Video game battle passes are highly utilized within the gaming industry, and while they can be varied in terms of how they work, the general premise and functionality of battle passes are quite universal.
No matter what type of game you play, there's a high chance that you will, or already have, encountered examples of video game battle passes.
If you have ever wondered what video game battle passes are, or even how they work in the games you want to play, we can help.
What Video Game Battle Passes Actually Are
By definition, video game battle passes are a form of monetization utilized in numerous games, that are structured in a tiered system.
Video game battle passes usually function as the core incentive to play a game, earn XP, and progress through a video game title's multiplayer or challenges.
Battle passes come with two options for progression:
- A free battle pass where you can progress through each tier without having to spend money at all.
- A premium battle pass which is usually locked behind a paywall that you have to pay to access.
On the surface, video game battle passes are relatively simple, but some key aspects can help your understanding of them.
How Video Game Battle Passes Work
As stated prior, most video game battle passes function on either a free tier system or a premium one.
To progress through either one of the specified tiers of a battle pass, the easiest way is usually for you to simply play the associated game and earn XP.
This XP Is then put towards your overall level within the battle pass to help you unlock specific in-game digital content associated with each tier.
Another way you can earn XP and unlock digital content is through the use of challenges.
These challenges will have set amounts of XP they will grant you for completing their requirements. Then, much like completing games or matches, this XP is put towards your progress through the battle pass tier system, granting you unlockable digital content as you do so.
Crucially, video game battle passes are also usually only available for a certain amount of time. This acts to incentivize you to play as much as you can within the time limit to ensure you can unlock any items before they are removed.
Generally, once the digital content associated with a battle pass is removed and replaced, you are sometimes able to purchase past battle pass items through in-game stores, though this is never guaranteed.
All in all, video game battle passes function as your main incentive to keep playing games that feature them, acting to provide your sense of achievement and progression by unlocking exclusive and timed digital content.
What Types of Games Feature Battle Passes?
Now you know the basics of how battle passes work and what they are, you may be interested in what kinds of games are most likely to incorporate battle passes.
Above all, battle passes are most commonly found in the varying forms of free-to-play games. Titles like Smite, Fall Guys, and even Halo Infinite Multiplayer all incorporate battle pass systems as their main form of player progression.
Further to this, titles like Apex Legends and Call of Duty: Warzone incorporate battle passes due to their genre of video game: battle royales. This is mainly due to what battle royales actually are and how this type of game is highly applicable to the monetization practices of battle passes.
Most notably, Fortnite, one of the most successful free-to-play and battle royale-styled games, sets the standard for battle passes in video games. Learn how you can play Fortnite for free on your phone, tablet, or PC with Xbox Cloud Gaming to experience one of the seminal examples of battle passes in gaming.
Make the Most of Your Battle Pass-Based Gaming
Now you should know everything you need about the basics of battle passes and can enjoy them for what they are.
When paired with the right kind of game, battle passes can provide you with hundreds of hours of entertainment and exciting unlocks.
For free-to-play titles like Fortnite and Apex: Legends, battle passes are a staple, so be sure to check out the best free-to-play battle royale games around.