Why Koen’s Exit Is a Win for Arena Breakout Infinite

Koen Gets the Boot: A Better Shot at Fair Fights in Arena Breakout Infinite

When Arena Breakout: Infinite launched in early access, a hidden lever threatened to tip the scales in favor of deep-pocketed players. That lever was Koen, the premium currency that let users buy high-tier weapons and gear straight from the in-raid supply station. Ahead of its free-to-play Steam and Epic Games Store debut on September 15, 2025, developer Morefun Studios has officially pulled the plug on Koen. It’s a smart move for anyone who wants sweaty extractions, not wallet wars.

Key Takeaways

• Koen, the pay-to-win currency that granted instant access to meta weapons, is gone in Arena Breakout: Infinite’s full release.
• Morefun Studios states Koen’s “fast track” purpose has been “fulfilled,” shifting focus to “diverse, fair, and rewarding” resource sinks.
• New launch features include matchmaking tweaks, kill cam, QoL automation for healing and loot management, plus trophy room modules.
• The critical question: what monetization model replaces Koen without sneaking in hidden power boosts?

Context: What Was Koen?

In extraction shooters, every bullet counts—and so does every lost rifle if you don’t make it out alive. Koen let you bypass risk by dropping real money on weapons mid-raid. You could still grind and scavenge for the same guns, but a few bucks bought you guaranteed access to an AN94 or CZ807 before you ever fired a shot. That undercut the core tension loop: risk, reward, and the sweet relief of a successful extract.

Morefun Studios introduced Koen as a temporary measure to help early-access players “restart and recover.” According to the official announcement on X (formerly Twitter), “In its early phase, the purchasing Koen system offered some players a fast track to restart and recover—a purpose it has now fulfilled. With the Full Release, we have decided to officially bring it to an end, shifting our focus entirely toward more diverse, fair, and rewarding ways for players to earn resources.”

Why It Mattered

Extraction shooters thrive on high stakes. Every misstep, every gunfight, every inventory decision demands attention because death is expensive. Buying a rifle for Koen cheapens that experience. It turns the loop into “buy, lose, buy again.” That’s the opposite of what made titles like Escape from Tarkov’s hardcore economy so compelling.

Some early-access defenders argued that Koen purchases still carried risk—you could lose whatever you bought if you died. But in a game with thousands of matches, even a slight boost in average firepower snowballs. One Reddit user put it succinctly: “Yeah, you can lose the rifle, but the chance you get more kills before that happens means you’ll net profit faster than someone grinding from zero.”

Community Reaction

The removal announcement sparked a wave of relief across forums and social media. On r/ArenaBreakoutInfinite, players celebrated “the end of pay-to-win.” One top comment read, “This is literally the best pre-launch news—I was on the fence about streaming this, but now I’m sold.” On Twitter, streamer @TactFTW posted a short clip of a close-quarters firefight with the caption: “No Koen guns, pure skill. Love it.”

Meanwhile, a dedicated GTA roleplay community on Discord joked about designing a “Koen withdrawal support group” meme, highlighting just how divisive the currency had become. The consensus: players want challenge, not shortcuts.

Official Launch Features Beyond Koen’s Exit

Arena Breakout: Infinite is set to release on Steam and Epic Games Store with a suite of enhancements. According to the September 15 patch notes:

• Matchmaking Improvements: Smarter skill- and gear-based pairing to minimize stomp fests and one-sided lobbies.
• Kill Cam: A short replay helps confirm takedowns, combat cheaters, and clarify frustrating deaths.
• QoL Automation: Optional auto-heal and auto-loot stash functions to speed up the entry-level experience.
• Expanded Trophy Room: New modules for passive bonuses—crafting speed, extra stash slots, and minor XP boosts.
• New Maps & Modes: Five dynamic maps (Farm, Valley, Armory, TV Station, Northridge) with weather cycles, plus Normal, Lockdown, Forbidden, Solo, and special events.

Modeling Replacement Monetization Systems

Removing Koen doesn’t mean removing monetization. Free-to-play models live on cosmetics, progression passes, and optional conveniences. But the line between “harmless” and “advantageous” can blur. Let’s break down four potential systems Morefun could lean on:

1. Pure Cosmetics & Skins

Best Case: Weapon and character skins that carry zero gameplay impact. Players express individuality, devs earn revenue, and PvP remains balanced. Games like Valorant and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive excel at this model.

Worst Case: Introduce paywalled “stat-tracked” skins or limited-time skin loot boxes that distract from fairness debates. Transparency is key—no random drop rates and no stat modifiers.

2. Seasonal Battle Pass

Best Case: A tiered pass with free and premium tracks offering cosmetics, emotes, and small XP boosts (non-combat). Progression resets each season, keeping content fresh without altering gunplay.

Worst Case: Include minor damage or recoil reduction bonuses in premium tiers, or time-limited credits that speed up gear unlocks. Those could quietly impact PvP over dozens of raids.

3. Booster Items

Best Case: Consumables that grant extra XP or resource drops in PvE modes only, with no effect in PvP lobbies. Transparent stack limits and cooldowns prevent abuse.

Worst Case: Uncapped XP/loot boosters that accelerate stash upgrades or unlock new modules faster—effectively creating pay-to-progress for offline and online progression alike.

4. Stash Upgrades & Modules

Best Case: Cosmetic stash themes or HUD modules purchasable for real money, leaving every stat or space upgrade tied strictly to in-game achievements.

Worst Case: Direct stash expansion packs, instant healing or repair timers purchased with real money. These perks influence raid outcomes by letting big spenders outlast and out-heal opponents.

Recommendations for a Fair Economy

Based on industry best practices and community sentiment, here are actionable guidelines Morefun should follow:

1. Keep all functional gameplay bonuses behind in-game progression only. If players must grind for stash space or passive bonuses, ensure real-money routes accelerate only cosmetic or convenience items that do not touch combat balance.
2. Publish full drop rates, costs, and caps for any boosters or passes. Transparency builds trust and prevents backlash over “hidden” advantages.
3. Limit booster stacking. A 1.5x XP buff is fine; a 5x unlimited buff is not. Time-box and quantify all perks clearly in patch notes and shop pages.
4. Monitor telemetry for disparity. If players with premium passes or skins log disproportionately higher win rates, adjust or remove those benefits immediately.
5. Engage the community in live Q&A and polls about economy changes. Player buy-in is essential to maintain a healthy PvP scene.

The Road Ahead

Morefun Studios has taken a critical first step by removing Koen. With over 2 million Steam wishlists and a vocal fanbase craving fair extraction mechanics, the stakes are high. If the studio doubles down on transparency, cosmetic-first revenue, and community-driven balancing, Arena Breakout: Infinite could stake its claim as the “accessible Tarkov” on PC.

But if time-saver boosts, paid stash perks, or hidden module shortcuts creep back into the system, the community will spot them—and fast. Extraction shooters survive on one simple promise: every raid should feel earned. Koen’s exit restores that promise. Now, Morefun must resist the siren call of stealth advantages and keep the playing field level.

Conclusion

Arena Breakout: Infinite’s full launch on September 15 marks more than a new map rotation or QoL updates. It symbolizes the studio’s commitment to fairness over profit. Removing Koen before launch proves they understand what makes extraction shooters memorable: tension, risk, and the thrill of earning every piece of gear. The next chapters will reveal whether they can deliver a monetization model that funds ongoing development without undermining the very heart of their gameplay.

TL;DR

Morefun Studios is scrapping pay-to-win Koen currency before Arena Breakout: Infinite’s Steam debut. The planned cosmetics-first revenue, transparent boosters, and fair progression must hold firm to preserve the high-stakes heart of the extraction genre.