We have already covered the promise of no monetisation during Early Access. In an interview with Insider Gaming the studio explained the other half of it — what happens after Early Access. Without diplomacy.
What was said
Two people spoke: Mark Pinney, senior game director and CFO, and Joe Brammer, executive producer and CEO of BULKHEAD.
- During Early Access the game is not monetised beyond base sales and the Supporter edition. No ambitious roadmaps with bold promises either — on purpose.
- At 1.0 monetisation starts and the base price goes up, to reflect the added maps, modes and weapons.
- Early buyers pay nothing extra. Everything added stays available at the price they already paid.
Lines worth reading verbatim
"We're a business that needs to make money… I think the game comes first."
"We have kids to feed… otherwise, you cannot have good performing, nice shooters."
And the line that explains their whole communication style: "We said 'Don't buy the game.'" That is not a pose — it points at their own video listing ten reasons not to.
What it means in practice
Earlier means cheaper, permanently. The Early Access price is not a few-day discount but a lower step you never fall off. And "no purchases" holds exactly as long as the game stays in EA — one to two years.
What exactly gets monetised at 1.0 — cosmetics, a battle pass or something else — the studio did not say. We are not guessing: when they say it, this page gets updated.