For over a decade, GeoGuessr has captivated players worldwide with its unique blend of geography and guesswork. The fact that all of its services have been available for free has made it easily accessible to everyone. However, starting from February 2024, a major change is set to take place as the company announced the introduction of a paywall.
According to an official tweet, from February 1, users will no longer have access to free accounts and will be required to purchase a paid membership. The cost of the membership will vary depending on the player’s region. This announcement has sparked mixed reactions within the community. While some fans understand the reasons behind the decision, others see it as a move driven by corporate greed.
One user, SquidGamePlayer456, commented, “Corpo is gonna be corpo,” implying that this decision aligns with typical corporate behavior. Another user, @Heikki360, who has been a subscriber since the beginning, expressed disappointment in the new pricing, finding it slightly unfair. Similarly, @JamzyBVB believes that the game will lose many players now that it is no longer free-to-play.
However, not all users are against the paywall. @masterdesky acknowledged the expenses involved in running such websites and understood the need for monetization. Another user highlighted that there could have been alternative ways to monetize the game without implementing a paywall.
The introduction of the paywall means that the web version of GeoGuessr will no longer be available for free. Only time will tell the true impact of this decision on the community. The official message from the developers states that the additional revenue generated from the paywall will allow them to introduce new features and enhance the game. They also plan to invest more in the professional scene.
As of now, the Pro Unlimited membership costs $1.99 per month when purchased for a year. However, from February 1, the price will increase to $2.99 per month for a year. It’s worth noting that the prices of memberships purchased before February 1, 2024, will remain unchanged.
