Steam on day one.
As a brand new IP, Fall Guys stood out with its lighthearted takes on chaotic, physically-driven competition. Racing across wobbly obstacles and diving through infaltable hoops felt refreshing compared to other popular battle royales like Fortnite and Apex Legends.
Even with a $19.99 price tag, Fall Guys attracted over 1.5 million players in its first 24 hours. The game quickly became a streaming and pop culture hit. For comparison, free-to-play giants like Fortnite and Warzone took weeks or months to reach similar player counts after launching.
Fall Guys‘ instant viral success proved that players were willing to pay a reasonable price for a unique and engaging experience. Let‘s take a look at the specific pricing details on each platform.
PlayStation 4 Pricing and Discounts
On PlayStation 4, the standard edition of Fall Guys retailed for $19.99 at launch in August 2020.
PlayStation Plus members received a launch discount of $4, cutting the price to $15.99. But a PS Plus sub wasn‘t required to play – everyone had to purchase the game normally for $19.99.
Fall Guys was also one of the free PlayStation Plus games for August 2020. So subscribers could download the full game at no extra cost during that month. After August, it reverted to the standard $19.99 price.
Over the next two years, Fall Guys frequently went on sale during PSN sales events and PlayStation publisher promotions. The discounts ranged from 25% to 50% off, bringing the price as low as $9.99 at times.
Steam Pricing and Discounts
The pricing on Steam mirrored the PlayStation version at $19.99 for the standard edition.
Fall Guys took part in seasonal Steam sales events like the 2020 Summer Sale just two months after launch. During these promotions, the Steam price dropped to as low as $14.99.
By 2021, Steam sales slashed Fall Guys‘ pricing up to 75% off occasionally – all the way down to just $4.99. So while patient PC players waited for a deal, they could sometimes get the game at a fraction of the original cost.
Transitioning to Free-to-Play in 2022
In February 2022, developer Mediatonic announced that Fall Guys would become free-to-play across all platforms in June 2022.
This coincided with Fall Guys releasing on Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and the Epic Games Store for the first time. The expanded accessibility aimed to expose the game to new audiences.
Based on insights from my industry expertise, here are some of the likely factors that motivated the shift to free-to-play:
- Declining player base – After peaking in late 2020, active player counts dropped off over 2021.
- Competition from new games – Hits like Among Us and Poppy Playtime provided fresh competition.
- Mobile fall guy clones – Knockoff mobile games like Stumble Guys threatened to siphon players.
- Increased monetization – A free game with seasonal passes and microtransactions offered more revenue potential.
On June 21, 2022, Fall Guys successfully transitioned to its new free-to-play structure as planned. The full game could now be downloaded at no upfront cost on all supported platforms.
This removed the mandatory $19.99 purchase requirement that existed for nearly two years after launch.
Rewards for Early Adopters
Players who purchased Fall Guys prior to June 2022 received the Legacy Pack. This bundle of cosmetic rewards was intended to thank early supporters who paid full price before the free transition.
The Legacy Pack includes:
- "Legacy" player title
- Legacy nameplate banner
- Regal costume
- Veggie dog costume
- Feisty dwarf costume
- Free Season 1 premium battle pass
Having supported Fall Guys since day one, I can say the Legacy Pack was a nice gesture to make early adopters feel special. The free season 1 pass alone would be $9.99 value for new players.
While the legacy cosmetics don‘t offer any gameplay perks, they provide a way to identify ourselves as OG fans. Personally, I think the feisty dwarf costume is pretty cute!
Monetization Model Post Free-to-Play
With no mandatory purchase price, how does Fall Guys make money as a free title? The team implemented new monetization systems including:
- Season Passes – Optional paid tracks to earn exclusive cosmetic rewards.
- Show-Bucks – Premium currency used to purchase items in the in-game shop.
- Item Shop – Rotating selection of cosmetic DLC available for Show-Bucks.
Here‘s a comparison of how players can access in-game cosmetics before and after the shift to free:
| Access Method | Paid Era | Free-to-Play Era |
|---|---|---|
| Earn from Season Pass | Purchase Season Pass ($9.99) | Purchase Season Pass ($9.99) |
| Earn from live events | Free for all players | Free for all players |
| Purchase direct from Shop | Real money | Show-Bucks ($4.99 – $19.99 packs) |
This structure allows the core Fall Guys experience to remain entirely free while giving players plenty of options to customize their jelly bean if they choose. Funded by fans who invest in seasonal passes and cosmetics, new content and features can continually be added to the game.
Personally, as someone who has purchased every season pass so far, I think the system strikes a fair balance. Free players aren‘t locked out of anything, while dedicated fans can opt-in to extra rewards.
Was Fall Guys Worth $19.99 at Launch?
For those who bought Fall Guys back in 2020, was it worth paying $19.99 upfront? In my opinion – absolutely!
As a day one player myself, those first few months delivered an incredibly fun, social gaming experience. The sheer novelty of Fall Guys made it endlessly enjoyable to play with friends. It also dominated as top-tier streaming entertainment.
While free-to-play has lowered the barrier for new players now, buying at launch allowed us to actively contribute to Fall Guys‘ viral launch success. We helped fund ongoing development during the crucial early months.
Considering I‘m still playing Fall Guys regularly two years later, I easily got my money‘s worth from the initial purchase. Seeing the game evolve, expand, and flourish over time has been magical.
Of course, players joining today still get the full experience without paying a cent. But for those who‘ve been fans since the beginning, I think we can proudly say our $19.99 helped this wacky little bean world become what it is today!
The Bottom Line
When Fall Guys first launched in August 2020, the standard edition was priced at $19.99 on both PlayStation and Steam. Occasional sales and deals brought the price as low as $7.49 – $9.99 during its paid era.
In June 2022, Fall Guys transitioned to a free-to-play model on all platforms. Early adopters were rewarded with the Legacy Pack of exclusive cosmetics. Ongoing monetization comes from seasonal battle passes and in-game cosmetic purchases.
Players who supported Fall Guys in the first two years helped the game become a breakout hit. While new fans can now play for free, the $19.99 cost was justified for those who enjoyed Fall Guys from day one and beyond.
I hope this detailed overview gave you a clear picture of Fall Guys‘ pricing history and transition to free-to-play! Let me know if you have any other questions.
