# Quake Champions ends free-to-play model with $10 Steam edition

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/quake-champions-takes-a-shower-shedding-all-its-2017-live-service-grime-and-becoming-a-10-game/
- Published: 2026-09-24T13:14:10+00:00
- Updated: 2026-09-24T19:46:04+00:00
- Original publisher: PC Gamer
- Original article: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/quake-champions-takes-a-shower-shedding-all-its-2017-live-service-grime-and-becoming-a-usd10-game/
- Topics: Entertainment, Gaming

## Key points

- Quake Champions is now a $10 Steam purchase.
- Battle passes and microtransactions have been removed.
- Existing players keep access, but development has ended.

## Summary

Quake Champions has been converted from a free-to-play live-service game into a $10 one-off purchase on Steam. The September 2026 change removes battle passes and microtransactions, simplifying access to the arena shooter and ending its live-service model.

Existing players receive the paid version at no extra cost, while new players must buy it. Progression and cosmetics remain, recent Platinum purchases are being refunded, and no further content updates are planned.

## Coverage

- [PC Gamer: Quake Champions ends free-to-play model with $10 Steam edition](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/quake-champions-takes-a-shower-shedding-all-its-2017-live-service-grime-and-becoming-a-usd10-game/)
- [Rock Paper Shotgun: Following id layoffs, Quake Champions drops free-to-play nonsense and becomes a £9 game on Steam](https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/following-id-layoffs-quake-champions-drops-free-to-play-nonsense-and-becomes-a-9-game-on-steam)
- [GamesRadar+: 4 years after full launch, Quake Champions is a paid game on Steam with no microtransactions](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/fps/4-years-after-full-launch-quake-champions-is-a-paid-game-on-steam-with-old-content-unlocked-and-microtransactions-removed-as-devs-announce-an-end-to-updates/)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.