Disney Dreamlight Valley Will Not Be Free-to-Play Despite Previous Promises

Disney Dreamlight Valley, a cozy life sim currently in early access, will not be transitioning to a free-to-play model as previously promised by the developers. Despite initial plans, the game will still require an upfront cost of at least $40 when it releases on December 5, 2023. Additionally, an expansion pass and the existing Star Path battle pass will be available for purchase.

The game, developed by Gameloft, entered early access on September 6, 2022, with players having to pay between $29.99 and $69.98 to participate. The full release was initially scheduled for the end of 2023, at which point it was expected to become free-to-play.

During the early access phase, Dreamlight Valley introduced Star paths, similar to battle passes in Fortnite, allowing players to unlock cosmetic items and in-game currency for a premium. Paid story content and a premium cosmetic shop were also added later on. However, many players expressed their dissatisfaction on platforms such as Twitter, Reddit, and the official Discord server, claiming that the game demanded too much while still in early access.

While the decision not to transition to a free-to-play model may disappoint some players, it is understandable from a profit perspective. Disney Dreamlight Valley already offers a substantial amount of content for a single purchase, and the addition of freemium extras and costs in a paid game can be off-putting.

Although Disney Dreamlight Valley may eventually become free-to-play, new players will need to pay upfront to enjoy the relaxing gameplay experience when the game leaves early access.

If you are already playing Disney Dreamlight Valley, we have compiled a list of promotional codes that you can use in the game.