Steam indie game ditches F2P launch to avoid "predatory monetization"

Relic Hunters Legend

Save the galaxy in this action-packed co-op Looter Shooter! Join during Early Access to get an exclusive player badge—available for a limited time!

After splitting from Gearbox Publishing earlier this year, Relic Hunters Legend developer Rogue Snail is removing all monetization from the full launch and turning it into a premium game. After launching in Steam Early Access in 2023 with plans to turn free-to-play with 1.0, the game will instead now retail at $20, as Rogue Snail doesn't "want to implement predatory monetization features." Relic Hunters Legend isn't the first indie game to make this pivot over the last year, with many developers currently making free-to-play games likely weighing up the decision as well.

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