Plot is not Yours in Pax Dei, Subscription Model Explained
If you would like more clarification about how the subscription model in Pax Dei will work, we're here with an explanation.
If you like the idea of EVE Online but space opera setting is not quite suited for you, there is an Early Access alternative. Pax Dei, currently heavily in development, is planned to debut in full version in June 2025 (or later, as highlighted by the creators). Usually, when we buy an EA game we don’t have to worry about further expenses when the title enters version 1.0, yet in the case of Mainframe Industries production, the situation is very different. Let’s analyse how the developers have envisioned monetisation of Pax Dei in greater detail to let you choose whether you want to take a plunge and pay for another subscription.
Subscription model in Pax Dei analysed
Subscription model in video games is not a new concept. The best example of MMO title utilising such is without a doubt World of Warcraft. Considering how big WoW is, it is still barely pulling through with it. However, that’s exactly what the developers from Mainframe Industries proposed for Pax Dei – a subscription. There is more to it though.
As of now, Pax Dei is buy-to-play. Although, this state of things is supposed to change when the game leaves Early Access. Let’s extract the main points from a FAQ post that the devs have shared:
Keep in mind that developers are not sure about the monetisation themselves. Quotation from the aforementioned post: “The final business model and pricing are not defined yet”. So, they may change their decision in the future.
- Once the production exits EA, it will be locked behind one-time purchase, and then a recurring fee.
- The first payment will provide access to the game and its plot(s) for a specific amount of time.
- Players who decided to back the creators before the full launch will be exempted from the initial buy, yet they will still have to pay the subscription later on.
- With the Founder’s Pack, the character slots and exclusive recipes obtained during the Early Access stage will be kept in the 1.0 version.
The most important takeaway is that the Founder’s Pack doesn’t give you anything besides full access to Early Access period and the initial purchase. When EA ends, everyone will have to pay the subscription which price is currently unknown, but it will depend on the number of plots a given player has.
It goes without saying that many fans were not happy to hear about such a choice of business model for this title. Let’s not forget that currently Pax Dei is struggling with technical issues and the general reception is tepid. If the team responsible for this game won’t make it at least very good, I personally do not see a way for it to live a long and prosperous life. The budget of $22 million provided partially by Microsoft might not suffice to keep it alive.
Additionally, there are also concerns when it comes to console release, as the developers are speaking about development for “cloud gaming platforms”. There is some hope though, as the creators are working on fully fledged controller support.
