Pax Dei Is Here, And Its Subscription Plan Is a Fucking Flowchart. I Translated It For You.
You’ve got questions about server wipes and why you need a damn subscription to own a house. I’ve got the answers.
After what feels like an eternity in Early Access, the social sandbox MMO Pax Dei has finally hit its 1.0 release today, October 16th. The gates to Gallia are swinging open for everyone.
But with any new MMO launch comes a tidal wave of confusion. The monetization model alone looks like it was designed by a committee of accountants who hate fun.
I’ve waded through the press releases and FAQs to bring you the information you actually need. No marketing spin, no corporate euphemisms. Just the straight dope.
The Big Wipe (It Already Happened)
First, the important dates. The Founder head start on October 14th is over. Everyone is now piling in together.
More importantly, all Early Access progress is gone. Characters, plots, inventories, all of it was nuked on October 6th.
This was the final wipe, though. Once you start in 1.0, your progress is permanent. So go ahead and secure your ridiculously edgy character name without fear.
The Monetization Maze
Here’s where it gets complicated. The base game sets you back $29.99. For that, you get permanent access, two character slots, and a one-month trial of their "Premium Membership."
They’re very clear that a subscription is not required to play. You can access the entire game, all zones, quests, and dungeons, with just the base purchase.
But if you want to actually own a piece of land, you’re going to have to open your wallet. It’s a bold strategy. Let’s see if it pays off.
So, What Am I Actually Paying For?
This is the part that feels like a goddamn flowchart. "Premium Membership" is split into two parts: Premium Status and Plot Tokens.
Premium Status gives you the kind of boosts you'd expect: +50% XP and faster accumulation of "Grace," another in-game currency. That alone will run you $3.99 a month.
Plot Tokens are what you need to claim and maintain your land. You don't just buy a house; you pay digital rent. The subscription tiers bundle Premium Status with these tokens. One plot is $6.99 a month, two are $10.99, and a four-plot empire will cost you $18.99 a month.
It’s a system that makes the recent Game Pass price hikes look simple by comparison.
Can you still build without a subscription? Yes, but only on a plot owned by someone who is paying. You can be a digital freeloader on your friend's land, but you can’t put down your own roots.
The Fine Print
A few other things to keep in mind. The game is on Steam, Epic, and PC Game Pass. While everyone plays together, your purchase is locked to the platform you buy it on. Want it on Epic? Buy it again.
And for the love of God, don't expect to kick back with a controller. There is no controller support at launch. This is a mouse and keyboard affair, so get ready to hunch over your desk like a proper MMO gremlin.
What Happens Next?
Mainframe isn't pretending the game is finished. They're calling this 1.0, but have made it clear that development will continue. For Steam players who want to live on the bleeding edge, there's a Public Test Shard (PTS).
Here's the kicker: playing on the PTS isn't free. It will still use up a character slot and require you to spend your precious Plot Tokens. They claim it's to ensure "meaningful, reliable data," which sounds an awful lot like "we want you to pay to be our beta testers."
So there you have it. Pax Dei is out, with a beautiful world to explore and a monetization model cooked up in a boardroom. Whether the gameplay is good enough to justify it all will be the real test.