Battle pass

A battle pass is a ladder of rewards attached to a limited period, usually called a season. As you play, you earn experience that moves you up the tiers, and each tier unlocks something: outfits, emotes, weapon designs, in-game currency. Most battle passes have a free track that anyone can progress, plus a premium track that costs money and contains more, and usually more desirable, rewards.

When the season ends, the pass closes. Rewards you did not reach are typically gone, and a new pass begins.

How the model spread

The idea is usually traced to Valve’s Dota 2, which sold a “Compendium” linked to its 2013 championship, The International, giving buyers extra in-game content. The model became mainstream through Epic Games’ Fortnite Battle Royale, whose Battle Pass drew enormous attention in 2018. Since then it has been adopted by a large number of free-to-play and paid games alike.

Why players like it – and the pressure it creates

Unlike a loot box, a battle pass shows exactly what you can earn, which many players see as fairer. Buying it once can feel good value if you play regularly. The catch is time pressure. Because rewards expire, a pass encourages regular play to “finish the pass” before the deadline, and many games sell tier skips for players who fall behind. This is one reason a battle pass can feel more like an obligation than a treat.

PEGI’s updated age rating criteria, applied to games submitted from June 2026, now consider features like time-limited offers and mechanics that reward or pressure players to return, setting minimum ratings for them.

Questions for families

Before buying a pass, ask how much the child actually plays: an unfinished pass is money spent on rewards never received. Agree in advance whether tier skips are allowed. Console and account parental controls can set monthly spending limits that apply to passes and skips alike.