In app purchases, like mobile gamers are used to, will be a big part of both the PS4 and the Xbox 720, claims Epic’s Mark Rein, Vice President and Co-Founder of the company.
Sony briefly mentioned ways to monetise games at their New York summit, but it was glossed over and this is the first time a developer has stated that next-gen will see a big shift to the free-to-play model, supported by additional payments.
Speaking at the UK’s Game Horizon conference, Rein said that both Sony and Microsoft are “going heavily” down the route that some suspected they might, taking on the sort of financial models seen on iOS and Android.
“The next-gen consoles are going to be fully embracing the free-to-play and these in-app purchase type business models,” said Rein, “so in case you don’t know that I’m putting that out there. Sony and Microsoft are both going heavily in that area.”
“Well, I’m telling you,” he added succinctly, when challenged by a moderator over a lack of evidence. “I’m telling you what they’re telling developers.”
Could DriveClub fit this model? The focus on DLC suggests it might be a tester for Sony.
Via Joystiq.
leeroye
Oh dear god i hope this is not true. Imagine FPS games where you have to buy ammo. Some of the free to play games on android are stupidly priced with some DLC costing £70 and its consumable so once you run out of doughnuts fuel etc, thats it into your pocket for more. I will not touch F2P games on PS4.
E8_BALL_
Since playercards were introuduced into COD, country flags were there. Now in Bops2, you have to pay to show your patriotism. So that might not be far off the mark. On the other side of the coin, I dloaded DCUO free & have only spent about £3.50, with many hours racked up.
Alex C
I’m telling you… http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2013/01/22/five-in-app-purchases-we-really-dont-want-to-see/
boeboe
haha…shivers.
SilverCider
Oh god! (I somehow missed this!) Paying to refuel in a GT game would be painful.
On second thoughts, having to pay for fuel with in-game currency would be awesome.
*Nerd off*
Youles
Soon ALL games will run on this model no doubt, like mobile phone games. When that happens, I shall no longer buy a games console.
TSBonyman
If they don’t distinguish between mobile platforms and consoles they must be really determined to kill off consoles at this rate.
Bilbo_bobbins
I’m telling you good sirs, that I will not be embracing this idea at all, whether the console does or not. If this is the case, the console industry has lost a customer.
bunimomike
Keep in mind that IAPs might still be handled properly and it means you could try many, many games out for nothing then stick to the ones you love and financially invest in bits & bobs (associated with that game) that you actually want.
Obviously, on the flip side we’ll see some serious gouging from other devs and, hopefully, they’ll be the ones that are punished by lack of consumer interest.
Smallville2106
This is the first thing I have heard/read that has made me think twice about getting a PS4. Unfortunately this is a biggie for me. If this is the way it’s all going I won’t be gaming next generation.
gazzagb
So long as it’s Free2Play and not Pay2Win, I won’t mind too much, but I don’t want the whole industry to shift that way.
E8_BALL_
From my experience with NFS Most Wanted for example, Pay2Win has already begun.
Airiaen
In what way? I know the previous games gave you the ability to buy cars with real money.
E8_BALL_
exactly, *PAY to win.
divisionbell
Surely it should be an option, I mean if you’re unable to enjoy a game that is free to play without buying some form of in game purchase then the developers have failed, in my opinion. In game purchases should be there for people who want to spend extra without feeling like they have to.
Airiaen
In-game purchases would be quite bad if the sort that plagued Android/iOS appeared on Consoles though meh I’ve no clue mobile games aren’t all that interesting. Free to Play is fine long as its like DC Universe and Phantasy Star ONline 2 since paying on them seems optional. Heavy Gear seems promising, thats similar apparently. No Pay 2 win hopefully…
Kevatron400
Interestingly the Freemium movement has lent some games a bit of a new/old USP – you only have to pay once and you get the whole thing! Saw that as a selling point on Paper Titans on iOS and totally took them up on it. Will happily pay 2 quid for a whole game!
Alex C
Yeah, I noticed that too. I don’t buy games with more than one IAP.