Gaming
When the announcement came at Blizzcon 2017 that Starcraft II would become a free-to-play title, it sent shockwaves through its fanbase. Some of solo and co-op players were upset that the game they had to purchase was going to be given away for free. Others in the esports community saw this as a way to get more people into the game. And yet, some thought this announcement was the harbinger of doom — the end. StarCraft II, their beloved game and part of one of the first esports franchises in history, could be headed down the path that takes you from paid game to free-to-play to thank you, but we will no longer be supporting the title, they feared.
However, some see a connection and a precedent, pointing back to June 23, 2011, when Valve announced that Team Fortress 2 would become free to play. Let's take a look at what may stay the same — and what has changed since then.
What's new and what's not
At the time that Team Fortress 2 and StarCraft II went free-to-play respectively, both had seen their heyday and were past their prime. However, in both instances a dedicated audience had stuck around — one that had the numbers and the talent to keep both publishers and the general public interested. Throughout these transitions, both Blizzard and Valve are caring for their respective titles with updates and maintenance.
Kevin Knocke, former Sirius XM Radio and Starcraft II host, says he can see the similarities.
“Although I think Blizzard going to the free to play model for Starcraft II should have happened in 2012 or even 2013, it is a good move for the title,” Knocke said. “Will this change make this title an esports contender the likes of League of Legends? No. But what it will do is show that Blizzard will support the game, just like they do Heroes of the Storm. Team Fortress, while being much smaller in terms of esports, saw this exact same thing happen.”
Knocke was referring to when Team Fortress 2 become free to play and saw a spike in the number of people playing the game. According to Steam, that spike lasted for over 12 months pushing the title to over 100,000 players in August, 2012, peaking at 117,917. Team Fortress 2 has held steady at around 70,000 players for the last four years.
And the numbers are already coming in for Starcraft II. So far it looks like de’ja vu all over again.
According to RankedFTW, players both new and old are already flocking to the game. A record number of people are playing in the 1v1 ladder. Since the announcement at Blizzcon 2017, approximately 20,000 more players have come to play the veteran RTS title, setting the record for the most players ever at 317,292.
It’s hard to imagine this growth rate sustaining itself forever, but right now shows that there are still a good number of people out there that want to play. With more players getting into the game, it should make queue times faster and make ladder play much more fun in the short term — something players that have been around a while have been craving.
Allowing the solo and co-op modes to be free-to-play until level five should also help in bolstering the number of players. Who wouldn’t want to try their skill against other live players after getting to know how the game’s mechanics work? Blizzard made some significant changes.
Current and upcoming Co-op Commanders are available to play for free up to level five, and the level restriction for weekly mutations has been removed. You’ll be able to tackle these extra challenging missions with your friends right away. The Co-op Commanders Raynor, Kerrigan, and Artanis will remain completely free, meaning that you can keep leveling them to your heart’s content.
To emphasize that this is truly a free-to-play and not a pay-to-win system, Blizzard released a video announcing their free to play model. Some have noted that this appears to be a playful jab at Electronic Arts and their new title Battlefront II, which has come under major criticism for its heavy-handed monetization system.
What forever looks like
But what happens after this spike in the number of players dies down? Will the game die? Knocke weighs in one more time.
“What is considered a dead game?” Knocke asked. “If Starcraft II streams don’t get 150,000 views on Twitch does that mean it's dead? No way. You can’t compare the game to Dota 2, Counter-Strike, or League; it’s just not there anymore. But if you have 20,000 hardcore fans that tune in every time, seems to me there is life still left.”
For as many times as the esports community — and occasionally the StarCraft II community itself — has attempted to claim the title's death, it hasn't happened yet. And between this free-to-play boost and a dedicated community, it doesn't look like it will anytime soon either. Long-time commentator, streamer, and StarCraft II die-hard said it best:
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