Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Knockout City parts ways with EA and goes free-to-play

Velan Studios unveiled season 5 of Knockout City today. Alongside that announcement, the developer also confirmed that it will take over publishing duties from EA and that Knockout City will go free-to-play with Season 6.

Knockout City season 5, which begins on March 1 and is titled Greatest Hits, is supposed to serve as a celebration of the first year of the game. While it won’t add a new Brawl Pass, map, or ball, it will bring back Basketbrawl, Chain Reaction, and Superpowers! While Season 5 will be fairly low-key for Knockout City, some drastic changes are in store with Season 6.

Knockout City: Greatest Hits Season 5 Reveal Trailer

When season 6 starts on June 1, 2022, the game will go free-to-play. Previously, Knockout City only had a free trial and required players to purchase the game after they hit level 25. It is also part of EA Play and was previously a PlayStation Plus title, but Velan Studios is now simplifying its availability and making it free-to-play to anyone across all platforms. Anyone who bought the game before this transition will get a season 6 loyalty bundle that includes exclusive cosmetics, 2,000 Holobux, and XP boosts. 

Recommended Videos

As part of this transition, Velan will take over publishing duties from Electronic Arts. Previously, Knockout City was part of its EA Originals program. Once this transition is complete, all major decisions and the future of Knockout City are solely in the indie developer’s hands. 

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Knockout City is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch, though players might want to wait until June 1, 2022, to try it. 

Tomas Franzese
As a Gaming Staff Writer at Digital Trends, Tomas Franzese reports on and reviews the latest releases and exciting…
Knockout City Season 7: Mutant Mutiny stars Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The teenage mutant ninja turtles in knockout city holding dodgeballs.

Season 7 of the free-to-play dodgeball game Knockout City is mutant-themed, and it will cross over with some of the most famous mutants around: the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In addition to earnable in-game cosmetics, players can buy the TMNT Bundle for $20 to get outfits and posses based on Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello.

Season 7 of Knockout City introduces four new characters called the "Mutant Crew," including the four mutates Neon, Susan, Ratfink, and Goober. These series originals are joined by Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo of TMNT fame. The new season of the game also comes packed with a Knockout City x TMNT crossover event, a new Premium Brawl Pass featuring TMNT unlockables, more Hideout customization, a new map, and more to be shared on the Season 7 road map.

Read more
If you slept on Knockout City, don’t skip its free relaunch
An Among Us imposter shoots a volleyball at a player in Knockout City.

When Knockout City launched last May, it had all the makings of an instant hit. Published by EA, the multiplayer dodgeball game was a creative mix between a shooter and competitive sports title. With positive buzz from critics and content creators alike, it seemed like it could become a popular, kid-friendly hit. There was just one problem: You had to buy it.

That may not sound like a big deal, but the age of free-to-play has shifted the way gamers think about multiplayer. With so many quality titles to choose from that cost $0, it's not easy to get players to spend a dime. An initial Xbox Game Pass launch helped the game build initial buzz, but it didn’t quite shake up the multiplayer scene in the way that it could have despite getting over 10 million downloads in its first year.

Read more
New World is free to play this weekend. Here’s how to play
Two players fighting in New World.

Anyone who's been thinking about sinking tens of hundreds of hours into Amazon's MMO, New World, can give the game a test drive starting today on Steam. Amazon Game Studios is hosting a free weekend for New World, letting players try the game out for a limited time and keep their progress if they decide to buy in.

New World's Steam free weekend started today at 10 a.m. PT and will continue through April 11 at 10 a.m. PT. According to a FAQ for the game's Steam free weekend, players won't be limited in the content they can access. The entirety of New World will be available over the course of the next five days to anyone who wants to see what it's all about via Steam. Players that pick up the game during this time period will also carry all of the progress they make over if they decide to purchase it after the free weekend ends.

Read more