Quake Champions Steam access has a deadline that matters if you played through the Microsoft Store. Bethesda and id Software moved the arena shooter from free-to-play to a paid Steam-only model on September 23, and the automatic account-linking path for eligible Microsoft Store players is only available through October 7, 2026. Read Bethesda’s Quake Champions migration FAQ.
Who needs to act before October 7?
If you previously played Quake Champions on Steam, there is nothing to buy and no migration step. Bethesda says previous Steam players were automatically upgraded to the paid version at no additional cost. The deadline mainly matters to people who played through the now-retired Microsoft Store version. Check Bethesda’s eligibility rules.
For Microsoft Store players, Quake Champions Steam access is granted by linking the Bethesda.net account used for the game to a Steam account. Bethesda says to allow up to 48 hours after linking for the paid Steam app to appear. The automated service runs from September 23 through October 7, so waiting until the final evening creates unnecessary risk if the grant is delayed. Follow Bethesda’s official migration instructions.
What happens if you miss the deadline?
Missing October 7 does not automatically erase eligibility, but it makes the process less certain. Bethesda says players who miss the linking window, or whose link does not resolve the issue within 48 hours, can submit a support request and may receive Quake Champions Steam access on a case-by-case basis. “May” is the important word there, so the automated route is the safer option while it is still open. Open the official FAQ before the window closes.
Your ranking and profile data can carry over as long as you use the same Bethesda.net account you used previously. That makes account identity more important than simply creating a new Steam account and starting again. If you have an old Bethesda account you barely remember, verify it before linking anything. Review the account-transfer details.
The free-to-play economy is gone
The September 1.31 update changes more than the storefront. Quake Champions no longer uses Platinum or Shards, and Bethesda removed Battle Passes and microtransactions. All Champions are unlocked for owners, along with most weapon skins and cosmetics that were previously tied to those currencies. A handful of third-party promotional and merit rewards remain exceptions. See exactly what the paid version unlocks.
Players who bought Platinum during the 60 days before September 23 are being refunded, with Bethesda noting a longer six-month window for eligible yen purchases. That is a useful cleanup step because the virtual currency no longer has a role in the paid version. Check the refund details in Bethesda’s FAQ.
New players now pay $9.99
For someone who never played the free version, Quake Champions is now $9.99 on Steam. The package includes 16 Champions, 27 maps and years of vanity content, while the core remains the fast arena-shooter formula built around rocket jumping, weapon control, movement and modes such as Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Duel, Clan Arena and Capture the Flag. View Quake Champions on Steam.
The material caveat is that this is not the start of a fresh live-service roadmap. Bethesda says no additional content updates are currently planned. That makes the paid version feel more like a consolidated final package than a relaunch. New buyers should approach it as an established multiplayer arena shooter with a smaller long-term community, not a game promising years of new seasons. Check the current Steam listing and player requirements.
What Microsoft Store players should do today
If you are eligible, the safest sequence is simple: sign in to the Bethesda.net account you actually used for Quake Champions, link that account to Steam, then allow up to 48 hours for access to appear. Do it before October 7 rather than planning around support afterward. Start with Bethesda’s official Quake Champions FAQ.
This is one of those stories where a five-minute account task can save a much more annoying support ticket later. If you have not touched the game in years but want to preserve your ownership, Quake Champions Steam access is worth claiming while the automated path still exists. Claim the eligible Steam migration before October 7.
For more PC platform changes, ZerotoBeast recently covered Valve’s 2027 Steam event and discount changes. The common theme is simple: storefront rules can matter just as much as game updates when ownership or visibility changes. Open Quake Champions on Steam.
Official sources
This article uses id Software’s official Quake Champions 1.31 FAQ and the live Steam product page, which lists the current $9.99 price and paid ownership model.
