Gaming has never been more accessible than it is right now. Yes, some AAA titles are hitting triple digits, but many of the most popular games on the market right now are free to play. The rise of free-to-play games represents one of the most significant cultural shifts in the entertainment industry in recent decades. 

While many games still hit the market for a minimum of NZ$90, the success of free-to-play titles has proven the validity of this business model and something equally important: You can deliver first-class gaming experiences without asking players to pay anything upfront. 

Free-to-play models extend into PCs, consoles, and mobile devices. Developers have learned that they
can give players a game for free and then offer in-game purchases. However, these don’t reduce game
quality for those who choose not to pay.
The no-cost approach to gaming sparked a revolution that forever changed the gaming landscape.

The Free-to-Play Revolution

The introduction of free-to-play (F2P) games reshaped how people think about gaming. Developers give
games away for free and earn money through in-game purchases and advertising instead. One of the
most successful examples of this is Fortnite. The success of Fortnite is even more remarkable when
considering that the in-game purchases are only for aesthetic reasons. They give no competitive
advantage, meaning users have no gameplay reason to spend money. Yet Fortnite generates billions
using this method. Another free-to-play title is League of Legends, which sees over 131 million active
monthly players and costs nothing to play. Many other titles, including those that rank among the most
played titles in the world, use this model.

New Zealand gamers have particularly embraced mobile gaming, making free-to-play titles especially
popular across the country. Gaming apps like Candy Crush and Clash of Clans attract millions of players
every month. Recent industry reports suggest that F2P games account for around 85% of mobile gaming
revenue.

Their success proves that players are willing to spend money within a game, provided they are given the
chance to fully experience it for free. This approach also means that more people who are on the fence
are likely to pick up a game than if they had to pay for one upfront.

Breaking Down Barriers to Entry

Removing the cost of entry for gaming opened the door for millions of new players, many of whom
weren’t gamers and would never pay for a game. Finances are tough for many people, yet gaming
serves as an excellent social and relaxation tool.

Free-to-play games help students on tight budgets. They can now relax with games on mobile, PC, or
console without spending money. Families with small children and financial woes can still provide their
young ones with fun and exciting games. A parent can come home from work and sit down to play with
their child for some much-needed bonding time for both. In short, there is no longer a specific financial
obligation to be a gamer.

The accessibility of free-to-play games is not just a matter of money. When a base-level game is free,
new and older gamers are more likely to try titles and genres that they would never play if there were
an upfront cost.

Gaming serves as a great social device, and for friend groups, playing F2P titles is great because it means
everybody can join in, regardless of personal finances or location.

Many games also offer cross-platform functionality. This removes yet another entry barrier, regardless
of what you are playing on.

Examples Across Gaming Platforms

You would be forgiven for thinking that free games were targeted at casual gamers and those not
interested in quality gameplay, lore, or anything “serious.” While the success of no-cost games in the
mobile market is readily apparent, no-cost titles are everywhere. They appeal to gamers of all ages,

experience, and skill levels. In fact, many major esports tournaments regularly feature free-to-play
games, and the skill level required to compete is just as high as with high-cost titles.

Additionally, gaming platforms like Steam, Epic Games, and console-specific stores all have dedicated
sections for free-to-play titles and regularly run free sales, allowing gamers to try a range of games
without charge. The latter may not necessarily be free-to-play in the traditional sense; however, this still
shows the power of no-cost entry.

Even streaming services like Amazon and Netflix include free games in their membership packages,
further amplifying the reach of no-cost gaming.
The free-to-play philosophy also extends into the online gambling sphere, with many platforms offering
no-deposit bonuses and even free spins on select games.

The Casino Gaming Connection

Online casinos offer their own brand of free-to-play in the form of no-deposit bonus rewards. These
afford gamers the chance to create a free account and explore various casino games and platforms with
the possibility of rewards, but without the stress of upfront costs. Sites like those ranked on casinos.com
understand that to encourage people to become long-term repeat customers, they need to feel
comfortable and confident using the site. Free access is the best way to achieve this.

The approach virtual casinos take uses the standard free-to-play model and adjusts it to the unique
needs of the niche. Players can try different games, find their favourite slots, and study the rules of
different table games. When it is time to invest their money, players are confident about what awaits
them. Much like F2P games, no-deposit casino bonuses make online gambling accessible to anybody
above the legal age. The benefits of this are not only an expanded potential player base, but also
challenging outdated gambling stereotypes.

The Future of Accessible Gaming

There are no signs that no-cost entry gaming will stop any time soon. The rise of cloud gaming services
also stands to make high-end gaming even more accessible. People will be able to play their favourite
free-to-play titles on their mobile phones, tablets, or other devices as if they were at their console or PC.
This sets the field for no-cost entry games to step up and claim an even larger market share.
Similar models are also used in the virtual and augmented reality spheres, further proving that money is
no longer a prerequisite for gaming.

As more people are brought into the gaming ecosystem, developers will automatically be able to reach
larger audiences. Whether it’s through pay-to-win models used in many sports titles, or purely to give
players the ability to customise and show their personality through their avatars, like in Fortnite, the
stage is set for a win-win scenario all around.

The success of no-cost entry gaming proves that entertainment doesn’t have to cost anything, and that
success in game development can exist in long-term sustained revenue rather than overreliance on day-
one investment.