Is Outriders Free To Play?

If you like shooters and RPGs, the upcoming release of Outriders is sure to excite you, but with so many free shooters and RPGs on the market, one question is likely on many a gamer's mind: is Outriders free to play? Short answer: no, but with a caveat.

The good news: the Outriders demo drops on Feb. 25, and it'll be free for players to try out. As for what's included in the demo, only time will tell. Since the game's main story takes around 25-30 hours to complete, it's clear that there will be a lot left out. So, while the final game itself comes at a cost, players can try it completely risk-free in a matter of days. After a series of release date delays, the demo drop can't come soon enough.

Even if the demo doesn't give you enough info about whether or not the game's worth a purchase, the developers have assured eager gamers that they'll get a full look at the game before its release. According to an FAQ on the official Outriders website, "We're not just trying to sell you the game on just promises — we're going to show you exactly what you're going to get."

Gamers are encouraged to check out official Square Enix broadcasts and Outriders' social media channels to get a feel for gameplay. Over time, the sneak peeks are becoming more revealing, so even if the demo is more limited than players hope, the opportunity to see gameplay elsewhere can fill in the gaps.

Outriders is available for pre-order now, but you'll have plenty of time to check out the demo before the official Apr. 1 release, so you can decide if it's worth the price of admission. Square Enix and People Can Fly have assured gamers that a one-time purchase is all they need to play Outriders. It is not, as the FAQ points out, operating on a "games-as-a-service" model.

Given that People Can Fly also worked on Fortnite and the Gears of War series in the past, all signs point to a successful release. If you've got a PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, or a PC that's up for the task, get ready to dive into Outriders.