Do You Really Have to Buy a Battle Pass Every Season? A Veteran Gamer‘s Perspective

As an avid gamer and content creator who has unlocked hundreds of battle pass rewards across games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty, one question I get asked constantly is:

"Do you have to buy every single season‘s battle pass?"

It‘s understandable why there‘s confusion. These multiplayer titles drop new battle passes like clockwork every 2-3 months. Let me start by defining exactly what a battle pass is, then walk through the key considerations on whether purchasing a pass every season is necessary or not. Buckle up, we‘ve got lot of ground to cover!

Battle Pass 101 – A Recurring Battle for Cosmetics

A battle pass is a monetization system where developers create time-limited challenges and exclusive cosmetic rewards that reset every "season." Most passes last around 12 weeks and have both a free track and a paid premium track.

Here‘s an example from Apex Legends‘ current Season 16 battle pass:

Only about 15% of players complete the full 100 premium levels per season. This means purchasing the pass doesn‘t guarantee you‘ll unlock all the exclusive skins and items before the next season resets progress.

Do You Have to Buy Every Season Though?

The short answer is no – while new skins and challenges refresh each season, purchasing the premium battle pass is completely optional based on your personal preferences.

However, there are some good reasons why you may want to buy certain passes:

It Can Save You Money on Skins

Let‘s analyze the value in Apex Legends. 24 exclusive legendary skins in the Season 16 battle pass would normally cost over $200 in direct purchases from the item shop! Instead, you spend $10 to unlock them through gameplay. If you play consistently enough to complete the full battle pass, it‘s an incredible deal.

You Can Earn Currency for the Next Season

Most battle passes award in-game currency as you progress through levels. In Fortnite for example:

Battle Pass Cost: 950 V-Bucks (~$9.50)  
V-Bucks Earned from Challenges: Up to 1,500

You essentially recoup the cost AND can stockpile V-Bucks for future passes. Of course this requires grinding out challenges and play time.

According to Epic Games, only 27% of players fully complete their battle pass. The rest likely don‘t unlock enough V-Bucks to self-fund future passes.

It Depends How Much You Play

Based on the statistics above, your play time impacts battle pass value a lot. Let‘s break it down:

If You Play Several Hours Most Days

• Complete challenges quickly to unlock all skins
• Earn enough currency for 1-2 future passes
• High engagement makes the ~$10 pricing very cost efficient

If You Play More Casually

• Unlikely to complete the full 100 levels per pass
• Won‘t recoup enough currency to self-fund future passes
• The $10 cost per season may not seem justifiable

Tips from a Seasoned Gamer

While you absolutely don‘t have to purchase every single battle pass, I hope analyzing the potential value and engagement considerations above helps inform smarter decisions!

Here is my advice as an avid gamer:

Preview Rewards Before Buying

Every developer lets you see all skins and items before purchasing a pass. Figure out if that season‘s cosmetics excite you enough to grind challenges. Skip purchasing if you feel lukewarm.

Take Break Seasons

Consider buying 2-3 consecutive battle passes if they have awesome themes and skins that appeal to you, then take a season off to avoid burnout and overspending.

Don‘t Stress Completion

Unless you‘ll play enough hours to hit level 100, buying a pass is more about the journey of unlocking some neat cosmetics through challenges, not obtaining everything.

At the end of the day battle passes are about enhancing enjoyment of the games we love. I hope this comprehensive guide empowers you to make the best personal decisions each season! Let me know if you have any other gaming questions.

Sources

• Respawn Apex Legends Battle Pass Stats
• Epic Games Fortnite reddit AMA Recap