Sometimes I regret ever accepting the battle pass as a concept. It's not like there was much of a choice about it—before I'd ever engaged with one myself they were already everywhere. It all happened so fast: After gaming's last big dust-up with loot boxes in 2017, it was like the entire industry collectively switched from one business model to another overnight. I never loved the idea of a cosmetics catalog fueled by FOMO and perpetual grind, but it did sound like the better alternative to following the loot box to its eventual casino-shaped conclusion.
With hindsight, it's clear the battle pass got…well, a pass, but that's starting to change. Two of 2024's biggest multiplayer hits have one thing in common: Helldivers 2 and Marvel Rivals sell battle passes that never expire.
