“Free”, “no pay-to-win”, “cosmetic shop”: these phrases keep appearing in game server announcements, but they do not all mean the same thing. This guide helps you read the terms of an offer before signing up. It does not assess any particular server. At the time of writing, Togu’s published pages do not announce any pricing, so this article says neither that Togu is free nor that it is paid.
What “free” means in an announcement
The word can apply to several distinct things: downloading a program, creating an account, accessing the world, or only a trial period. It says nothing about optional purchases or donations, nor about how long any of this lasts. In its factsheet on video games (14 December 2022), the DGCCRF, France’s consumer protection authority, notes that for online games where access is often free, players may be encouraged to pay in order to progress, sometimes small amounts that can add up to significant sums, and that they may also be exposed to advertising. It advises paying close attention to the exact content of the offer and its terms of use.
So read the whole sentence: what is free, until when, and under what conditions? A page that specifies nothing proves neither that something is free nor the opposite.
Which purchases are described
Look for a page that lists in black and white what can be bought, at what price and in which currency: real money, in-game currency, subscription, bundle, donation. Also note how the purchase is presented: a one-off or recurring payment, a fixed or pay-what-you-want amount, an intermediate virtual currency. A virtual currency makes the real price harder to read; check whether the conversion is shown.
Finally, check whether the shop is described by the project itself or only by a third party (directory, video, a player’s message). Only the project is bound by its own terms; a directory listing at best repeats what the project has stated.
Telling cosmetics from gameplay advantages
A cosmetic item changes appearance; a gameplay advantage changes what the character can do or how fast it progresses. The line is not always as clear as an announcement suggests. Ask yourself a few questions:
- is the item described as purely visual, and does that description appear in a text from the project?
- Does a purchase give access to experience, resources, items, slots or playtime that other players cannot obtain any other way?
- What effect is described on the balance between those who pay and those who do not?
“Pay-to-win” is a label used in discussions, not a legal category. Our comparison on economy and pay-to-win details the editorial criteria used. Draw no conclusions from a slogan: ask for the details.
Where to read terms and refund policies
On the project’s site, look for the terms and conditions or terms of use, the shop description, the payment methods, a contact address and the procedure to follow if something goes wrong. If any of these pages is missing, make a note of it.
As for rights, the French government site Service-Public.gouv.fr states in its factsheet on the right of withdrawal (checked on 1 January 2026) that a distance purchase in principle gives you 14 calendar days to change your mind, and that the seller must inform you whether or not this right exists before you order. It lists exceptions, including digital content supplied on an intangible medium once performance has begun with your consent and you have waived your right of withdrawal. Whether this right applies to a purchase therefore depends on its nature and on the information given at the time of ordering; this article does not decide your case and is not a substitute for legal advice.
Also keep proof of your purchases: confirmation, receipt, a screenshot of the terms page as of the purchase date.
Finally, one precaution is essential with private servers: Ankama’s support, in its page on behaviours to report, lists the promotion of fraudulent sites, including private servers, among the reports it handles. Never give a third-party project the login details of an account belonging to another publisher.
Questions to ask before signing up
Before creating an account or paying, check that you can answer these questions from texts published by the project:
- Is access to the world paid, free or conditional? Since what date has this claim been published?
- Which purchases exist, and what is their price in real money?
- Is there a gameplay advantage to paying, and how is it described?
- Where can I read the terms and conditions, the rules and the refund policy?
- How can I contact the project in case of a dispute?
- What happens to my account if the service shuts down? If there is no answer, consider that the information has not been published.
For Togu, the press page states that the launcher and access to the closed alpha are free by invitation; request a code in the Togu Discord. Also see the rules and the FAQ. The pages consulted do not describe other purchases. To compare several offers using the same criteria, read our comparison method.
