This Among Us-Style Game Just Became Free-to-Play for Everyone

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As a dedicated gamer, I’ve been hooked on games like Among Us and its spin-offs such as Among Us 3D. These pioneering titles have undeniably set the stage for the social deduction genre in gaming. Yet, it’s not just these games that are exploring this intriguing concept – titles like Lockdown Protocol and Deceive Inc. are also making a splash, while even big-name brands have joined the bandwagon with games like The Walking Dead: Betrayal and Death Note Killer Within. Even board games like Dune: Bettrayal have jumped on this trend. However, not all of these new entries have been equally successful in the rapidly growing genre.

In an attempt to rejuvenate its player base and attract even more gamers, one developer has announced that their social deduction game will now be completely free-to-play starting today!

In a video labeled “Community and Future Focus,” the creators of the social deduction game, Castle of Blackwater, expressed their disappointment that the game was not attracting as many players as they’d hoped, given the effort they invested in crafting an outstanding gaming experience.

Launched on Steam in March at $6.99, the game Castle of Blackwater reached a maximum of 69 simultaneous players, as indicated by the external site SteamDB. Despite being reduced by half during the Steam Summer Sale, it didn’t draw a substantial number of players. A change in pricing strategy might result in a larger player base given the lowered entry cost.

Jojo from the Castle of Blackwater team mentioned in their update video that we weren’t attracting enough players to maintain a balanced matchmaking system. We hoped the Summer Sale on Steam would help, but even when the game was discounted by half, it didn’t seem to encourage many visitors to purchase.

In a recent post on Steam’s community forum, the game developers elaborated on the implications of transitioning to a free-to-play model for the game. Those who have already bought the game will receive an unique and unrepeatable “mythical cosmetic” as a special thank you. Current players will also keep the entire set of 21 starting cosmetics, while newcomers will gradually get them instead, at a slower pace.

The creators plan to shift their focus towards producing optional decorative items for players to purchase, which will help support the game’s continued development, now that it’s moving towards a free-to-play model. The exact transition timeline hasn’t been shared yet, so keep an eye on the Steam page for updates as they become available, to see when the game will start offering free access.

Making our game free-to-play marks a significant change. This allows us to expand our player community, fill game rooms quicker, and create a long-term strategy that relies on optional cosmetics instead of an initial purchase price. However, it won’t be a walk in the park – it requires more moderation, additional content, and increased technical work. But we’re prepared for the challenge and dedicated to ensuring its success.

The popular 2018 social deduction game, Among Us, which inspired Castle of Blackwater, can be bought on certain platforms but is free to download for mobile users. At its initial release, it received minimal attention, averaging between 30 to 50 simultaneous players. However, the game saw a significant increase in popularity during early 2020, particularly during the COVID-19 lockdown period, proving that social deduction games have a market when factors align appropriately. Although its player base has significantly decreased since then, Among Us still consistently draws several thousand concurrent players on Steam, with even more on various other platforms.

It’s yet to be determined if switching to a free-to-play model will bring in more players and support future updates for the game “Castle of Blackwater.” The game distinguishes itself from competitors like “Among Us” by incorporating magical abilities, such as mind-reading and werewolf transformations, to infuse the social deduction genre with a touch of fantasy. Since it’s now free to download, there’s no harm in giving it a try to find out if its blend of gameplay modes and features can keep you and your friends engaged.

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2025-07-24 04:10