Free-to-play may not be the only direction fut coin trader for console games, but it’s making an impact in even the premium blockbuster games.
Take some of the biggest games this year, such FIFA 14, Grand Theft Auto V and Forza 5. All three of these games employ microtransactions to generate additional revenue on top of their £50 price tag. GTA?Online lets players redeem real money for in-game currency, while FIFA?Ultimate Team has been a massive revenue driver for EA.
This is the hybrid business model and it is growing in popularity. It is a model designed to help recoup the rising cost of development, whilst not adding too much onto the main boxed price.
“We see that as an entry point to the universe. Mixing business models, you will have part free-to-play, part premium,”?says Thomas Paincon, EMEA marketing director for digital publishing, Ubisoft.
Ubisoft has been heavily experimenting with the free-to-play model in particulary. It has also created a number of free mobile apps that tie-in with new releases. The hope being that it will attract new fans to the premium £40 game.
“The companion app will be the key for people that are not interested in the licence to interact with players and then, maybe they’ll be interested in it, understand the story and the background,” adds Paincon.
Both Xbox One and PS4 launched last month, and with them a host of £50 titles. The cost of next-gen has certainly proven divisive amongst players. But with the abundance of F2P titles available, could it turn customers off from the new consoles?
“I don’t think there’s any shortage of people willing to pay premium prices for quality games, but gamers have grown tired of plunking down a lot of cash up front for a game they’ve never played and are almost taking a bet they will enjoy it,” says Reid.
Tim Hodges, brand director for Jagex’s Transformers Universe believes that it’s the games that drive purchase decisions, and not the business model.
“Will it be the deciding http://www.fifa14coinstrader.com/ factor in moving to next-gen? I’m not convinced. If the right games are available on the platform then that’s what will drive consumer choice.”
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