The studio doesn’t label it the definitive future as these things ”also tend to come and go.” It’s certainly the ”current trend” and subs are little match for free play.
“It’s definitely going away, and we’re seeing big titles, like Modern Warfare 3 and others, looking like they will be heavily microtransaction-based,” said EVE Online lead designer Kristoffer Touborg, at GDC Online.
“I would say it’s the way of the future, but these kinds of things also tend to come and go. It’s a current trend, and it will be for a while. I think designing a new subscription-based game is a flawed strategy, because you are basically competing with free.”
CCP’s own EVE Online, which is subscription-based, won’t be going free-to-play anytime soon although it can never be ruled out. Right now they have around 400k users paying monthly charges, and they see no reason to ”turn that bucket upside down.”
The studio is developing Dust 514 which is a free-to-play MMO for the PlayStation 3, which connects with the PC EVE Online community as they ‘feed’ one another. Recently CCP announced a 20 percent workforce reduction with their other MMO project hit.
Do you prefer microtransactions where you can buy what perks or content you want, or do you rather the all inclusive monthly charge to keep a level playing field?
