190:. Its runaway success on a scale rarely seen before drew great interest towards its monetization methods. The free-to-play game adopted a "season"-driven release schedule, each season lasting about 10-20 weeks, during which a new set of cosmetic items and emotes were offered, with those from the previous pass becoming permanently unobtainable. The newly coined "Battle Pass" was added starting in its second season, during a time when the game was seeing a large growth in its player base and has been used by the game since. Battle passes are purchased through an in-game currency called V-Bucks, which either must be purchased with real-world funds via microtransactions, or earned via
120:
which offer a way for players to show off these unique customization options to other players as a status symbol. Experience is gained through normal gameplay, and often through in-game challenges, while some games offer a way to accelerate progression through a battle pass by using microtransactions. In games that offer both free and paid-for battle passes, the free pass may have a very limited number of tiers or offer fewer or less-desirable rewards, but will track player's progression through the paid-for battle pass, allowing them to buy that battle pass at any time to collect the rewards.
132:(FOMO), that a player, knowing certain rewards will only be available for a limited time, will be driven to buy and complete the battle pass to assure they have obtained the limited rewards in time, bringing more revenue to the game. To this end, a battle pass's progression towards rewards has to be balanced against expected gameplay time and what gameplay elements contribute towards this to avoid making the progression feel like
227:, particularly for young players. Battle passes were then seen as a preferable option to loot boxes, as players would be able to see all the rewards they could earn, even if they needed to spend a great deal of time completing all the tiers, assuring players continued to play the game. Further, by offering the means for players to buy into completing tiers, publishers could also see additional revenue.
167:, the annual e-sports tournament for the game. Called the "Compendium", it provided unique in-game content and other features for those players that purchased it, with 25% of all revenue made from it going towards the prize pool for the event. In 2016, Valve included the Compendium into the larger International Battle Pass, and later introduced a monthly form of one with their
44:
119:
to complete the tier, the player gains the rewards offered at that tier. These rewards are typically cosmetic in nature, such as character and weapon customization options (also known as "skins"), emotes, and other non-gameplay affecting elements. More desirable rewards are provided at higher levels,
310:
stated that new playable heroes would be available through the free tiers of the battle pass, though could be obtained earlier by paying for the premium battle pass. Blizzard also confirmed that players who miss the free hero during one season would be able to obtain the hero by a free route in
123:
Battle passes and the rewards contained are only available for a limited time, most commonly a few months, after which a new season battle pass, with a new set of rewards, is available to be acquired. This approach follows the model of
223:, another monetization scheme where players spend funds to open boxes containing a random assortment of in-game items. In the late 2010s, loot boxes faced scrutiny from several government-related groups, believing they encouraged
237:
battle pass approach and exhaustion over loot box controversies, other publishers started to evaluate battle pass use, with gaming journalists theorizing that games which formerly relied on loot boxes or worked
87:
beginning in the late 2010s. Battle passes tend to offer free passes, which are available to all users, and premium passes that require annual or seasonal charges in exchange for enhanced items and cosmetics.
69:
that provides additional content for a game usually through a tiered system, rewarding the player with in-game items for playing the game and completing specific challenges. Inspired by the
208:
to mobile devices in March 2018, revenue estimates from the game were in the hundreds of millions of dollars per month in the following months, primarily from battle pass sales.
145:
multiplayer debuted with a battle pass that was criticized for being too slow in progression, which developer 343 Industries stated they would observe and balance in the future.
288:, use non-expiring battle passes, where old battle passes remain purchasable and usable even after their respective season ends, but only one pass may be enabled at a time.
460:
1005:
581:
177:
with special events in 2015. The campaign pass gave the player that purchased it a number of goals to complete during the event to receive unique customization options.
1175:
128:
used in other business areas. Most battle pass items are unobtainable after the season ends. This limited availability feeds into the psychological phenomenon of
294:
distributes items from seasonal passes into other cosmetic pools when the season concludes so that players are able to access cosmetics even after it has ended.
200:
Analyst
Michael Pachter estimated that on the first day of the third season, in February 2018, Epic sold more than five million battle passes, generating over
906:
686:
770:
714:
960:
998:
742:
432:
798:
826:
660:
367:
1211:
991:
99:
1206:
573:
1099:
489:
879:
1165:
544:
393:
632:
1216:
1170:
1137:
339:
1201:
192:
317:
where all players had access to new heroes for free once they were released. Players considered this change a
934:
516:
1014:
66:
313:
307:
186:
164:
133:
49:
31:
115:. Once obtained, the battle pass presents the player with a number of reward tiers; by earning enough
1033:
1028:
1180:
604:
278:
248:
216:
129:
1038:
965:
344:
290:
239:
80:
35:
111:
A battle pass may be offered free to a player, or may require the player to purchase it through
853:
911:
831:
775:
549:
465:
154:
112:
1043:
498:
116:
1064:
173:
574:"How Exactly Does Dota 2 Come Up With Over $ 20 Million In Prizes For Its Biggest Event?"
306:
battle pass system, replacing the previous loot box system, was criticized by players as
266:
53:, showing its original two-tier, multi-level reward system of Chapter 1 Season 8 (2019)
321:
approach by
Blizzard as well as forcing players to grind to get access to new heroes.
1195:
1149:
284:
138:
93:
43:
1089:
1074:
433:"Battle passes are replacing loot boxes, but they're not necessarily a better deal"
398:
260:
243:
1104:
1069:
687:"Team Fortress 2's Gun Mettle update adds CS:GO like weapon skins and campaigns"
299:
272:
254:
125:
70:
961:"Blizzard detail Overwatch 2's season one, and its controversial battle passes"
799:"Fortnite tallied almost $ 300 million in April, with no signs of slowing down"
394:"Why Fortnite's monetisation is easy to copy but its success hard to replicate"
340:"'Rocket League' Director Talks Rocket Pass, Loot Boxes, Bonuses and Penalties"
91:
Battle passes may be given different terms depending on the game. For example,
1127:
318:
276:
have started using the battle pass system in their games. Some games, such as
181:
502:
242:
could begin to offer battle passes as a replacement. An increasing number of
1094:
719:
168:
715:"Here's Everything Featured in the Team Fortress 2 'Jungle Inferno' Update"
983:
743:"Fortnite Battle Royale gets Dota 2-style Battle Pass, loads of new items"
180:
The popularity of these passes grew significantly in 2018 with the use in
17:
1122:
1084:
1079:
935:"Everything You Need To Know About Rival Incursion In Deep Rock Galactic"
691:
637:
521:
437:
224:
220:
84:
661:"Valve Overhauls Dota 2 Battle Pass With Subscription-Based Dota Plus"
545:"Halo Infinite developers already reevaluating its stingy battle pass"
1059:
609:
159:
153:
One of the first known examples of a battle pass concept was seen in
75:
771:"Fortnite sold 5 million battle passes on the first day of Season 3"
171:
subscription feature in 2018. Valve also added "campaign passes" to
79:
in 2013, the battle pass model gained more use as an alternative to
747:
368:"PUBG's Fortnite-Style Event Pass Available Today With New Update"
42:
803:
987:
854:"Battle Pass is a hot trend in mobile games - like it or not"
633:"The Winter Battle Pass is Valve's best Dota 2 event yet"
30:
For the
American Revolutionary War site in New York, see
103:
offer a "Rocket Pass" and "Survivor Pass" respectively.
517:"Do you buy battle passes, and do you complete them?"
461:"Fortnite loot box and Battle Pass beginner's guide"
1158:
1115:
1052:
1021:
880:"Super Animal Royale Season 2 Start Date Announced"
426:
424:
422:
420:
418:
416:
907:"Halo Infinite's battle passes will never expire"
487:Joseph, Daniel (2021). "Battle pass capitalism".
47:An example of a Battle Pass screen from the game
204:in revenue in a single day. With expansion of
999:
8:
196:, as well as through the battle pass itself
1006:
992:
984:
827:"What Fortnite's Battle Pass gets right"
311:future seasons. This was in contrast to
34:. For the Battle Pass Scenic Byway, see
330:
933:Earle, Sharnelle (February 12, 2022).
603:D'Anastasio, Cecilia (June 21, 2018).
73:ticketing system and originating with
7:
631:Thursten, Chris (January 26, 2016).
605:"Battle Passes Are So Hot Right Now"
769:Valentine, Rebekah (May 25, 2018).
219:had been dealing with the issue of
959:Wheeler, CJ (September 15, 2022).
741:Saed, Sherif (December 15, 2017).
584:from the original on July 14, 2017
25:
713:Meija, Ozzie (January 24, 2019).
572:Van Allen, Eric (July 13, 2017).
431:Davenport, James (July 5, 2018).
905:Goslin, Austen (June 14, 2021).
825:Ashley, Clayton (May 21, 2018).
459:Carter, Chris (March 26, 2018).
338:Wright, Steven (June 19, 2018).
163:during an event that surrounded
27:Type of video game monetization
797:Parker, Jason (May 24, 2018).
57:In the video game industry, a
1:
685:Wilson, Nick (July 2, 2015).
246:including but not limited to
100:PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds
1176:IP protection of video games
392:Jordan, Jon (July 2, 2018).
230:Coupled with the success of
215:was becoming a success, the
490:Journal of Consumer Culture
1233:
1166:Advertising in video games
29:
1171:Digital rights management
503:10.1177/1469540521993930
193:Fortnite: Save the World
1212:Video game distribution
1015:Video game monetization
1207:Video game terminology
308:Blizzard Entertainment
187:Fortnite Battle Royale
165:The International 2013
54:
50:Fortnite Battle Royale
32:Battle Pass (Brooklyn)
67:monetization approach
46:
1034:Downloadable content
1029:Digital distribution
211:At the same time as
1181:Video game industry
860:. December 17, 2019
553:. November 16, 2021
279:Super Animal Royale
249:Call of Duty Mobile
217:video game industry
130:fear of missing out
1100:Subscription-based
1039:Games as a service
966:Rock Paper Shotgun
886:. December 2, 2021
291:Deep Rock Galactic
55:
36:Wyoming Highway 70
1189:
1188:
1060:Advertising-based
1044:Microtransactions
776:GamesIndustry.biz
366:Knezevic, Kevin.
113:microtransactions
81:subscription fees
16:(Redirected from
1224:
1217:2010s neologisms
1022:General concepts
1008:
1001:
994:
985:
978:
977:
975:
973:
956:
950:
949:
947:
945:
930:
924:
923:
921:
919:
902:
896:
895:
893:
891:
876:
870:
869:
867:
865:
850:
844:
843:
841:
839:
822:
816:
815:
813:
811:
794:
788:
787:
785:
783:
766:
760:
759:
757:
755:
738:
732:
731:
729:
727:
710:
704:
703:
701:
699:
682:
676:
675:
673:
671:
659:Pereira, Chris.
656:
650:
649:
647:
645:
628:
622:
621:
619:
617:
600:
594:
593:
591:
589:
569:
563:
562:
560:
558:
541:
535:
534:
532:
530:
525:. August 5, 2020
513:
507:
506:
484:
478:
477:
475:
473:
456:
450:
449:
447:
445:
428:
411:
410:
408:
406:
389:
383:
382:
380:
378:
363:
357:
356:
354:
352:
335:
305:
236:
203:
144:
21:
1232:
1231:
1227:
1226:
1225:
1223:
1222:
1221:
1202:Business models
1192:
1191:
1190:
1185:
1154:
1111:
1065:Blockchain game
1048:
1017:
1012:
982:
981:
971:
969:
958:
957:
953:
943:
941:
932:
931:
927:
917:
915:
904:
903:
899:
889:
887:
878:
877:
873:
863:
861:
852:
851:
847:
837:
835:
824:
823:
819:
809:
807:
796:
795:
791:
781:
779:
768:
767:
763:
753:
751:
740:
739:
735:
725:
723:
712:
711:
707:
697:
695:
684:
683:
679:
669:
667:
658:
657:
653:
643:
641:
630:
629:
625:
615:
613:
602:
601:
597:
587:
585:
571:
570:
566:
556:
554:
543:
542:
538:
528:
526:
515:
514:
510:
486:
485:
481:
471:
469:
458:
457:
453:
443:
441:
430:
429:
414:
404:
402:
391:
390:
386:
376:
374:
365:
364:
360:
350:
348:
337:
336:
332:
327:
303:
234:
201:
174:Team Fortress 2
151:
142:
136:. For example,
109:
39:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1230:
1228:
1220:
1219:
1214:
1209:
1204:
1194:
1193:
1187:
1186:
1184:
1183:
1178:
1173:
1168:
1162:
1160:
1159:Related topics
1156:
1155:
1153:
1152:
1150:Skin gambling
1147:
1146:
1145:
1135:
1134:
1133:
1119:
1117:
1113:
1112:
1110:
1109:
1108:
1107:
1097:
1092:
1087:
1082:
1077:
1072:
1067:
1062:
1056:
1054:
1050:
1049:
1047:
1046:
1041:
1036:
1031:
1025:
1023:
1019:
1018:
1013:
1011:
1010:
1003:
996:
988:
980:
979:
951:
925:
897:
871:
845:
817:
789:
761:
733:
705:
677:
651:
623:
595:
564:
536:
508:
479:
451:
412:
384:
358:
329:
328:
326:
323:
267:Clash of Clans
202:US$ 50 million
150:
147:
108:
105:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1229:
1218:
1215:
1213:
1210:
1208:
1205:
1203:
1200:
1199:
1197:
1182:
1179:
1177:
1174:
1172:
1169:
1167:
1164:
1163:
1161:
1157:
1151:
1148:
1144:
1141:
1140:
1139:
1136:
1132:
1130:
1126:
1125:
1124:
1121:
1120:
1118:
1114:
1106:
1103:
1102:
1101:
1098:
1096:
1093:
1091:
1088:
1086:
1083:
1081:
1078:
1076:
1073:
1071:
1068:
1066:
1063:
1061:
1058:
1057:
1055:
1051:
1045:
1042:
1040:
1037:
1035:
1032:
1030:
1027:
1026:
1024:
1020:
1016:
1009:
1004:
1002:
997:
995:
990:
989:
986:
972:September 15,
968:
967:
962:
955:
952:
940:
936:
929:
926:
914:
913:
908:
901:
898:
885:
881:
875:
872:
859:
855:
849:
846:
834:
833:
828:
821:
818:
806:
805:
800:
793:
790:
778:
777:
772:
765:
762:
750:
749:
744:
737:
734:
722:
721:
716:
709:
706:
694:
693:
688:
681:
678:
666:
662:
655:
652:
640:
639:
634:
627:
624:
612:
611:
606:
599:
596:
583:
579:
575:
568:
565:
552:
551:
546:
540:
537:
524:
523:
518:
512:
509:
504:
500:
496:
492:
491:
483:
480:
468:
467:
462:
455:
452:
440:
439:
434:
427:
425:
423:
421:
419:
417:
413:
401:
400:
395:
388:
385:
373:
369:
362:
359:
347:
346:
341:
334:
331:
324:
322:
320:
316:
315:
309:
302:
301:
297:The debut of
295:
293:
292:
287:
286:
285:Halo Infinite
281:
280:
275:
274:
269:
268:
263:
262:
258:
256:
251:
250:
245:
241:
233:
228:
226:
222:
218:
214:
209:
207:
199:
195:
194:
189:
188:
183:
178:
176:
175:
170:
166:
162:
161:
156:
148:
146:
141:
140:
139:Halo Infinite
135:
131:
127:
126:season passes
121:
118:
114:
106:
104:
102:
101:
96:
95:
94:Rocket League
89:
86:
82:
78:
77:
72:
68:
65:is a type of
64:
63:rewards track
60:
52:
51:
45:
41:
37:
33:
19:
1142:
1128:
1075:Free-to-play
970:. Retrieved
964:
954:
942:. Retrieved
938:
928:
916:. Retrieved
910:
900:
888:. Retrieved
883:
874:
862:. Retrieved
858:GameRefinery
857:
848:
836:. Retrieved
830:
820:
808:. Retrieved
802:
792:
780:. Retrieved
774:
764:
752:. Retrieved
746:
736:
724:. Retrieved
718:
708:
696:. Retrieved
690:
680:
668:. Retrieved
664:
654:
642:. Retrieved
636:
626:
614:. Retrieved
608:
598:
586:. Retrieved
577:
567:
557:November 16,
555:. Retrieved
548:
539:
527:. Retrieved
520:
511:
494:
488:
482:
470:. Retrieved
464:
454:
442:. Retrieved
436:
403:. Retrieved
399:Pocket Gamer
397:
387:
375:. Retrieved
371:
361:
349:. Retrieved
343:
333:
312:
298:
296:
289:
283:
277:
271:
265:
261:Clash Royale
259:
253:
247:
244:mobile games
240:as a service
231:
229:
212:
210:
205:
197:
191:
185:
179:
172:
158:
152:
137:
122:
110:
98:
92:
90:
74:
62:
58:
56:
48:
40:
1143:Battle pass
1138:Season pass
1105:Pay-to-play
1070:Buy-to-play
864:October 29,
726:January 24,
698:January 24,
497:(1): 2021.
300:Overwatch 2
273:Brawl Stars
255:PUBG Mobile
71:season pass
59:battle pass
1196:Categories
1116:Approaches
884:Twinfinite
325:References
319:pay to win
221:loot boxes
182:Epic Games
117:experience
85:loot boxes
18:Battlepass
1095:Shareware
720:Shacknews
670:March 12,
372:Eurogamer
314:Overwatch
169:Dota Plus
1123:Loot box
1085:Freeware
1080:Freemium
939:TheGamer
918:June 14,
838:June 19,
754:July 14,
692:PCGamesN
665:GameSpot
644:June 19,
638:PC Gamer
616:June 21,
588:July 14,
582:Archived
529:June 14,
522:PC Gamer
438:PC Gamer
351:June 19,
232:Fortnite
225:gambling
213:Fortnite
206:Fortnite
134:grinding
1090:Premium
944:July 7,
912:Polygon
890:May 13,
832:Polygon
810:July 6,
782:July 6,
550:Polygon
472:July 6,
466:Polygon
444:July 5,
405:July 6,
377:July 9,
345:Variety
149:History
107:Concept
610:Kotaku
578:Kotaku
304:'s
270:, and
235:'s
160:Dota 2
143:'s
76:Dota 2
1131:games
1129:Gacha
1053:Types
748:VG247
155:Valve
974:2022
946:2022
920:2021
892:2022
866:2020
840:2018
812:2018
804:CNet
784:2018
756:2018
728:2019
700:2019
672:2018
646:2018
618:2018
590:2017
559:2021
531:2021
474:2018
446:2018
407:2018
379:2018
353:2018
282:and
97:and
83:and
499:doi
157:'s
61:or
1198::
963:.
937:.
909:.
882:.
856:.
829:.
801:.
773:.
745:.
717:.
689:.
663:.
635:.
607:.
580:.
576:.
547:.
519:.
495:21
493:.
463:.
435:.
415:^
396:.
370:.
342:.
264:,
252:,
184:'
1007:e
1000:t
993:v
976:.
948:.
922:.
894:.
868:.
842:.
814:.
786:.
758:.
730:.
702:.
674:.
648:.
620:.
592:.
561:.
533:.
505:.
501::
476:.
448:.
409:.
381:.
355:.
257:,
198:.
38:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
