Disney Dreamlight Valley No Longer Free-to-Play
A recent Disney release has sparked outrage among fans after the company went back on its promise. What was originally advertised as a free-to-play game now comes with a premium price tag, leaving fans divided.
Background: Disney Dreamlight Valley
Disney Dreamlight Valley was announced in April 2022 as a free-to-play game that allows players to explore a Disneyland-like town with classic Disney characters. The game was released in early access in September 2022, but players were required to pay for this early access.
The Price Debate
The cheapest version of the game was priced at around £24, with deluxe and ultimate editions available for £41 and £58 respectively, offering additional in-game items. However, fans expected this price to cover the year of early access and in-game extras, with the game eventually transitioning to free-to-play. This expectation was fueled by the presence of freemium elements in the game, such as microtransactions, timers, and limitations commonly found in free-to-play games.
Disney's Announcement
Recently, Disney announced that when Disney Dreamlight Valley exits early access on December 5, it will continue to be a paid game. The company stated that this decision was made to ensure a premium game experience for all players, despite the widespread discontent over the excessive number of microtransactions in the game.
According to Disney's statement: "As we look ahead to the official launch, with the learnings we’ve gained from early access, we’ve made the decision to remain a paid game for the foreseeable future. This means we will not make the transition to be a free-to-play game when we leave early access on December 5. This choice ensures that Disney Dreamlight Valley will be able to continue delivering on a premium game experience for all players."
Fan Dissatisfaction
Many players do not feel that Disney Dreamlight Valley is living up to its promise of a "premium game experience" due to the overwhelming number of microtransactions present in the game. Fans are expressing their frustration and disappointment, feeling misled by Disney's initial claims of a free-to-play game.
Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF
