Deltarune chapters 1 and 2 may be playable for free, but the rest of the chapters will not be. And everything will likely cost a little more than the price you pay for Undertale.
People like free games, and is partly what makes the Epic Games platform such a popular source. With literally no amount to spend, free games make a sweet reminder that we can all entertain ourselves without shelling out cash every time. This proves true with Deltarune when developer Toby Fox chose to offer the game for free—the first few chapters, at least.
Fantastic freebie
Deltarune began circulation when its first chapter was offered for free back in 2018, which is then followed by console releases in 2019. It proved to be a popular title, especially those coming from the Undertale fan base who already have an inkling about the game. At nearly three years, this hype is ignited anew as Fox released chapter 2 on September 17, 2021—also, for free. Although, that may not have been the initial plan:
“The world has been really tough for everybody recently. So, I decided to release DELTARUNE Chapter 2 for free. I guess like a pet cat that drops bugs at your doorstep, I can, with some pride, show you the weird things I’ve been doing”.
“Originally, I had planned to release chapters only when all them are finished, but honestly, it’s hard both for creators and fans to go a long time without a release. So, I changed my mind. I think most people will be happy about this”.
Money
Developing a game for so many years, only to give parts of it for free may not be the most profitable business model in video games. But, then again, it is not any different than offering a demo of a title while deep in the making. So, what is next for Deltarune as a still developing title and how does Fox intend to monetize on it?
“My next goal is to complete Chapters 3, 4 and 5 for next time. Then, at that time I will ask for people to buy the game, at the price of the first 5 chapters (including 1 and 2). I don’t know the price yet, but it’s definitely going to cost more than Undertale”.
In the meantime, Toby Fox seems keen in helping fellow developers out by encouraging those who got the game to spend their money elsewhere. But, if inclined, the developer is asking those who have the money to spend to buy his soundtrack instead.
Image used courtesy of Nathan L/YouTube Screenshot