Why free?

[ɿɘlliꓘnoiϱilɘЯi]

Hi,
Why did you release the game as free?
Thanks

[JustSmile]

Because it's a fan game. Hololive is an intellectual property brand and the devs did not buy a license or negotiate any sort of agreement. They can not draw profit from this game unless they do that.

[Gilver Redgrave]

Go ahead and release a Super Mario or Pokemon game and earn money with it. See what happens. Thats why its free.

[Hurkyl]

And, in particular, Cover Corp's guidelines for what sorts of derivative works do not require their permission specifically exclude "business" and "for-profit" purposes.

[HolyGrail]

They also declined a deal with Hololive as far as I know, they also refuse donations, it's a passion project and they're probably coasting by via other means.. anyway it's an amazing game, better than what we deserve. ;3

[Ytilee]

If you don't ask for money for a project then you're free to do whatever (in certain limits).
But as soon as money is involved you kinda have a responsibility towards the players who now are customers AND the people who you work with. Annoying questions arise like: "At what rate should new content be produced?", "Who should get what percent of money?".

It's very understandable you wouldn't want your passion project to be bogged down with these considerations if you have already a different job.

[Sagebrush]

Aside from responsibility to customers, it also means there's more freedom content-wise. Once your project is badged official, some memes and things, or even references to graduated members, might not get past the corporate filter. I think this was mentioned as another motivator in the past. More creative freedom, basically. Fan vision vs marketing/PR's vision.

[ういわたビーム]

Hololive allows third party to create content within certain boundaries, however monetizing it is not allowed unless Hololive approves it. Also Kay Yu is just freakin awesome.

[Carlton BEaEnkEs, no E]

Several factors.
1. Japanese companies and Japan in general treat copyright VERY differently; they have no Fair Use clause. Fan works are a legal minefield with Japanese companies, far moreso than in the West; money would exacerbate that. (I know Holo contacted him offering payment, but he also refused because of the next point)
2. It's the dev's passion project that they want everyone to experience regardless of expenditure, similar to Dwarf Fortress (DF is free on Toady's site)
3. Money could create an obligation to take investor requests. It being free offers the dev absolute creative freedom. Not to say they don't take feedback, of course.
4. Being free with no microtransactions is itself an advertisement that will reach anyone who has even a passing interest.

[Masque]

Excellent article here explains it quite well.

https://www.gamesradar.com/in-2-weeks-this-free-roguelike-has-cracked-steams-top-50-all-time-best-rated-games-but-the-dev-refuses-to-make-any-money-off-it/

[Hitori]

Because you're the product, not the game