Quake Champions becomes a paid Steam game for $9.99 and leaves Microsoft Store

The Microsoft Store version is being shut down. According to Bethesda, players who had played that version before September 23 and linked their Bethesda and Steam accounts received a Steam copy of the game.

The update notes say no further content updates are planned, and coverage describes update 1.31 as the start of Quake Champions’ final chapter.

What happened

Bethesda and id Software released update 1.31 for Quake Champions on September 23. The patch moves the arena shooter from free-to-play to a paid product on Steam, where the game is reported to cost £8.99 / $9.99. The official FAQ ties the change to a new release model, while the existing PC version on the Microsoft Store is being phased out.

The patch also strips monetization from the game. Battle passes, the in-game store, premium currency, loot boxes, login rewards and microtransactions have been removed. In addition, all Champions, weapon skins and costumes that were previously sold with the removed currencies are now available through the customization menu. Bethesda’s FAQ says all Champions, weapon skins and costumes that could previously be purchased with those currencies can now be selected there.

The Microsoft Store version is being discontinued at the same time. Bethesda said players who had played that version before September 23 and linked their Bethesda and Steam accounts would receive a Steam copy within 48 hours. Players who bought Platinum within 60 days before September 23 are due a refund, with the FAQ saying those Platinum refunds should be processed within 5 to 7 business days.

The available reporting also says update 1.31 is the point where the game will no longer receive new content. Dotesports says no further content updates are planned, while Eurogamer says the game is entering its final chapter with this change. The official FAQ at least makes clear that the game is moving to a paid Steam release and that its existing in-game economy is being removed.

According to the provided context, Quake Champions has built up 30 seasons of content. The update therefore changes not only the pricing model, but also how that content is accessed and offered. The reporting identifies Steam as the platform where the paid version will remain available, while the Microsoft Store version disappears.

Background

Quake Champions originally launched as a free-to-play shooter and, according to the provided context, has accumulated 30 seasons of content. With update 1.31, Bethesda and id Software are changing not just the price model, but also how the game is distributed and monetized. The move to a paid Steam product makes it a different commercial release from the earlier free-to-play version.

The available information indicates that Steam will be the only PC platform for the paid version, while the Microsoft Store release is being retired. Bethesda links the transition to an FAQ that also outlines the practical impact on existing purchases, including the refund for Platinum bought within 60 days before September 23 and the Steam copy for eligible Microsoft Store players.

The reporting also makes clear that existing cosmetic content is not being removed, but moved into the customization menu. That applies to Champions, weapon skins and costumes that were previously available through the removed currency and store structure. The official FAQ also notes that Platinum refunds may take 5 to 7 business days to process, further defining the transition to the new model.

The combination of a paid Steam release, the removal of the in-game economy and the end of the Microsoft Store version makes update 1.31 a clear repositioning of Quake Champions. Eurogamer describes the move as the end of the free-to-play era, while Bethesda’s official FAQ lays out the practical details of the transition.