PRESS RELEASE
Melbourne, FL – November 8, 2025 – SmiteWorks USA, LLC, the developer behind the acclaimed Fantasy Grounds virtual tabletop (VTT), is excited to announce today that Fantasy Grounds is now completely free to play. The announcement was made today during the company's annual online convention, FG Con Online 2025, marking a new era for one of the most feature-rich and long-standing platforms in digital tabletop gaming.
Fantasy Grounds Licenses are now Free
Effective immediately, Game Masters and players can host and join unlimited games without needing to purchase a software license or subscription. Previously, Fantasy Grounds required a one-time $50 Ultimate License or a recurring monthly fee to host games. Now, all users gain access to the platform’s robust automation tools, versatile ruleset support, customizable interface, and refreshed visuals – without the technical hassle of server setup or port forwarding – entirely free of charge.
“By removing the license barrier, we’re making Fantasy Grounds more accessible to the global tabletop gaming community,” said Doug Davison, President of SmiteWorks. “Whether you’re a veteran GM or a first-time player, we want everyone to experience how powerful and immersive virtual tabletop gaming can be – with zero upfront cost.”
While the software is now free, players can still unlock thousands of titles from the world’s largest library of officially-licensed game content, thousands of premium art, map, and token assets, over 300 sets of addictive-to-roll digital dice sets, and more products focused on personalizing their experience and making gameplay more convenient.
New Online Digital Reader
In addition to this major update, SmiteWorks has also launched beta early access to its new Fantasy Grounds Online Reader – a web-based compendium tool that gives users access to their entire Fantasy Grounds library from any browser, on any device, without needing to launch the Fantasy Grounds app. This new reader brings a whole new level of accessibility to users, allowing them to browse books, adventures, and rulesets on the go. It already supports hundreds of titles from popular publishers and systems, and SmiteWorks is actively working to expand that coverage throughout the beta period.
“After seeing the impact that digital readers have had on the hobby, I’m thrilled that Fantasy Grounds fans will now be able read their content whenever that random rules question comes to mind or wherever inspiration strikes to confirm what the book says,” said Adam Bradford, CDO at SmiteWorks. “Combining the flexibility of the online reader with the offline access that already exists in the Fantasy Grounds app is a powerful combination.”
Players can try the online reader now by logging into their account and navigating to the My Library section on the Fantasy Grounds website. Even if you haven’t purchased any content yet, dozens of free modules – such as the Dungeons & Dragons Basic Rules and Pathfinder ORC Rules – are available to explore immediately.
Cool New Features
We just added skyboxes to your 3D views. These will feature prominently in new Waypoint modules we will release. Waypoint modules will be super-immersive locations you can insert into any campaign to make a memorable encounter.
Upcoming features we will releasing in the very near future are grouped into what we collectively call "Screen Fx". Screen Fx will allow us to spruce up the game with interactive notifications, damage and attack indicators in maps and 3D view, speech bubbles over your tokens on maps and in 3D view, cinematic intros, and much more. We will continue to expand this based on feedback and user requests, but we think it will be a fun new experience for Gamemasters and players.
Free Gifts for Past Customers
If you supported us in the past by purchasing a license, you are now eligible to get some free content added to your account. We are offering several free modules directly from us, as well as other free content from some of our great partners who have worked with us over the years. This includes content from Paizo Inc., Pinnacle Entertainment Games, AAW Games, Goodman Games, Renegade Game Studios, Chaosium, Mongoose Publishing, Kobold Press, and Wizards of the Coast. Choose any of the 15 products totaling $135 in value to add to your account by visiting fantasygrounds.com/claimRewards.
Keynote Panel
You can catch the recording of the LIVE KeyNote Panel here.
For more information about SmiteWorks USA, LLC and Fantasy Grounds, please visit