The free-to-play model of gaming is most prevalent on the PC, and in particular has been embraced by MMO developers. But well-known publisher/developer Tecmo has decided to embrace it for the next iteration of Dead or Alive on consoles, and will offer a free-to-play version of the game on the PS3.
Released this coming September, DOA5 Ultimate has been developed by Team Ninja and will be available as a full, paid-for game on disc for both the PS3 and Xbox 360. However, a limited basic version will also be offered as an experiment only on the PS3 as a download. It will only include four characters alongside all the game modes with the exception of story mode.
If you want more content, you can either buy the disc version, or pay to unlock certain features. New characters will be 400 yen each (US$4) and the Story Mode will cost 1,500 yen (US$15). The disc version will most likely carry the usual new game cost of $60. In return you get everything, including every character and costume.
Deciding to experiment with free-to-play on consoles doesn’t come without risk, though. Players may choose to stick with the free version of the game until the disc version drops in price. That typically happens within a few weeks of it being available. Offering the disc version with everything unlocked also suggests Tecmo won’t be releasing any DLC for the game. And if they do, will it also be made available to those playing the free version?
Other publishers will definitely be watching this experiment with interest. If it ends up boosting sales or seeing revenue brought in from free-to-play players buying content, it won’t take long for other games to embrace it. I’m skeptical, however, and predict this will cut into Tecmo’s profits from lower sales of the full game.
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