What's the difference between "Free" versus "Free to Play" on Steam?
On Steam, there are the labels "Free" and "Free to Play" - what is the difference between the two?
Best Answer
It's important to note that in most cases, at least on Steam, if a game is listed as "Free to Play" then the additional content which is behind a paywall will be purely cosmetic.
In other words if you want your player character to be wearing a fancy hat or have a weapon which is golden rather than the usual chrome or black finish then you will have to pay for it, but the actual gameplay will usually be unaffected.
Examples of this model are DOTA 2 and Team Fortress 2.
Some other games have items/bonuses etc. which do affect gameplay, which can be unlocked over the course of normal play, but will allow you to unlock these things more quickly by paying some money.
Sometimes you can outright buy these items, or sometimes you will earn free "points" of some type by just playing which can be spent for either cosmetic or gameplay-affecting items, and you can "boost" the rate at which you earn these otherwise free points by paying real money, thus allowing you to unlock the items more quickly (but still requiring you to "earn" the points through some gameplay actions or just time spent playing).
Examples of this model are League of Legends and Marvel Heroes.
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What does free weekend on Steam mean?
One additional marketing feature of Steam is the 'free weekend,' where customers have temporary access to your game for a specified period of time. Users can try out the game free, but lose access when the period expires unless they buy the game. Typically, a Free Weekend is also accompanied by a discount.Does Steam free games last forever?
It will still be in your library, but it will appear as uninstalled and you will not be able to play it without buying the full game.What does adding non Steam game to library do?
This will only add a shortcut to your game in the Steam client. This will not allow you to download updates for your game through Steam, nor allow you to use this game as proof of ownership for your Steam account.what. (Bo Burnham FULL SHOW HD)
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