Is Axie free now?

I've been hearing rumors lately that Axie Infinity might be available for free. Could you clarify if this is indeed the case? Has there been any official announcement regarding Axie being offered without a cost? Or is this just a misconception that's circulating within the crypto community? If Axie is now free, what are the implications for the players and the overall cryptocurrency ecosystem? Would it attract more users, or could it potentially lead to any unforeseen consequences? Could you please provide some insights on this matter?