Once Human is the least pay to win game from NetEase

NetEase Games is a video game developer and publisher notorious for its predatory monetization practices. As a result, the current absence of pay-to-win or pay-for-convenience microtransactions in Once Human is surprising to many players. This is not only rare for the publisher but also an outlier in the broader market of free-to-play live service games. However, what truly sets it apart is that it might even have one of the best microtransaction models in the industry—and that’s no exaggeration.

While this approach deserves praise, it’s wise to remain cautious about Once Human's monetization policies. The game has only been out for a little over a month, and things could change drastically over time. That said, the developer, Starry Studio, has so far earned the players' trust by demonstrating a commitment to keeping the game fair.

Disclaimer: This article is subjective and solely reflects the author's opinions.

How did Once Human set a new standard for monetization models in free-to-play live service games?

The only pay-for-convenience item in Once Human is the Upgraded Campsite (Image via Starry Studio)

As a free-to-play game, Once Human inevitably includes some form of in-game monetization to cover the ongoing costs of running the game. It has familiar elements like the Cash Shop, Premium Battle Pass, and even a paid subscription called Meta Pass.

From an outside perspective, it might not seem much different from other games in the market. Few, if any, titles avoid predatory monetization practices, luring in players with many tempting avenues to spend real money within the game.

While pay-to-win exists on a spectrum—ranging from games where you can outright purchase the best gear to those offering items that provide various benefits—it's widely agreed that cosmetic items are the least harmful form of monetization, provided there are still ways to look cool without purchasing them. Once Human embraces this philosophy by adopting a cosmetic-only monetization model.

Every item in the Once Human Cash Shop is purely cosmetic (Image via Starry Studio)

In Once Human, every item in the Shop is cosmetic, including hairstyles, outfits, weapon skins, charms, and skins for facilities and materials. While you can acquire some of these during your gameplay, those available in the Shop are undeniably more grandiose and appealing. That said, even without these purchases, you can still don cool outfits and build an impressive base.

The Premium Battle Pass in Once Human (Image via Starry Studio)

Next is the Premium Battle Pass."Premium" in this context simply means purchasing the upgraded version of the Battle Pass, which is fairly standard in MMOs. However, what sets Once Human apart is that every single item in the Premium Battle Pass is purely cosmetic.

The Basic Battle Pass, available to all players, includes some items and currencies, that can be earned by simply playing the game and leveling up the Battle Pass. The Premium Battle version, on the other hand, is entirely focused on cosmetics and doesn’t include any items or currencies.

The Once Human Meta Pass does offer some pay-for-convenience features, but they are inconsequential to the game (Image via Starry Studio)

Lastly, there's the Meta Pass subscription, which offers five perks—four of which are either purely cosmetic or provide benefits in the Once Human Eternaland. These benefits fall under pay-for-convenience.

However, Eternaland is not part of the main game—it's a separate mode, akin to Creative mode in Minecraft, without any gameplay activities beyond crafting. Therefore, these benefits are so niche and inconsequential that they hardly matter.

One item in the Meta Pass that does stand out is the Upgraded Camsite/Tent. A tent allows you to craft basic amenities and serves as a save point when you die while exploring the map. The Upgraded Campsite, besides having a cosmetic upgrade, also allows you to disassemble items on the go. This feature undeniably adds a pay-for-convenience element.

However, a Disassembly Bench is one of the first items you can make in the game, and you can teleport to your base from anywhere on the map with just a 10-minute cooldown. Furthermore, exploring the map is quite easy, and you rarely use a tent after the early game.

So, the Meta Pass does a poor job of enticing you to purchase it due to its relatively inconsequential offerings. That said, it slightly compromises the otherwise clean monetization model that Once Human appears to be promoting.

Overall, this monetization model is arguably the best in the free-to-play market. The only other game that even remotely comes close is Path of Exile. Even there, you can purchase stash tabs—a feature that becomes almost mandatory for regular players. However, there's nothing of that sort in Once Human, making it the new standard for fair monetization practices.

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Edited by Abhipsito Das