Price and Business Model

28:02 Chrono Odyssey is buy-to-play, and no price has been announced as of Oct 21, 2026: players will buy the game, and its developers say the in-game shop will sell only cosmetics and a battle pass, nothing that affects power. Asked by the creator Kanon "What exactly is the monetization plan for Chrono Odyssey?" in an interview published Jun 9, 2025, executive producer Yun Sang-tae lists "Costumes used to change the appearance of equipment, as well as mount cosmetics, and a limited range of content offered through a battle pass system," adding that this is "what we're taking into consideration right now." MassivelyOP summed up the same interview as "weapon skins, mount skins, emotes, and a battle pass," with "no pay-to-win or enhancing items." There are no editions, pre-orders or founder's packs on any store yet; the only thing to do today is wishlist it. Everything else about the game is on Chrono Odyssey.

Quick facts

Buy-to-play, in Kakao Games' words

Chrono Odyssey has been announced as a paid game since its publisher signed on. Kakao Games' press release of Mar 20, 2024 says: "Chrono Odyssey will be a 'Buy-to-Play' Open World Action MMORPG." Korean press reported it the same day as a premium package release (ZDNet Korea), and in May and June 2025 Kakao still described a paid package release on Steam, the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Nothing since has changed that. Chrono Odyssey is not free to play.

How much will Chrono Odyssey cost?

Kakao Games has not announced a price for Chrono Odyssey as of Oct 21, 2026, on any platform or in any region. None of the four stores (Steam, the PlayStation Store, the Xbox store and the Epic Games Store) shows a price, an edition or a pre-order button, and there is no deluxe edition, founder's pack or early-access purchase. A price is most likely to come with a release date, which does not exist yet (Release Date). Any figure on a retailer listing or a guide site is a placeholder or a guess.

What the shop will sell

27:31 Chrono Studio says Chrono Odyssey's shop will be cosmetic. Kanon puts the question directly ("Is Chrono Odyssey have pay-to-win?"), and Yun answers, "There's no need for concern. There will be absolutely no pay-to-win in Chrono Odyssey," calling fairness "one of our highest priorities" and saying the business model "is focused on costumes and cosmetic focused items." Later in the interview he adds that apart from "socially-oriented content like costumes, emotes, or cosmetic goods," the team is "not planning on selling items that will disrupt the balance of the game." The battle pass's contents, its price and whether it has a free track have not been announced. On the PlayStation Store, the game carries the usual "In-game purchases optional" line.

29:23 Yun went further when Kanon asked what he would say to players who do not believe it: "I'll say this again: Chrono Odyssey will never have pay-to-win elements. There will be no items that will affect the gameplay balance of the game." MassivelyOP noted that he was asked three times and repeated his answer each time. Chrono Studio's CEO, Bae Bong-gun, had said the same in 2023: the studio was making an open-world MMORPG to be enjoyed long term rather than a pay-to-win game, as Financial Today reported.

Is Chrono Odyssey pay-to-win?

Chrono Studio promises it will not be, but no one can check until the shop exists. Players ask because of where the game comes from. Chrono Odyssey was first revealed in 2020 by Npixel, whose earlier game Gran Saga had pay-to-win features, as TheGamer pointed out in June 2025, and Chrono Studio's CEO is an Npixel co-founder. Korean MMORPGs in general have a reputation in the West for selling power, which is why Kanon pressed the point. Yun's answer was that Chrono Studio is "a newly established company" that is "a separate and completely independent legal entity," though Korean and English press describe it as an Npixel subsidiary (Chrono Studio). The promise on record, from Jun 2025, is cosmetics and a battle pass only.

Enhancement without breaking gear

12:26 Chrono Odyssey's gear enhancement is designed without the risks that usually push players to pay: gear does not break, downgrade or depend on tiny odds. Kanon asks what the enhancement system will be like for Western players used to "1% or less" upgrade chances and gear that breaks; Yun answers that it "is designed to provide satisfaction through enhancing gear," that it is "certainly not designed to give players frustration, fatigue, or disappointment due to probabilities," and that it does not include "items breaking" or "perks attaching at extremely low probabilities."

16:25 Enhancement materials come from playing, not from a shop. In Developer Interview #1 (May 23, 2025) the team says "Enhancements are powered by materials earned through various activities like combat, exploration, and gathering," and that "We've also reduced the risks tied to Enhancements." After the beta, Chrono Studio said the beta's guaranteed Gold enhancement was "less exciting" and that materials will become rewards for exploration. How gear works is on Gear and Enhancement, and crafting on Crafting and Gathering.

Subscription, PS Plus and other costs

No subscription has been announced for Chrono Odyssey as of Oct 21, 2026, and nothing suggests one. On PlayStation 5, though, the store page says "PS Plus required for online play," so PS5 players will need a PS Plus membership on top of the game. The Xbox store lists no subscription requirement of its own. Platform details are on Platforms.

Pre-orders, editions and founder's packs

Chrono Odyssey cannot be pre-ordered as of Oct 21, 2026, and no editions or founder's packs have been announced. The official site asks players to "Add Chrono Odyssey to your preferred platform," meaning a wishlist on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox or Epic, and its newsletter (opened in January 2025) promised "early access to upcoming events," not early access to the game. The closed beta of June 2025 was free and needed no purchase (Closed Beta).

Frequently asked questions

Is Chrono Odyssey free to play? No. Chrono Odyssey is buy-to-play, as Kakao Games announced in March 2024; it will be sold as a paid game with an optional cosmetic shop.

How much is Chrono Odyssey? Kakao Games has not announced a price for Chrono Odyssey as of Oct 21, 2026, and no store lists one.

Is Chrono Odyssey pay-to-win? Chrono Studio says no: executive producer Yun Sang-tae said in June 2025 that Chrono Odyssey "will never have pay-to-win elements" and that only cosmetics and a battle pass will be sold.

Does Chrono Odyssey have a battle pass? A battle pass is planned for Chrono Odyssey, alongside cosmetics; its contents and price have not been announced as of Oct 21, 2026.

Does Chrono Odyssey have a subscription? No subscription has been announced for Chrono Odyssey, though PlayStation 5 players will need PS Plus for online play.

Can I pre-order Chrono Odyssey? No. Chrono Odyssey has no pre-orders, editions or founder's packs as of Oct 21, 2026; it can only be wishlisted on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox and Epic.

Does Chrono Odyssey have microtransactions? Yes, it is planned to: Chrono Odyssey's shop is meant to sell cosmetics such as costumes, weapon and mount skins and emotes, plus a battle pass, but no items that affect power.

Sources

• Kakao Games to publish Chrono Studio's Chrono Odyssey globally, Kakao Games press release via Game Developer, Mar 20, 2024
• Kakao Games signs Chrono Odyssey, ZDNet Korea, Mar 21, 2024
• Chrono Odyssey closed beta begins, Digital Daily, Jun 20, 2025
• Chrono Odyssey addresses endgame, gear, and monetization, MassivelyOP, Jun 12, 2025
• Chrono Odyssey's beta players shocked, TheGamer, Jun 20, 2025
• Npixel's Bae Bong-gun on Chrono Odyssey, Financial Today, Mar 10, 2023
• Chrono Odyssey: release, beta, content, MeinMMO, Feb 11, 2026
• Chrono Odyssey is now taking newsletter signups, MassivelyOP, Jan 10, 2025
• Developer's Notes #2: End of the Closed Beta Part 2, Chrono Studio on Steam, Jul 30, 2025
• Chrono Odyssey on Steam, Valve, read Oct 20, 2026
• Chrono Odyssey on the PlayStation Store, Sony Interactive Entertainment, read Oct 20, 2026
• Chrono Odyssey on the Xbox store, Microsoft, read Oct 20, 2026
• Chrono Odyssey on the Epic Games Store, Epic Games, read Oct 20, 2026
• Chrono Odyssey official site, Kakao Games, read Oct 20, 2026
• EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW - My Full Interview with Chrono Odyssey's Lead (ENG/한), Kanon, Jun 9, 2025 (video)
• Chrono Odyssey | Developer Interview #1, Chrono Odyssey, May 23, 2025 (video)