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Entertainment
It is scheduled for release in February as a ‘one-time purchase, offline game.’
It is scheduled for release in February as a ‘one-time purchase, offline game.’
Towerborne, a side-scrolling action RPG from Xbox Game Studios that has been offered in early access, will officially debut on February 26th. However, instead of being released as a free-to-play, always-connected online game as initially intended, Towerborne will now be a paid title that can be played offline.
“You will own the entire experience permanently, featuring offline play and online co-op,” Trisha Stouffer, CEO and president of Towerborne developer Stoic, noted in a blog post on Xbox Wire. “This shift necessitated significant structural alterations over the past year, reworking systems that were originally built for continuous connectivity. The outcome is a more robust, accessible, and player-friendly rendition of Towerborne — one that we’re extremely proud to present at launch.”
“Upon engaging with our community during Early Access and Game Preview, we discovered that players desired a complete, refined experience devoid of ongoing monetization mechanics,” an FAQ states. “Transitioning to a premium model allows us to provide the complete game upfront—no live-service grind, no pay-to-win systems—just the finest iteration of Towerborne.”
With leading live service titles like Fortnite and Roblox becoming increasingly challenging to displace, Towerborne’s move to a premium, offline-playable format might attract players who prefer not to engage in another time-consuming endless game. Personally, this change makes Towerborne more attractive to me.
Upon its 1.0 release, Towerborne will feature a “complete” storyline, new bosses, and a “reworked” difficulty system. You’ll also be able to earn all in-game cosmetics for free via gameplay, with “no more cosmetic purchases.” Players who are already participating in early access will still have the opportunity to play the game.
Towerborne will be available on February 26th for Xbox Series X / S, Xbox on PC, Game Pass, Steam, and PS5. The standard version is priced at $24.99, while the deluxe version will be $29.99.
