‘Squid Game: Unleashed’ will be free-to-play for limited time

Netflix’s Squid Game: Unleashed will be free-to-play for a limited time when it launches tomorrow (December 17).

• READ MORE: ‘Squid Game’ review: child’s play turns deadly in a cutting critique of late-stage capitalism

Currently, all Netflix games are free-to-play for subscribers only but Squid Game: Unleashed will be available for everyone.

The mobile “party royale” game is released tomorrow ahead of the second season of Squid Game, which premieres December 26. Like other Netflix games, Squid Game: Unleashed will not have in-game purchases or ads.

“Like the hit dystopian thriller series it’s named after, Squid Game: Unleashed takes classic children’s games and puts a dark spin on them,” say Netflix, who describe Unleashed as the “definitive” Squid Game game. “Team up with friends or compete against up to 32 players for the ultimate prize: survival. You’ll earn money along the way to customize your avatar and advance through tougher and tougher challenges as you make your way up the tournament ranks.”

Speaking about the decision to make Squid Game: Unleashed free for all, president of Netflix Games Alain Tascan said: “Squid Game is Netflix’s most watched series ever, and we want everyone around the world to be able to take part in its return by making Unleashed available to everyone, which is a first for Netflix Games.

“Squid Game: Unleashed is all about playing with (or against) your friends in the iconic games from the series like Glass Bridge and Red Light Green Light, so we’re inviting everyone into the chaos this holiday season.”

The free-to-play window for Unleashed is set to last at least until the second season of Squid Game airs. Originally released in 2021, Squid Game quickly became the streamer’s most-viewed show. Season two sees Player 456 (Lee Jung-jae) return to the battle royale to try and put a stop to the blood sports.

Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk recently confirmed his motivation for making a second season was the money. “Even though the first series was such a huge global success, honestly I didn’t make much,” he added. “So doing the second series will help compensate me for the success of the first one too. And I didn’t fully finish the story.” A Squid Game crossover with Call Of Duty is also planned for next year.

In other news, Black Myth: Wukong director Feng Ji isn’t happy that Astro Bot won Game Of The Year at the 2024 Game Awards.

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