Paragon free DLC plans, early access release date revealed
Creative director Steve Superville: "The game will never be pay-to-win, meaning we will never sell gameplay-affecting items."
Gears of War creator Epic Games has revealed new information about its upcoming MOBA Paragon. In a blog post, creative director Steve Superville announced an Early Access version of the game will be available on PC and PS4 on March 18 and confirmed that all of the game's heroes can be obtained for free.
You can get into the Paragon Early Access by purchasing a $20 Founder's Pack that goes on sale on March 14. Epic also mentioned that progress earned in the Early Access version of Paragon will carry forward when the full, finished game launches.
If you don't buy the Founder's Pack, you still have a shot at playing before launch, as Epic will hold beta weekend events when anyone can play for free.
The other piece of big Paragon news shared today was that all of the game's heroes can be unlocked without spending a penny. Additionally, Superville stressed that Epic wants to avoid a "pay-to-win" scenario, and as such, it will never sell items that can affect gameplay.
"Paragon is designed so that all players can compete and win without ever having to spend money," he said. "All heroes are free, and cards can only be earned by playing the game. The game will never be pay-to-win, meaning we will never sell gameplay-affecting items. We will sell cosmetic items (skins, emotes), boosts and other convenience items, along with Paid Early Access. We're taking this approach because we believe that competitive games need to be fair for all players."
Finally, Epic also has confirmed that players can also purchase a Challenger Pack ($60) and Master Pack ($100) that comes with a "huge number of skins, unlockable items, boosts, a unique skin, and a Founder's Pack to give to a friend." Full details on the contents of these premium packs will be shared later.
Paragon is due to launch later this year on PC and PlayStation 4.
GameSpot recently played a portion of the game and you can read our preview at this link: How Gears of War and Unreal have shaped Epic's next game: Paragon