No, Fall Guys is not free on Steam. The popular party battle royale game was removed from Steam in June 2022 when it transitioned to a free-to-play model across other platforms.
When Fall Guys first launched in August 2020, it was a paid game on Steam, retailing for $19.99. For nearly two years, this was the only way to get Fall Guys on PC. However, significant changes were on the horizon for the breakout title.
The Transition to Free-to-Play
In March 2021, Fall Guys developer Mediatonic was acquired by Epic Games. This set the stage for Fall Guys to shift to a free-to-play model. On June 21, 2022, the transition happened across all platforms.
Fall Guys is now available for free on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Epic Games Store, and mobile devices. The game is no longer purchasable on Steam.
Going free-to-play opened up Fall Guys to a massive new audience. In the first two weeks after the transition, the game was downloaded over 50 million times across all platforms.
Why Did Fall Guys Go Free-to-Play?
The switch to free-to-play made perfect sense to inject new life into Fall Guys and secure its long-term future. Here are the driving factors behind leaving Steam and the paid model behind:
Increase the player base – As a paid game, Fall Guys saw its player count and popularity slowly declining after the initial surge. Going free removed the barrier to entry and allowed millions of new players to be introduced to the chaos.
Shift to battle pass model – Free games generate revenue through battle passes and cosmetic microtransactions. The Season 1 battle pass for free Fall Guys generated an estimated $50 million in its first month.
Compete with similar games – Fall Guys had to adapt to keep up with other popular free multiplayer titles like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Rocket League.
Bring to more platforms – The shift to free allowed Fall Guys to expand to Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and mobile for the first time, greatly increasing its accessible player pool.
The results speak for themselves. In June 2022, the average daily player count was around 17,000. By September 2022, over half a million people were playing per day. Going free worked wonders at making Fall Guys a gaming phenomenon once again.
Can I Still Play Fall Guys If I Owned It on Steam?
Absolutely! If you purchased Fall Guys through Steam before the transition, the game will remain in your Steam library and you can continue playing it on PC. You‘ll still receive updates and new content just like players on other platforms.
However, new players can no longer buy or gain access to Fall Guys through Steam. The game‘s Steam store page now displays this notice:
Fall Guys has moved to Epic Games. If you own Fall Guys on Steam, you will still be able to play it and receive future updates. Fall Guys is now free on Epic Games Store.
So while the paid version has been removed from Steam, existing owners are thankfully not losing access. You just can‘t make new purchases.
Getting a Refund for Fall Guys on Steam
Since Fall Guys is no longer available to purchase on Steam, Valve has allowed refunds outside of the normal policy.
If you bought Fall Guys on Steam shortly before it went free-to-play, you can request a refund by submitting a ticket to Steam support. State that you‘d like a refund because the game is now free.
As long as you meet the requirements below, your request should be accepted:
- You requested the refund within 14 days of Fall Guys going free on June 21, 2022
- You have not played Fall Guys for more than 2 hours total
Getting a refund allows you to then download and play the game at no cost on another platform instead through the Epic Games Store.
Can I Transfer My Steam Progress to Another Platform?
Unfortunately, there is no way to transfer progression or purchased DLC content from the Steam version of Fall Guys to other platforms. Your Steam progress is stuck on PC.
However, since Fall Guys is now free, you can simply download it on any new platform like Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch and start fresh. Any skins or progress you had on Steam can still be accessed by playing the game on PC.
Why Was Fall Guys Removed from Steam?
As mentioned earlier, Fall Guys developer Mediatonic was acquired by Epic Games in March 2021. Epic then became the publisher for Fall Guys, taking over from Devolver Digital who published the Steam version.
Once Epic was in control, they decided to pull Fall Guys from Steam for a few reasons:
Consolidate PC player base – Epic wanted to bring all PC players together under one roof in the Epic Games Store.
Incentivize using Epic Games Store – Removing Steam access encouraged players to install the Epic Games Store to play Fall Guys.
Avoid giving Steam a cut – Epic did not want to continue paying Valve 30% of PC revenue from Fall Guys microtransactions.
Essentially, it came down to business incentives. Epic now owned Fall Guys, so they wanted to reap the full rewards on PC rather than share with Steam.
Will Fall Guys Ever Return to Steam?
There is always a chance Fall Guys could come back to Steam in the future, but it seems highly unlikely given Epic‘s history.
Ever since Epic launched their own game store in 2018, they have not published a single title on Steam. Epic exclusives like Fortnite and Rocket League have remained off of Valve‘s platform.
Unless the Epic Games Store failed and shut down, it doesn‘t seem feasible that they would revert course and put Fall Guys back on Steam. The game will remain free on PC through Epic.
Is Epic Games Store Safe to Download?
For players new to the Epic Games Store, you may be wondering if it is safe to download on your PC. The short answer is yes!
The Epic Games Store is completely legitimate software that has been downloaded over 500 million times. Epic is a reputable major game company behind titles like Fortnite and Gears of War.
The launcher is safe to install and gives you access to many free games as well as exclusives like Fall Guys. There are no shady practices or malware associated with the Epic Games Store.
You can download the launcher directly from the official Epic Games website without worry. Just be sure to enable two-factor authentication on your Epic account for maximum security.
How Does Fall Guys Make Money as a Free Game?
Fall Guys operates on the same free-to-play model utilized by Fortnite, Apex Legends, and other popular multiplayer games. The main revenue streams come from:
Battle pass purchases – Seasonal battle passes give players cosmetic rewards and costumes. They cost around $10 per season.
In-game store purchases – Rotating daily/weekly cosmetic items are available to buy directly with real money.
Limited-time events – Special event game modes encourage purchases of exclusive themed costume packs.
The shift to free unlocked a steady stream of optional purchases that support ongoing development. Top grossing players end up spending far more than the original $20 price tag over the long run.
Is Fall Guys Truly Family Friendly?
Fall Guys has a cartoonish, colorful art style that seems geared towards a younger audience. However, parents should be aware of a few things before allowing kids to dive in.
- Rated E for Everyone by ESRB
- Online multiplayer against random strangers
- Can‘t fully disable text chat
- Some costumes show cleavage or underwear
Younger children will likely have fun with the wacky gameplay alone, while teens can enjoy socializing. But parents may want to monitor messaging and costume choices depending on the child‘s maturity level.
The Future Looks Bright for a Free Fall Guys
While it is disappointing for Steam faithfuls to lose access to Fall Guys, the transition to free-to-play has given the game a major second wind.
Going free has allowed Mediatonic to reach millions of new players, tap into steady revenue streams, and bring the party experience to more platforms than ever before.
For those who previously bought Fall Guys on Steam, you can continue enjoying the ever-evolving world of stumbling beans while newcomers get to dive in at no cost. The chaotic spirit of Fall Guys is here to stay regardless of the platform!
