Is Gloria Victis Worth It in 2026?

Alive or dead? The real numbers and an honest verdict.

Free-to-PlayNo Pay-to-Win69% MixedRelaunched Jun 2026
Short verdict: Gloria Victis is back from the dead. It relaunched free-to-play on June 17, 2026 under gamigo as "Season of the Phoenix" (build V1.5.0), three years after the original shut down. It is not pay-to-win, the combat is genuinely skill-based, and launch week pulled a Steam 24-hour peak of ~4,175 players. The catch: a 69% "Mixed" Steam rating, real jank, a steep learning curve, and a population that has not yet proven it will hold. Worth a free download if hardcore medieval PvP is your thing.

Is it alive in 2026?

Yes — again. The original Gloria Victis (by Black Eye Games) ran for roughly a decade, was delisted, and went dark around 2023 when the studio closed. gamigo then acquired the full license and rebooted the game as a free-to-play title on June 17, 2026. The relaunch applied a full progress wipe, so nobody — including beta testers — carried over old characters. In short: this is a fresh start for a game that genuinely died and came back.

Player counts & reviews

The launch-week numbers below are real (Steam concurrents via SteamCharts, reviews via the Steam review API, accessed June 18, 2026). The spike is dramatic next to the near-empty pre-relaunch months, but it is only days old — treat it as "alive again, long-term population TBD."

By the Numbers
Gloria Victis player counts and review stats (June 2026)
Metric Value
Steam 24-hour peak players 4,175
Last-30-day average 166
Last-30-day peak 2,694
Pre-relaunch (May 2026) average 2.40
Total Steam reviews 10,669
Review score 69% — "Mixed"

The 10,669 reviews span the game's entire life, including its original run, which is why the all-time score sits at a "Mixed" 69%.

Pros & cons

Is it pay-to-win?

No. gamigo's official position is that Gloria Victis is "fundamentally a skill-based game" and that they are "committed to keeping the gameplay fair and competitive." Monetization is cosmetic-focused, and players who bought premium skins before the license transition can reclaim them on their relaunch accounts. There is no public redeem-code or gacha economy here.

Frequently asked

Is Gloria Victis worth playing in 2026?
If you want a hardcore, skill-based medieval PvP MMORPG and you accept some rough edges, yes — and because it is now free-to-play, trying it costs nothing but time. If you are after a polished solo or PvE experience, it is a weaker fit.
Is Gloria Victis dead?
It died once — the original game shut down around 2023 — but it relaunched on June 17, 2026 under gamigo and is live again. Launch week saw a Steam 24-hour peak of about 4,175 players. Whether that population holds long-term is still unproven.
Is Gloria Victis free?
Yes. The 2026 relaunch ("Season of the Phoenix", build V1.5.0) is free-to-play on Steam. Optional paid starter bundles exist but are not required to play.
Is Gloria Victis pay-to-win?
No. The developers state it is "fundamentally a skill-based game" and that they are "committed to keeping the gameplay fair and competitive." Returning veterans can reclaim previously-purchased premium cosmetic skins.
How many people play Gloria Victis?
At relaunch, Steam concurrents peaked around 4,175 in 24 hours, with a 30-day average near 166 and a 30-day peak of 2,694. For context, the dead pre-relaunch months (e.g. May 2026) averaged barely 2 concurrent players.
Verdict at a Glance
PriceFree-to-play
Pay-to-winNo
Reviews69% "Mixed" (10,669)
24h peak~4,175 players
StatusLive — relaunched Jun 17 2026
Best forHardcore medieval PvP