In the gaming world, the Battle Pass is a type of monetization approach that provides additional content to the game, usually through a tiered system, which rewards the player with in-game items. It deals with specific challenges. Inspired by the subscription system that originated in Dota 2 in 2013, the Battle Pass model was used as an alternative to the subscription fees and chests that started in the late 2010s.
Battle card video games are used heavily in the gaming industry, and while they may vary in terms of how they work, the general premise and functionality of battle cards are fairly universal.
No matter what type of game you’re playing, there’s a high chance you’ve come across at least a few examples of battle cards in video games.
If you’ve ever wondered what video game battle cards are or even how they work in the games you want to play, we can help you here.
What are card battle video games, actually?
By definition, a video game battle card is a form of monetization used in many games, which are organized in a tiered system.
Battle cards in video games are usually the main incentive to play games, earn virtual money, advance in multiplayer, or overcome challenges.
Battle Passes come with two progression options:
- A free battle pass where you can progress through each level without having to spend any money.
- A paid Battle Pass is usually locked behind a subscription option that you have to pay to access it.
On the surface, video game battle cards are relatively simple, but a few key aspects can help you understand them.
How a battle works in a video game
As mentioned above, in a video game, the player may be provided with a Battle Pass for free or may be required to purchase it through microtransactions. Once obtained, the battle card offers the player a number of bonus levels; By gaining enough experience to complete such a level, the player earns specific rewards that are usually cosmetic in nature, such as options to customize the character’s appearance and weapon (also known as “skins”), emotes, and other items that they do not affect the game. More desirable rewards are provided at higher tiers, allowing players to showcase these unique customization options to other players.
Experience is gained through regular play, often through in-game challenges, while others offer a way to accelerate progression through the Battle Pass by relying on microtransactions. In games that offer both free and paid battle cards, the free card may have a very limited number of levels or offer less desirable rewards but will track the player’s progress through the paid card.
To advance through any of the specific Battle Pass tiers, the easiest way is usually to play the companion game and earn XP.
This XP is then added to your overall tier in the Battle Pass to help you unlock specific digital game content associated with each tier.
Another way to earn XP and unlock digital content is through the use of challenges.
These challenges will determine how much XP you will be awarded for completing their requirements. Then, just like completing matches or matches, this XP is positioned towards your progression through the Battle Card tier system, giving you unlockable digital content as you do so.
Battle Passes, and the rewards they contain are only available for a limited time, usually a few months, then you can get a new Seasonal Battle Pass with a new set of rewards. Most Battle Pass items cannot be obtained after the end of Season XNUMX. This limited availability fuels the psychological phenomenon of a player who is anxious not to miss out on something or FOMO. Knowing that some rewards will only be available for a limited time, they will be prompted to purchase and complete the Battle Pass to ensure they receive the limited-timed rewards, resulting in increased revenue for the game.
In general, once the digital content associated with the Battle Pass has been removed and replaced, you can sometimes purchase older Battle Pass items through in-game stores, although this is never guaranteed.
Overall, Battle Card video games are your primary motivation to keep playing the games they feature and work towards providing your sense of accomplishment and progress by unlocking exclusive and temporary digital content.
What types of games include battle cards?
Now that you know the basics of how battle cards work and what they are, you might be interested in what types of games they are most likely to include.
Above all, battle cards are commonly found in various forms of free games. Titles like Smite, Fall Guys, and even Halo Infinite Multiplayer include battle card systems as their primary form of player progression.
Additionally, titles such as Apex Legends and Call of Duty: Warzone include battle cards due to the video game genre: Battle Royale. This is mostly due to what battle royale is really about and how highly applicable this type of game is to battle card monetization practices.
In particular, Fortnite, one of the most successful free-to-play battle royale-style games, sets the standard for battle cards in video games.
Get the most out of your card-based battle games.
You should now know everything you need to know about the basics of battle cards and can enjoy them for what they are.
When paired with the right type of game, Battle Passes can provide you with hundreds of hours of entertainment and exciting unlocks.
