Gameloft says continuing to charge for the game will enable it to « keep delivering free content updates, » but not everyone is convinced.
Less than two months ahead of Disney Dreamight Valley’s full release, developer Gameloft has announced that it won’t be a free-to-play game after all. Instead, the studio said that based on its « learnings » from a year in early access, « we’ve made the decision to remain a paid game for the foreseeable future. »
Players eager to jump into Disney Dreamlight Valley ahead of release were required to purchase a « founders pack » which granted entry into the early access version of the game along with various exclusive cosmetics. It’s a not-uncommon way for game studios to monetize projects ahead of release by essentially charging excited fans to help them test their games: Fortnite, Heroes of the Storm, Dying Light: Bad Blood, Dauntless, and others have all offered similar programs in the past.
« By purchasing the Founder’s Pack and being one of the first players, you’ll interact with the game team and help us make a better game, » Gameloft explained in the early access FAQ on Steam. « As Founders, you’ll experience the game first and will be rewarded with tons of Founder-exclusive items that will not be available later on (after early access).
« After early access, Disney Dreamlight Valley will include an in-game store filled with cosmetic items to customize your character and House.
