Here's the clutch moment!
Now!
Zoey Parker was chill about the gameplay and prospects.
Not just the project team—even Gus Harper himself wasn't sure!
She'd never seen Gus this shaky!
So, APEX is probably doomed.
But!
Not enough!
To kill any chance of profit, they had to nail the revenue model.
Let's talk the loss rebate system's rules.
Theoretically, APEX is free.
Gus personally sent invites to Titanfall players with unlock codes.
With Titanfall's 100%+ IndieVibe X2 attach rate, it's practically a free game.
But!
A game with zero revenue won't register in the system!
That bug's too obvious—the system's not dumb, it won't allow it.
So!
Zoey needed a revenue model.
One that's profitable in theory but flops in practice.
Tricky.
Zoey wanted everyone's ideas.
Gus spoke first: "For the revenue model, I suggest splitting it."
"APEX is a Titanfall spin-off, but it's standalone."
"We're over 100% on IndieVibe X2 purchases now, so Titanfall buyers play free."
"But over time, our share normalizes."
"Some players might want APEX without buying Titanfall."
"So, I propose a separate price for them—$98 or $108."
Gus glanced around the room.
Shane Rivera raised a hand: "Brother Harper, why not make it free for everyone if it's already free for some?"
"Wouldn't that pull more players, grow the base?"
Gus smiled, shook his head: "Makes sense, but no go."
Shane's on the art team, less than two years in gaming, so her thinking's green.
Her "free-for-all" pitch sounds nice, lowers the entry bar, screams "everyone's welcome."
But Gus knew!
Do that, and half the Titanfall buyers would lose it!
Players hate short-term betrayal!
I dropped $200 on a game, lived an epic story, trekked countless battles. At the end, the designer's NPC hands me an invite, saying, "You're a badass. Here's your ticket to the next fight."
Pure genius! What a vibe! Breaks the fourth wall!
I'm hyped, cheering, clapping for the devs' heart!
Then you say the invite's a joke, open to everyone, totally free?
Who wouldn't riot?
So, fully free's off the table.
Cue the backlash.
Gus thinks it through.
He's a designer and a player.
As a player, he'd hate this, so he won't do it.
Jamie York, a gaming vet, backed him: "Gus is right. Going all-free would gut our original players' trust."
"With our huge player base, alienating them would tank our rep."
Hiss—
Zoey frowned, muttering.
She loved Shane's idea.
All-free kills profits max.
But Gus was dead-set against it.
No way to force him now.
But!
If Gus is right—main game buyers play free, others pay—it risks her loss plan.
What now?
Zoey pondered, then decided: "Then let's lean into the story hard."
"APEX is free-to-play."
"Only for players who bought Titanfall and got an invite."
Cut out non-Titanfall buyers!
Want APEX? Buy Titanfall!
Set barriers to shrink the player pool!
This move!
Zoey was on fire.
Per the system's rules, even if someone buys Titanfall for APEX, the profit counts toward Titanfall!
Follow her plan, and APEX stays purely free!
I'm a genius!
Zoey mentally high-fived herself.
But it didn't match Gus's "grow the player base" goal.
He hesitated: "Uh…"
"Gus," Zoey cut him off: "You can't have it all."
"We can't chase art and keep the game's soul."
"And also chase max customers from a business angle."
"It's a clash, like you said with Godstrike."
"Reputation trumps short-term cash."
"Earn less."
Please, please don't blow up!!! Zoey screamed inside.
Gus opened his mouth, glanced at the team.
Everyone looked torn, then nodded.
Zoey's pitch was fire.
No counterargument.
If she's right, Titanfall + APEX's synergy maxes out!
Players feel immersed, connected!
Downside? It filters out casuals.
Weighing it.
Gus compromised. Titanfall's sales meant losing some casuals wasn't a dealbreaker.
He nodded: "Fine, Ms. Parker's art chase is legit. Let's make it epic, invite-only, free-to-play."
Yesssss!!!
Zoey nearly leaped from her chair!
But kept it cool, exhaling: "Good, settled."
"Now, back to it."
"This game cost $50M, not a charity project."
"So, where's our revenue?"
Zoey played the high road, like she cared about ROI.
Truth? Without the system's rules, she'd make APEX free, zero profit!
Just system requirements.
Everyone exchanged looks. Jamie said: "If it's free, in-app purchases are the only way."
"Sure, but what kind?" Luke Brent chewed his pen, thinking.
"Here, Nebula's the in-app purchase king."
Hellshot, free-to-play, all in-app, pulled $9B last year."
Hiss—
Hellshot's numbers shook Zoey!
In-app purchases are wild!
$9B a year! $750M a month!
And that's average!
Peak event months with lotteries? Easily $10B+!
Terrifying.
Zoey shut it down: "No, that model doesn't fit WindyPeak."
"We're about quality content, fair pricing, ethical profits."
"Nebula's lottery and pay-to-win make bank."
"But it trashes the game and their rep."
"Not worth it."
"That's not your vibe, right, Director Harper?"
Zoey eyed Gus.
Seeing her serious face, Gus grinned, relieved.
This is why he digs his boss Zoey and WindyPeak.
Gaming's a business, profit's the endgame.
But Gus won't chase just cash.
Not Nebula, not sellout Blizzard, not shady Vivendi.
Else, the system wouldn't have picked him.
He's a bard from another world.
Bringing epic games, harvesting players' cheers in this one.
Now, the bard's got a Valkyrie and a crew passionate about games.
He loves Zoey, loves the journey's laughter more.
"I'm with Ms. Parker," Gus shot Zoey an approving look.
"Everyone agree?"
Heads nodded, no hesitation.
Sounds cheesy, but Nebula-style pay-to-win felt like defiling their game.
No Nebula krypton, then what for in-app purchases?
Everyone frowned, deep in thought.
Max Wheeler, new to the meeting, raised a hand: "Director Harper, I've got a rough idea."
Gus raised a brow, nodded: "Spit it out. We're here to polish rough ideas. Go bold."
"Thanks, Director. First meeting, bit nervous," Max grinned.
Gus's charm was unreal.
A few words, and he'd lighten the room, pull people to his side.
Max gathered his thoughts: "Players hate Nebula's pay-to-win because of item stats."
"Faster flashes, better smoke vision, stronger bullet penetration, even direct weapon damage boosts."
"It's not selling guns—it's selling power."
"It's a race to the bottom, forcing you to pay to not suck."
Max nailed it.
In a few words, he summed up most in-app purchase games: force pay, cheat pay.
"Players don't hate in-app purchases, just stat sales," Max said.
"So…"
He paused, glanced nervously at Gus.
Gus smiled, nodding. Max took a breath, steadied: "We don't sell stats—just slick gun skins and outfits."
Max's wheelhouse!
He caught WindyPeak's eye—Gus's too—with his top-tier Left 4 Dead mod!
Now!
Max was back in his zone!
Hiss—
Everyone but Gus gasped!
Skins only, no stat boosts!!!
This bold in-app purchase idea worried the room!
Sure!
Max ruled the Left 4 Dead mod scene, tons of fans, topping subscription lists.
But!
Mods are free!
His in-app purchase pitch? Costs cash!
Players paying for skins with zero stat buffs, just looks?
Who's buying that?
Everyone knows!
Players roast Nebula's pay-to-win, forced spending.
But that's why Hellshot players drop cash—to stay competitive.
At least grab smoke goggles or a meta gun!
Otherwise, you're toast.
It's curse-while-paying.
But!
Max's idea flips tradition!
Spend or not, WindyPeak guarantees a fair fight.
Skill rules!
Cash just turns you from a plain loser to a stylish one!
This…
Hesitant murmurs filled the room.
No doubt, it'd win player love.
"Ethical studio" would be WindyPeak's crown!
But!
If spending's optional with no perks, why pay?
Amid the doubt!
Two faces lit up, eyes gleaming!
Gus Harper.
He saw Max's potential, this 'regular' genius!
Max used his mod chops and market sense to craft a fresh, ethical, free-to-play model balancing fame and fortune!
Sure!
In Gus's old world, not a shock.
But here? A game-changer for free-to-play in-app purchases!
As bold as "second-gen FPS" in shooters!
Worth pulling into WindyPeak for this moment!
Gus was hyped, eyes full of approval!
And with the same glowing eyes and wild grin?
Zoey Parker!