Disney Dreamlight Valley is set to undergo a significant change upon its full release in December. Instead of the free-to-play model, which had been previously confirmed, the base game will now come with a price tag of $39.99.
This transition was communicated by the game’s developers through a blog post last Friday. They emphasized that the decision to shift to a paid model was driven by a commitment to upholding the game’s exceptional quality. With a paid structure, they aim to sustain the high standard of gameplay and, as stated in their post, “continue delivering on a premium game experience for all players.”
They further explained that a paid Disney Dreamlight Valley will help them fulfill their promise “to keep delivering free content updates that add new characters, realms, clothing, furniture, and more surprises to your Valley.”
Simultaneously, Gameloft will release a new expansion titled A Rift in Time. The expansion will carry a $29.99 price tag and, according to the blog post, see players “meet new friends, discover new biomes, and immerse yourself in new gameplay features.” The developers promised to provide more information about the expansion when they host their first-ever showcase on November 1st.
When Disney Dreamlight Valley arrived in early access in September 2022, it was to widespread acclaim. Critics lauded the life simulation adventure game and it was also well-received by audiences, attracting more than one million players within the first ten days of its release.
Apart from the base game, Disney Dreamlight Valley will also come with a Cozy Edition and a Gold Edition with a $49.99 and $59.99 price tag respectively. The base game will be digital and so will the Gold Edition. However, the Cozy Edition will come in a physical format as earlier promised. Also, the Cozy and Gold Editions will have exclusive items not present in the base game as well as more Moonstones – the game’s currency, than the base version.
Gameloft’s decision to shift away from the original free-to-play model has surprised many gamers. Given the timing, it seems the company had little choice. Disney Dreamlight Valley has been in Early Access for over a year, with its full release just over a month away. The delay in announcing this decision suggests hesitation in making the game a paid title.
This move could also be driven by financial motives. Disney Dreamlight Valley has enjoyed strong popularity with players since its early access launch, and Gameloft’s leadership might view this as an opportunity to retract their initial promise and boost their revenue instead.
The announcement has stirred diverse reactions from fans. Some view the transition to a paid version positively, as long as Gameloft upholds its commitment to quality. Others perceive it as an attempt to exploit fans, particularly considering the game’s existing microtransactions.
Disney Dreamlight Valley is set to have its full release on Switch, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 on December 5.
