Battleborn is free, gratis, zilch, on the house

It seems that all failing games eventually go the free-to-play route. Sadly, for as good asBattlebornmay have actually been, it was a pretty big misstep for Gearbox Software. No matter what Randy Pitchford may have said (including talking aboutBattlebornthemed porn), the game never took with the public, so this new “trial” only makes sense.

Launched today for PC and Xbox One (coming June 13 for PS4), the free download grants access to all available modes and maps ofBattleborn, but limits you to a rotating cast of six characters. This is similar to howHeroes of the StormorLeague of Legendsworks, just that those games didn’t originally launch as a $60 game with a season pass.

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You can unlock the rest of the cast by earning currency or purchasing “Platinum” currency with real money. If you owned the game before this shift, you’ll be given “founder” status and a ton of extra nonsense.

Whether or not this spurs interest in the game is yet to be seen. I’m not sure if Gearbox can escape their past, but maybe the ever enticing “free” price will coax players back in.

The opening area of the Whisper mission, in a small grove.

The Divide in the Cosmodrome, where the Guardian was resurrected.

A holofoil Ribbontail, as seen in collections.

The Phoneutria Fera hand cannon, inspired by the Season of the Haunted armor set. It has a unique, galactic glow.

Three Fuses appear in a match of Apex Legends' Wild Card mode.

Mad Maggie opens a supply bin and an item with a symbol indicating infinite ammo appears.

Legends slide through a zipline in King’s Canyon in Apex Legends.

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The Yeartide Apex tex Mechanica SMG with a Holofoil glow.