Xbox’s Towerborne Drops Free-to-Play Model, Shifts to Paid ‘Buy-to-Play’ at Launch

In a surprising pivot for the live-service market, Xbox Game Studios and developer Stoic have announced that Towerborne will abandon its planned free-to-play model. The side-scrolling action RPG, previously available in early access, is officially launching on February 26th as a traditional paid title.

According to CEO Trisha Stouffer, this shift allows for a significant structural overhaul. The game will no longer require an always-on connection, enabling players to enjoy the complete experience offline while retaining options for online co-op. This move away from the Games as a Service (GaaS) model reflects a growing trend where developers prioritize permanent ownership over microtransaction-driven ecosystems.

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