Hero image: Quake Champions screenshot. Image: id Software / Bethesda Softworks, via Steam
Quake Champions Ends Free-To-Play And Leaves The Microsoft Store
Quake Champions is no longer free-to-play. id Software’s arena shooter moved to a one-off price on Steam with patch 1.31, released on 23 September.
The same update ends its development. According to the release notes, “No additional content updates are planned at this time.”
The paid version is listed at A$15.95 on the Australian Steam store. Anyone who played Quake Champions on Steam before 23 September keeps it in their library at no additional cost.
Everything that made it a free-to-play game is gone. The patch removes the store, battle passes, weekly and event challenges, loot boxes, daily login rewards and the Platinum and Shard currencies.
In their place, every Champion is unlocked for every player. Most vanity content from 30 seasons is also available to equip, with third-party and merit rewards such as QuakeCon Belts and Golden Crowns hidden unless already owned.
The Microsoft Store version has been retired. Bethesda’s FAQ says Microsoft Store players whose Bethesda.net account is already linked to Steam will receive the Steam version automatically within 48 hours.
Players without a linked Steam account need to create one and link it through Bethesda.net. That service runs only from 23 September to 7 October 2026, and anyone who misses it has to go through Bethesda Customer Support.
Bethesda is also granting a full refund to all players who bought Platinum in the last 60 days. Rankings carry over, provided the same Bethesda.net account is used.
The final patch is not only removals. It adds a callvote system to kick cheaters or abusive players, a new levelling system that runs to level 999, weapon accuracy displays on the HUD and fixes for crashes and an anti-cheat false positive.
For Microsoft Store players in Australia, the date that matters is 7 October.
Source: id Software – Quake Champions 1.31 Point Release, Bethesda – Quake Champions 1.31 FAQ, Steam – Quake Champions