Buy it on Steam for easy access to the Steam Workshop for mods.
The game's landscape changed dramatically in late 2024 with the release of two major pieces of content:
Your tutorial progress carries over if you purchase the full game. Purchasing the Full Game factorio free account updated
The developers, Wube Software, have a strict "no sales and no bundles" policy. You cannot legitimately get a free account to play the full game.
One of the best features of Factorio's purchase system is the ability to link your Steam and factorio.com accounts. If you buy the game on Steam, you can easily create a free account on the website and link it. Once linked, you will have the freedom of a to download from the website, while still retaining all the conveniences of your Steam library for automatic updates and achievements. Buy it on Steam for easy access to
: Even if you don't buy the expansion, the base game received a massive featuring smarter worker robots, a new rails system, and an improved remote view. Space Age Content
Their philosophy is one of fairness and transparency. They don't want to punish players who buy the game at a random time, making them pay more than those who wait for a seasonal sale. They believe the price is fair for the value the game provides, and they are in a financial position to stick to this principle. This policy has led to the game's price actually increasing over the years to account for inflation, from $20 to $30, and eventually to its current price of $35. It might seem unusual, but for many, it's a sign of a developer who respects both their product and their customers. You cannot legitimately get a free account to
Flooding your browser with intrusive, unclosable advertisements.
If you want to play Factorio completely legally without spending money, the official path is the updated .