Today more than ever, online video games face immense challenges in finding an audience and achieving success due to excessive competition. Many companies are adopting the free-to-play model in an attempt to ensure their projects thrive and have a long-lasting future. After a failed launch, Square Enix found itself needing to change its strategy for one of its recent releases.
We're referring to FOAMSTARS, the criticized competitive multiplayer game inspired by Nintendo's Splatoon. It officially debuted in February 2024 exclusively for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, but it seems it struggled to build a long-term community.
The online title initially launched as a premium offering, priced at $29.99 USD, but those with an active PS Plus subscription had the opportunity to add it to their library for free during its launch month. After that period, interested players had to purchase it.
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FOAMSTARS becomes free-to-play on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
According to a report, FOAMSTARS lost nearly 95% of its player base within just 2 months, while the Japanese company confirmed that it failed to meet commercial expectations. These seem to be the reasons why the premium model was dropped, and it transitioned into a free-to-play experience.
At the end of August, Square Enix announced that the anime-styled multiplayer game would become free-to-play at the start of this month. Those who obtained it through PlayStation Plus or purchased it before the transition had the chance to claim a collection of free items.
As of October 4, FOAMSTARS can be downloaded for free from the PS Store on PS4 and PS5. Another piece of good news is that no subscription to Sony's service is required to access online modes, just like with other free-to-play titles on the platform.
The transition to free-to-play coincides with the launch of Diamond Jam, the 8th season of the competitive game that introduces Diamond Tokens and the Diamond Market, where players can exchange these currencies for skins, emotes, and other items. Those who log in can claim these rewards.
The new season also features 5 maps for the Destroy the Star game mode. Those who have the corresponding Battle Pass will receive a free skin for Don Barista's foam gun, an outfit for Merino, and other items.
Of course, it remains to be seen if FOAMSTARS will recover with this format change. Before its launch, it was criticized for its similarities to Splatoon and the use of artificial intelligence. It was also the target of negative reviews due to the high prices of its cosmetic items.
But tell us, will you finally give this game a chance? Let us know in the comments.
FOAMSTARS is now available for free on PS4 and PS5. Follow this link to read more related news.
Related video: The Good, the Bad, and the Meh of FOAMSTARS
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