# Monetization

## The Problem

- Selling for **$5** reduces hacking/smurfing (small barrier to entry)
- But limits long-term revenue after launch

---

## Monetization Options

### Option A — Buy to Play + Cosmetics (Recommended)
- **$5 upfront** on Steam (barrier against hackers/smurfs)
- Free cosmetic battle pass each season (optional paid tier)
- Cosmetic shop: ship skins, thruster trails, kill effects, UI themes
- No pay-to-win — all gameplay items are free

### Option B — Free to Play + Cosmetics
- Lower barrier to entry = more players = better matchmaking
- Revenue comes 100% from cosmetic shop and battle pass
- Risk: harder to combat hackers/smurfs without a price barrier
- Mitigation: phone verification or Steam account age requirement

### Option C — Buy to Play + Expansions
- $5 base game
- Future paid DLC: new races, new map packs
- Risk: splits playerbase

---

## Recommendation

**Option A** is the safest starting point:
- $5 keeps bad actors out
- Cosmetics fund ongoing development
- No pay-to-win preserves competitive integrity
- Can always go F2P later if playerbase needs a boost

---

## Anti-Cheat / Anti-Smurf Notes

- $5 price is a soft deterrent, not a hard one
- Consider VAC (Steam's anti-cheat) integration via Godot Steam plugin
- Phone verification for ranked queue is another option (like Valorant)
