Quake Champions ends eight years free-to-play with £8.99 Steam relaunch
Quake Champions now costs £8.99 / US$9.99 on Steam after eight years as a free-to-play shooter.
Developer id Software made the switch on 23 September 2026 with patch 1.31, which ended free downloads and closed off the Microsoft Store version. The game is now Steam-only, according to Eurogamer.
The update strips out almost every system tied to spending. Battle passes, seasonal unlock tracks sold each season, are gone. So are the in-game store, paid currencies, loot boxes, randomised paid items, login rewards and all other microtransactions, small in-game purchases.
No new content is planned. Id Software confirmed there are no additional updates in development at this time.
What players buy is the archive. The paid version includes material from 30 seasons released over the years. All Champions, the roster of hero characters with different abilities, are unlocked for everyone. Most cosmetic items, outfits and looks with no effect on play, are available for all players to equip.
Existing players are not asked to pay again. Anyone who previously played on Steam will receive the updated full version for free.
Microsoft Store players face an extra step. The storefront version is being discontinued. Those who played before 23 September and had linked Bethesda and Steam accounts will be given a Steam copy within 48 hours. Those with unlinked accounts must link both accounts by 7 October to receive a Steam copy within 48 hours, Bethesda said.
There is also a refund window. Players who bought the Champions Pack, known as Platinum, within the 60 days before 23 September will receive a refund.
The change closes a long run on PC. Quake Champions launched in paid early access in 2017, went free-to-play in 2018 and reached full release in 2022. It never released on consoles. It peaked at 17,476 concurrent players on Steam, but recently hovered around 600 daily players.
For fans, this means a smaller, simpler deal. No shop. No pass. Just the full roster and eight years of maps and gear for the price of a takeaway.
