What Was The First Game To Have a Battle Pass?
The battle pass system was first introduced in the hugely popular game, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), released in March 2017. It has since become a mainstay of the gaming industry and is one of the most popular monetisation strategies used by developers. But, what game was the first to feature a Battle pass system?
The Battle Pass Origin Story
Though the battle pass system that we recognise today was first released in PUBG, the concept of a battle pass was first explored in a game called “Project Green”. This was a sandbox MMORPG experience developed by Nexon and landed on the market back in 2004.
The system was known as a “reserved package” and it offered the players a unique ‘package’ of cosmetic rewards that they could collect. This was the first awareness of the battle pass style of monetisation.
Battle Pass in Its Infancy
In 2012, a mobile game entitled ‘Tap Pet Hotel’ became the first game to offer its players the first incarnation of a battle pass. The game created ‘weekly challenge collections’ for its players and awarded them special prizes when they completed the challenges.
The rewards were usually furniture to decorate their hotels or some type of currency, so it still wasn’t what we know as the battle pass today. It introduced the idea of recurring events and rewards, which players could complete for additional benefit.
Battle Pass in Full Effect
In the years before PUBG, other game studios began to toy with the idea of a unique system of rewards in their games. Valve released the ‘Compendium’ system in 2013, in the highly popular Dota 2.
This served as a battle pass and tournament ticket rolled into one. Players got to take part in the tournament and receive exclusive rewards, providing them with a boost over those who did not buy the battle pass.
Final Thoughts
The battle pass system has since become a tool and has been used by many developers trying to monetise their games. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds set the tone for the battle pass and proved to be the beginning of an industry-wide trend.
It is great to see how game studios can use these systems to create something special for their players and how it gives them access to exclusive rewards.
Key Takeaways:
- The battle pass system was first introduced in the game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds in 2017.
- However, the concept of the battle pass was explored in a game called “Project Green” in 2004.
- The first battle pass system appeared in the game Tap Pet Hotel in 2012.
- The idea of a battle pass was further explored in the popular game Dota 2 in 2013.
