"Indie Game Defies Norms, Ditches Monetization for Success on Steam"

Indie game developer Shiny Shoe is removing all in-game monetization from its Steam Early Access game Inkbound, citing a shift in industry and player sentiment. The game's battle pass and in-game currency shop will be removed, with cosmetic content still available in-game and earned through gameplay. Existing purchased currency will be converted into earnable currency, and players will receive double the value of their purchased currency as a refund. The decision goes against the trend of major AAA games that heavily rely on in-game monetization. Inkbound, which has received positive reviews, is not a free game and will see a small price increase in the future.