In a surprising pivot, Xbox Game Studios and developer Stoic have announced that their upcoming side-scrolling action RPG, Towerborne, will abandon its free-to-play roots in favor of a premium purchase model.
Set to officially launch on February 26th, the game will no longer require a constant internet connection. Trisha Stouffer, Stoic’s CEO, confirmed that players will now “own the complete experience permanently,” unlocking the ability to play fully offline or in online co-op. This strategic shift was necessitated by a year-long “deep structural rebuilding” of systems originally designed for always-on connectivity. While the specific price point remains under wraps, the move highlights a growing trend of live-service games pivoting to traditional paid models to prioritize player ownership over engagement metrics.
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