Great news for fighting game fans as Fantasy Strike moves towards a free-to-play structure on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Steam for Windows PC, Mac, and Linux. The game sports excellent combat and comes from David Sirlin, the lead designer of Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix.

The change in monetization system also comes with a brand new an update today that includes two new characters, cosmetic items, and animations for the entire selection of fighters, as well as a new optional set of subscription features.

The two new characters, Sirus Quince and General Onimaru, both bring brand new mechanics to the game. Quince casts illusions to confuse his opponents, which can also become “real” for a short duration by landing his super. Meanwhile, Onimaru leverages the outright power of her sword strikes that can become unblockable in the right situations.

Both the new characters and all existing fighters in Fantasy Strike are available for free online immediately with no grind-to-unlock. This combined with the ability of all players to enter into online casual and ranked modes is sure to keep the player base at a healthy number for the long term. Practice mode, solo matches vs. AI opponents, and the daily challenges are also all available for free.

Overall, this looks like a great way to transition Fantasy Strike to a free-to-play model, ensuring that players have access to all fighters equally and with the option to compete in ranked modes.

For those who want a little more from their Fantasy Strike, there are premium options. The first is the Core Pack, providing local Versus mode, online matches against friends, Boss Rush mode, Survival mode, and an Arcade mode with beautifully-illustrated narrative sequences.

Next, there is a Collector’s Pack, featuring everything in the Core Pack with additional cosmetics, an exclusive “Party Time” KO effect, and one year of the new Fantasy+ subscription.

This final subscription service provides double XP gains, grants access to special Master Costumes for each character who reaches experience level 20 and introduces an extensive new Replay Theater feature. This gives players the ability to rewatch their own matches and search for replays containing specific characters and skill levels. For those who want to grow and learn the most they can in a competitive environment, this is an essential feature.

Speaking about the switch over to a free-to-play model was David Sirlin, the game director, who states, “We worked tirelessly to find a way to maintain the competitive integrity of Fantasy Strike that our existing players love while opening it up to an even broader audience. We believe this free-to-play update continues our mission of crafting a fighting game that removes the barrier to being a contender, while also providing excellent value for those who want additional features and to support our work."

The free-to-play update is available right now on all platforms. For those players who are already owners, the Founder’s Pack will automatically be added to their accounts, featuring in the Core Pack plus 60 costume color sets. The Core Pack is priced at $19.99, while the Collector’s Pack is available for $99.99. A Fantasy+ subscription can be purchased in 1-month, 6-month, and 12-month increments in-game with gems (approximate value of $4.99, $24.99, and $39.99, respectively).

Best of luck to everyone trying out Fantasy Strike for the first time, you are all in for a real treat!

Source: Fantasy Strike Press Release

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