Duet Night Abyss removes all gacha elements just weeks before its October launch

• Pan Studio dropped both gacha and stamina systems to return to the game’s original vision.
• The team prioritised fun, accessibility, and a self-contained experience over monetisation.
• Bear admitted the decision cuts “fast monetisation opportunities” but strengthens long-term sustainability.
• Studio aims for stronger retention, better reputation, and a healthier business model.

Pan Studio’s free-to-play RPG Duet Night Abyss has removed all gacha elements ahead of its October 28th launch.

As reported by Gamesindustry.biz via an interview with Automaton, producer Deca Bear said the decision follows consistent player complaints during beta testing.

"After analysing player data, community feedback, and in-game survey results from the last beta, we realised that the complaints were fairly consistent," Bear explained. 

“We debated the issue many times internally, and concluded that no matter how much we optimised the gacha and stamina systems, it wouldn’t be enough to address the fundamental dissatisfaction players felt.

Bear said the team eventually reverted to Duet Night Abyss’s original vision of being fun, accessible, and player-friendly by removing both gacha and stamina systems to make it more consistent and self-contained.

Long-term focus 

Furthermore, Bear acknowledged the removal of gacha may reduce short-term monetisation but said it will strengthen retention, reputation, and long-term sustainability, with decisions guided by what players will want in the next three to five years.

“Whether players are willing to spend money depends on how much they value a product, so we’re trying not to focus on just short-term profit," said Bear. 

“We’re avoiding pay-to-win mechanics and forced spending as much as possible, instead prioritising getting players to enjoy the game."

All characters in Duet Night Abyss will now be free and permanent, as Pan Studio now plans to monetise through cosmetics, animations, and accessories. The upcoming RGP has amassed nearly seven million pre-registrations across all platforms.