Rocket League needs to go F2P with the Rocket Pass

Lackless · Jul 8, 2018

For anyone who doesn't know, Psyonix announced that there will be a Rocket Pass implemented in Rocket League in the near future which is mirroring the recent giant success of Fortnite's Battle Pass.

Due to Fortnite being free, the Battle Pass is promoted to considerably more people than if the game was set at a premium price. Fortnite has had three Battle Passes since launch so without even including other v-buck (Fortnite's in-game currency) purchases. That's already $30 ($10/each) that a consumer has put into a F2P game.

The next Rocket League event is their 3-year anniversary and it doesn't include any crates/keys which is another sign that Psy is looking to ditch the crate system and adopt the Rocket Pass as their primary model of microtransactions. Though RL is still $20 outside of sales.

Now yes, the Rocket Pass (if done right) will be a success for RL regardless but with the amount of extra players a F2P RL will bring in, the Rocket Pass can bring considerably more money than it staying as a premium game.

Plus, Rocket League and Fortnite have more in common than people thank despite being two completely different genres.

Both have wide appeal
Cross-play support all-around (except PS-to-Xbox but lets no go there in this thread)
MTX's are cosmetic only
A player can make their model unique to them with varying options
A true GaaS (no sequels planned, similar to LoL, DOTA, which are also free)
The developer is constantly updating and improving their game and is very communicative with their community
Free updates
They both have seasons which they can tie the Battle/Rocket pass too

Rocket League going to F2P would be a giant shift for Rocket League in the right direction.

Buddy · Jul 8, 2018

I actually agree here. F2P rocket league could be huge...it would make them more money and the player base would be gigantic.

But what about the people who bought it already? They should get some kind of bonus at least...

Deleted member 8166 · Jul 8, 2018

Buddy said:
I actually agree here. F2P rocket league could be huge...it would make them more money and the player base would be gigantic.

But what about the people who bought it already? They should get some kind of bonus at least...

I'd be okay with one free rocket pass

socksfelloff · Jul 8, 2018

Rocket League 10,110,342

Rocket League has sold over 10 million copies on steam alone. It's doing just fine

Deleted member 15538 · Jul 8, 2018

I don't play Fortnite so I'm not familiar with these passes, why would I want to buy that exactly? I've never spent a penny on RL since getting it at launch on ps+ and I don't really plan to either.

Buddy · Jul 8, 2018

JetSetRadio said:
I don't play Fortnite so I'm not familiar with these passes, why would I want to buy that exactly? I've never spent a penny on RL since getting it at launch on ps+ and I don't really plan to either.

That's fine but there are millions of players who do spend money on skins, emotes etc...

So this is clearly not for you but for the millions of players who want it.

I personally haven't bought a single key for a rocket league loot box. But I will buy the rocket pass. I play this game so much, i happily support the dev and it'll be nice to have some kind of progression system and getting goodies while "leveling up".

Deleted member 15538 · Jul 8, 2018

Buddy said:
That's fine but there are millions of players who do spend money on skins, emotes etc...

So this is clearly not for you but for the millions of players who want it.

I personally haven't bought a single key for a rocket league loot box. But I will buy the rocket pass. I play this game so much, i happily support the dev and it'll be nice to have some kind of progression system and getting goodies while "leveling up".

So that pass is going to replace the crates (one of the worst implementations in a paid game btw) because I don't know what they are? Are they going to take away ranks for those who don't cough up extra money?

Railgun · Jul 8, 2018

I think this game would be a great fit, would love to see more people try Rocket League

abracadaver · Jul 8, 2018

PUBG also has a pass and isn't F2P

No need to go F2P just because of a pass

Legitmcfalls · Jul 8, 2018

Wouldn't that be like saying a game should be free because we have to buy the dlc?

potatohead · Jul 8, 2018

Eventually going f2p would be a fine idea maybe not now but eventually

Like tf2 went f2p after several years and maintains a strong player base

Buddy · Jul 8, 2018

JetSetRadio said:
So that pass is going to replace the crates (one of the worst implementations in a paid game btw) because I don't know what they are? Are they going to take away ranks for those who don't cough up extra money?

Nah, if it is like fortnite then there will be separate levels for your character and the pass. You still can rank up your level without paying money...you just get much more things when you buy the pass

And I agree, crates/lootboxes are awful and should not be in payed games. But people are spending millions on them so it would be stupid not to have them...it makes sense from a business point of view.

Braaier · Jul 8, 2018

I'd be okay with this. I've definitely gotten my money's worth for the hundred plus hours I've put into it

Achtung · Jul 8, 2018

I will only be ok with Battlepass in RL if they Ditch.. and I mean ditch it into the ocean the key and crate system. Fuck that shit.... I might actually play more RL if it had a Fortnite like battlepass rather than the current bull shit way of unlocking new stuff.

F2P also makes a ton of sense now with that sort of system.

Doct0r · Jul 8, 2018

That would be a cool idea but I'd be concerned over the influx of hackers. How is RL's anti cheat?

AHA-Lambda · Jul 8, 2018

socksfelloff said:
Rocket League 10,110,342

Rocket League has sold over 10 million copies on steam alone. It's doing just fine

This. Psyonix don't NEED to do anything.
The supposition that they'll make more money from BP sales seems to have little evidence beyond theory and comparisons to a completely different game.

Cokie Bear · Jul 8, 2018

Buddy said:
I actually agree here. F2P rocket league could be huge...it would make them more money and the player base would be gigantic.

But what about the people who bought it already? They should get some kind of bonus at least...

Where have you been for the last few years f you think Rocket League isn't already huge?

subtropisch · Jul 8, 2018

I'd agree with that. I just bought Rocket League, but if I got one Pass for free that would be fine and I'll gladly pay regularly for more passes

sanstesy · Jul 8, 2018

Rocket League should go F2P. CS:GO as well. PUBG too. Basically any multiplayer game with lootboxes plus event passes should be.

But as long as people pay anyway developers will think why should they? So nothing happens.

CountAntonio · Jul 8, 2018

It never leaves the top ten sellers on steams and is usually top five. I don't see it happening anytime soon. Free weekend is going on right now and there is only maybe 10k more concurrent than usual. I don't think the price is much of a barrier at this point nor will it being free bring a huge influx of new players.

Buddy · Jul 8, 2018

Gravy Boat said:
Where have you been for the last few years f you think Rocket League isn't already huge?

Right here playing rocket league...;)

I know it is big but not fortnite/lol big...it could get there as a f2p game

nicolajNN · Jul 8, 2018

They're not getting rid of crates, considering rocket pass gives both decryptors and keys, you could argue they're doubling down. Besides, why only make money two ways when you can have three?

I would like to see them trying to keep the game fresh and actually stick with their efforts instead of abandoning them immediately like hoops, dropball, showday, rumble, mutators, map variation and possibly tournaments, though that's too early to call. Instead of finding more ways to make players mindlessly grind for extrinsic rewards in the name of "engagement" and feeding their key and trading economy.

Clark Zuckerberg · Jul 8, 2018

Lackless said:
Fortnite has had three Battle Passes since launch so without even including other v-buck (Fortnite's in-game currency) purchases. That's already $30 ($10/each) that a consumer has put into a F2P game.

Thats where you're wrong, kiddo. All memes aside, I spent $10 on the Fortnit season 3 battle pass which is equivalent to 950 V-bucks. When playing through the battle pass tiers you earn a total of 1300 V-bucks for completing the pass. I then used those to buy the season 4 pass. I will do the same for season 5 assuming they keep it the same price (they will). If RL does the same thing where you spend the initial $10 but can earn enough dollars to get the next one free, I don't mind.

ApeEscaper · Jul 8, 2018

If it was F2P not only will obviously much more people would play it but also don't need PS+ for it to play it online which would make it massive like Fortnite

v_iHuGi · Jul 8, 2018

Why would they stop selling a game that has sold like 30M copies?

WillyFive · Jul 8, 2018

That's a game that should remain pay to play. Going F2P would devalue it, and the game is massive even without being free to play.

Just get rid of loot boxes.

Rivi · Jul 8, 2018

Not everything needs to be free to play but what they do need to do is add their crap to the steam market

justiceiro · Jul 8, 2018

I just find funny when people say that games that sold 20+ millions need to go f2p... Like, what??? Lol.

That said, I wouldn't mind, since I didn't own it anyway.

TheRed · Jul 8, 2018

abracadaver said:
PUBG also has a pass and isn't F2P

No need to go F2P just because of a pass

PUBG isn't a model to follow. And it's Battle Pass sucks.

Rocket League is pretty nice already but I agree with OP it could improve by moving closer to Fortnite's style, definitely more than doing the same as PUBG.
The developers and customers would win in the end I believe just like with Fortnite.
Obviously Rocket League doesn't need to change because it's still a good value. But it would be a cool move and would definitely be a boon to the player base.

MMaRsu · Jul 8, 2018

Games that are buy to play shouldnt have tons of microtransactions and cosmetic pass system in lieu of a normal progression system.

Now Rocket League does have all that and much more for a normal player. But I dont like these stupid pass systems that Fortnite seems to have popularized.

Also giving locked crates that require paid keys to open can go fuck themselves, no buy to play game should have that shit.

NinjaScooter · Jul 8, 2018

Going F2P would make sense if they were trying to gain significantly more users and grow their player base, as opposed to monetizing their existing base. They are probably focused on doing the latter at this point.

JoRu · Jul 8, 2018

Lackless said:
Fortnite has had three Battle Passes since launch so without even including other v-buck (Fortnite's in-game currency) purchases. That's already $30 ($10/each) that a consumer has put into a F2P game.

One should probably put a little asterisk on this here, because it's not quite that easy. The Battle Pass costs 950 V-bucks that, yes, costs around $10 to purchase. But then through that pass (and also a little bit through the free tiers) you can earn more V-bucks just by playing and earning tiers. So you can basically pay off the next Battle Pass just by continuing to play, meaning that in practice, the more you play, the cheaper the Battle Pass becomes. Essentially you may only need to buy it once. The smart thing is that, sure, those who play a lot get away with purchasing V-bucks for the Battle Pass less often, but those players are also more likely to have been hooked enough to go purchase more V-bucks anyway to get the much more expensive (considering what you typically get) cosmetics from the item store.

Falchion · Jul 9, 2018

I agree and I'd love an expanded playerbase because I regularly get matched with champions in social because there aren't enough near my skill rank online at the time.

Conkerkid11 · Jul 9, 2018

justiceiro said:
I just find funny when people say that games that sold 20+ millions need to go f2p... Like, what??? Lol.

That said, I wouldn't mind, since I didn't own it anyway.

It has more to do with the fact that it would be the most consumer-friendly approach at the moment, otherwise it's just about one of the worst games in terms of monetization at the moment. It's a game you have to buy, that has both a battle pass and loot crates with keys you have to pay real money for. It's nuts, especially considering how consumer friendly the game was at launch.

Originally, the game was buy to play, and the only paid content was DLC cosmetics explicitly sold without the randomization factor. Now it's like they've just decided to throw every single monetization method at the game to see what sticks.

Ahhh... Yes, $20 game, $5 DLC cars, loot crates, locked loot crates with keys, battle pass, etc...

dipship31 · Jul 9, 2018

I'm all for F2P RL at this point. They'll probably still continue to do steady sales even 3 years after launch, but I think they really want to also take another jump into the eSports world. The RLCS has already had a nice growing of viewers from season to season, but I think going F2P and allowing everyone to access the game could be huge for their eSports presence. I mean imagine this moment with a giant viewer count online and a huge stadium filled:

ZeoVGM · Jul 9, 2018

I uh... kind of feel like the OP should mention that there is a free version of Rocket Pass. There is also a paid version to continue unlocking once you reach a certain point.

There will be two versions of the Rocket Pass made available - Free and Premium. The Free Rocket Pass will allow everyone to unlock rewards including new customisation items, player banners, in-game titles, and decryptors.

Rocket League needs to go F2P with the Rocket Pass

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