Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Pokemon Winds and Waves
  • New Games for 2026
  • Submit your game clips
  • GDC
Don't miss these
Long-haired man aims drawn bow toward deer standing at a distance in a foggy forest
FPS Games Overwatch co-creator says free-to-play games require "2 thousand devs cranking out f***ing keychains like a sweatshop"
Team Fortress 2 screenshot of the Heavy shouting
Games Valve says loot boxes are like "Pokemon, Magic the Gathering, and Labubu" as it pushes back against New York lawsuit
Peter Griffin from Family Guy in Fortnite
Fortnite Epic Games Store GM says Valve's Team Fortress hats "definitely inspired" new Fortnite crossovers
Arc raiders cold snap
Third Person Shooters Arc Raiders devs were inspired by Helldivers 2 when they shifted from free-to-play to a $40 game
Counter-Strike 2 release trailer screenshot showing an old-style white desktop PC running the Counter-Strike menu atop a wooden desk
FPS Games Valve hit with new lawsuit over Steam market, with claims loot boxes "satisfy every element" of gambling by definition
Best free Steam games - Doom Eternal image showing a large armored enemy with a gun for an arm
Action Games 25 Best free Steam games you can play in 2026
Team Fortress 2 soldier holding two grenades
Action Games 25 Best free PC games to play in 2026
An older bearded man in a cap stood in front of computer equipment in Half-Life Alyx
PC Gaming What to expect from Valve in 2026: the return of the Steam Machine, a new VR headset, and more Half-Life 3 rumors
Counter Strike 2 screenshot on PC showing gunfight
Games Valve sued over loot boxes as state of New York demands "full restitution" for players
Ciri in The Witcher 3
Games "Steam is winning with its ease of use" but not on quality, says new GOG owner pondering how to "take the market" from Valve
Deadlock Mina
MOBA Valve MOBA Deadlock gets perhaps its biggest update yet with 6 new characters, another mode, revamped postgame and more
Steam logo from Valve
Games Valves faces $900 million lawsuit, accused of abusing its dominance in PC gaming, as UK court says the case can proceed
Team Fortress 2 Scout in a hat and headset smiling
Games PC gamers and Steam customers are "a really bright spot" as the games industry struggles with prices, analyst says
FPS Games Overwatch was originally called "Monetized Shooter" because you had to buy each of its heroes
Gabe Newell photo
Games A clip of Valve's Gabe Newell nailing the piracy issue is making the rounds online and only feels more relevant today
  1. Games

Valve developing free-to-play game, DOTA 2 suspected

News
By Matt Bradford published 21 June 2011

PR head Doug Lombardi confirms F2P title in studio's future

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Valve is reportedly eyeing its own piece of the free-to-play (F2P) pie. In an interview with French game gaming siteBarre De Vie(Life Bar), the studio's PR boss Doug Lombardi reflected on the state of microtransactional gaming, and responded with a vague “Yes” when asked point blank if Valve was planning to join the F2P party in an official capacity.

“In some regions of the world, F2P games are already more [popular] than the traditional games,” said Lombardi in the translated quote, continuing,“This trend continues for some time and we believe that it will continue. There are still other F2P [features] to come in steam with use of micro-transactions.”

Valve paved the way for F2P transactions on its Steam online digital distribution service last September when itintroduced the Steam Wallet. Last week, Valve introducedfiveF2P titlesof note, including Global Agenda and Champions Online, to its Steam catalogue, so it's only natural the studio would be seeking a use for it beyond buying funny hats or incremental additions to existing retail games. Lombardi offered no further details about what Valve’s upcoming F2P title will be. However, Valve may have already tipped its hand last October when it announced it wasworking on a sequelto the popular Warcraft III mod Defense of the Ancients, for release on PCs and Macs sometime in 2011.

DOTA 2 seems as good a project as any to go F2P, no? In a recent interview with Develop Online, Valve’s Gabe Newell also floated the idea of rewarding players who are well-liked in the Team Fortress 2 community with afree copy of DOTA 2.

You may like
  • Long-haired man aims drawn bow toward deer standing at a distance in a foggy forest Overwatch co-creator says free-to-play games require "2 thousand devs cranking out f***ing keychains like a sweatshop"
  • Team Fortress 2 screenshot of the Heavy shouting Valve says loot boxes are like "Pokemon, Magic the Gathering, and Labubu" as it pushes back against New York lawsuit
  • Peter Griffin from Family Guy in Fortnite Epic Games Store GM says Valve's Team Fortress hats "definitely inspired" new Fortnite crossovers

Jun 20, 2011

[Source:Barre De VieviaEurogamer]



Valve launches the Steam Wallet
...so they can hold on to the money that was in your wallet

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.




Valve announces DotA 2, plans to give it the Team Fortress 2 treatment
First official sequel to Defense of the Ancients announced

“In some regions of the world, F2P games are already more [popular] than the traditional games,” said Lombardi in the translated quote, continuing,“This trend continues for some time and we believe that it will continue. There are still other F2P [features] to come in steam with use of micro-transactions.”

You may like
  • Long-haired man aims drawn bow toward deer standing at a distance in a foggy forest Overwatch co-creator says free-to-play games require "2 thousand devs cranking out f***ing keychains like a sweatshop"
  • Team Fortress 2 screenshot of the Heavy shouting Valve says loot boxes are like "Pokemon, Magic the Gathering, and Labubu" as it pushes back against New York lawsuit
  • Peter Griffin from Family Guy in Fortnite Epic Games Store GM says Valve's Team Fortress hats "definitely inspired" new Fortnite crossovers

Valve paved the way for F2P transactions on its Steam online digital distribution service last September when itintroduced the Steam Wallet. Last week, Valve introducedfiveF2P titlesof note, including Global Agenda and Champions Online, to its Steam catalogue, so it's only natural the studio would be seeking a use for it beyond buying funny hats or incremental additions to existing retail games. Lombardi offered no further details about what Valve’s upcoming F2P title will be. However, Valve may have already tipped its hand last October when it announced it wasworking on a sequelto the popular Warcraft III mod Defense of the Ancients, for release on PCs and Macs sometime in 2011.

DOTA 2 seems as good a project as any to go F2P, no? In a recent interview with Develop Online, Valve’s Gabe Newell also floated the idea of rewarding players who are well-liked in the Team Fortress 2 community with afree copy of DOTA 2.

Jun 20, 2011

[Source:Barre De VieviaEurogamer]



Valve launches the Steam Wallet
...so they can hold on to the money that was in your wallet




Valve announces DotA 2, plans to give it the Team Fortress 2 treatment
First official sequel to Defense of the Ancients announced

Matt Bradford
Social Links Navigation

Matt Bradford wrote news and features here at GamesRadar+ until 2016. Since then he's gone on to work with the Guinness World Records, acting as writer and researcher for the annual Gamer's Edition series of books, and has worked as an editor, technical writer, and voice actor. Matt is now a freelance journalist and editor, generating copy across a multitude of industries. 

Read more
Long-haired man aims drawn bow toward deer standing at a distance in a foggy forest
FPS Games Overwatch co-creator says free-to-play games require "2 thousand devs cranking out f***ing keychains like a sweatshop"
 
 
Team Fortress 2 screenshot of the Heavy shouting
Games Valve says loot boxes are like "Pokemon, Magic the Gathering, and Labubu" as it pushes back against New York lawsuit
 
 
Peter Griffin from Family Guy in Fortnite
Fortnite Epic Games Store GM says Valve's Team Fortress hats "definitely inspired" new Fortnite crossovers
 
 
Arc raiders cold snap
Third Person Shooters Arc Raiders devs were inspired by Helldivers 2 when they shifted from free-to-play to a $40 game
 
 
Counter-Strike 2 release trailer screenshot showing an old-style white desktop PC running the Counter-Strike menu atop a wooden desk
FPS Games Valve hit with new lawsuit over Steam market, with claims loot boxes "satisfy every element" of gambling by definition
 
 
Best free Steam games - Doom Eternal image showing a large armored enemy with a gun for an arm
Action Games 25 Best free Steam games you can play in 2026
 
 
Latest in Games
Starfield screenshot showing the new Anchor Point location
RPGs How your feedback helped shape Starfield's biggest updates: "We're always checking in," says Bethesda
 
 
Palworld
Survival Games "We have no desire to be a media empire," says Palworld publishing head but Pocketpair would be stupid to let it die out
 
 
Protagonist Jordan in a screenshot from the reveal trailer for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
The Last of Us Neil Druckmann's teasing the return of a The Last of Us actor in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
 
 
A screenshot of the Adoring Fan seen in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered.
The Elder Scrolls Todd Howard says Oblivion leaks didn't help Bethesda or players: "Everyone is gonna have a different version"
 
 
Slay the Spire 2
Roguelike Games Slay the Spire 2 devs respond to the flurry of negative Steam reviews: "No change is necessarily permanent"
 
 
Crimson Desert
Open World Games "My dream game": After 7 hours, Palworld publishing lead delivers his Crimson Desert verdict: "This game is made for me"
 
 
Latest in News
Palworld
Survival Games "We have no desire to be a media empire," says Palworld publishing head but Pocketpair would be stupid to let it die out
 
 
Protagonist Jordan in a screenshot from the reveal trailer for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
The Last of Us Neil Druckmann's teasing the return of a The Last of Us actor in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
 
 
A screenshot of the Adoring Fan seen in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered.
The Elder Scrolls Todd Howard says Oblivion leaks didn't help Bethesda or players: "Everyone is gonna have a different version"
 
 
Slay the Spire 2
Roguelike Games Slay the Spire 2 devs respond to the flurry of negative Steam reviews: "No change is necessarily permanent"
 
 
Crimson Desert
Open World Games "My dream game": After 7 hours, Palworld publishing lead delivers his Crimson Desert verdict: "This game is made for me"
 
 
Zoomed-in, cropped box art for Pokemon FireRed shows Charizard roaring.
Pokemon "The biggest time save in nearly a decade of Pokemon speedrunning" has been discovered in FireRed
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Ella Purnell as Lucy in Fallout season 2
    1
    Fallout season 3 will incorporate "a few things from the game that we've wanted to do since season one," says showrunner Geneva Robertson-Dworet
  2. 2
    Daredevil: Born Again season 2 release schedule: when is episode 1 on Disney Plus?
  3. 3
    "We try to lean in on the things where our idea of what Starfield should be aligns with the feedback that's coming in from folks who get the game": How community feedback helped Bethesda shape Starfield's biggest updates
  4. 4
    Baldur's Gate 3 Shadowheart writer had to sit down with his Lae'zel counterpart to make sure that their joint romance would actually make sense: "That allowed us to reframe their initial clash"
  5. 5
    Project Hail Mary has convinced me to start getting excited for Star Wars: Starfighter

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...