After multiple global beta tests, the free-to-play 3D action RPG Duet Night Abyss is finally set to launch on October 28, 2025, for PC and mobile platforms. But despite the release being right around the corner, China-based developer Pan Studio has suddenly announced a massive change in the game’s primary monetization model – Duet Night Abyss will no longer include character or weapon gacha, meaning players will be able to obtain every single character and weapon in-game for free.
To find out more about why this decision was made, AUTOMATON talked to producer Deca Bear.
—Just to confirm, Duet Night Abyss’ now abolished gacha system was its core business model, right?
Deca Bear:
Yes, in past versions of the game, our monetization model was built around character gacha. We had already introduced some optimizations to ease the burden on players, for example, by making it so that your first pull on a featured banner couldn’t miss and adding ways to obtain weapons for free through the Secret Letter system. We also introduced cosmetic content as a secondary paid element, creating a hybrid model of “gacha plus cosmetics.” This is the version that we tested in the second closed beta.
—So at that point, the business model was already solidified.
Deca Bear:
That’s right. But for the launch version, we’ve scrapped both the character and weapon gacha, and even removed the stamina (Sanergy) system. All characters will be free to obtain, and new characters will, in principle, be permanent.
— …???
Deca Bear:
(laughs) That means players won’t need to worry about spending money just to get characters. As for collecting resources, since dungeons no longer have stamina restrictions, players can play at their own pace. Our goal is to give back control to the players.
—Why did you decide to drop the whole gacha system just before launch?
Deca Bear:
There’s a clear reason. After analyzing player data, community feedback, and in-game survey results from the last beta, we realized that the complaints were fairly consistent. We debated the issue many times internally, and concluded that no matter how much we optimized the gacha and stamina systems, it wouldn’t be enough to address the fundamental dissatisfaction players felt.
So, we returned to pursuing what was our original vision for Duet Night Abyss – a game that’s fun to play, easy to pick up, and doesn’t place a burden on players. To align the product with that vision, we removed both gacha and stamina. As a result, the gameplay has become more consistent and self-contained.
—That sounds like great news from a player’s perspective, but can the game sustain long-term operation without gacha?
Deca Bear:
From a management perspective, our aim is to create a game that can keep running for a long time. That’s why our decisions regarding monetization are based not only on the current market, but also on what players will want three to five years from now. Whether players are willing to spend money depends on how much they value a product, so we’re trying not to focus on just short-term profit. We’re avoiding pay-to-win mechanics and forced spending as much as possible, instead prioritizing getting players to enjoy the game.
In the short term, this means having to give up on some fast monetization opportunities, but in the long term, we believe it will lead to stronger player retention, a better reputation, and a healthier, more sustainable business model.
With gacha no longer in the picture, Duet Night Abyss will be relying solely on cosmetics such as skins, special animations and accessories for its monetization. By eliminating much of the pressure to spend, as well as the stress about not having enough daily stamina, Pan Studio hopes to foster a satisfied playerbase that will stick around for the long term. They seem to be on the right track too, as the announcement itself has garnered much approval from mobile gamers. It will be interesting to see how Duet Night Abyss performs with this dramatic change in business model.
Duet Night Abyss launched for free on October 28 for PC, iOS and Android. Pre-registrations are currently open.
