Will Microsoft & Sony Struggle Next-Gen ( If They Fail To Embrace Free- Play )

[claud3]

Microsoft and Sony's next generation of consoles could struggle if they don't fully embrace free-to-play gaming, says Crytek's Cevat Yerli - although he admits the two platform holders face some tough decisions if they're to pursue such a model.

Yerli has bullishly stated that Crytek is itself embracing a free-to-play future, an area it's testing with some degree of success with Warface. After production has completed on Crysis 3, Ryse and Homefront 2 - the game being developed by Crytek's UK studio - all of the company's games will utilise the business model.

"I hope for them that they do," Yerli said when asked if a free-to-play model would be at the heart of Microsoft and Sony's next consoles. "If they don't then it's going to be a tough time for them.

"It's quite a challenge for those companies logically because they rely so heavily on retail to sell the hardware and to sell the games where the margin for retail really is," Yerli continued. "If they would forgo their entire retail business and go digital free-to-play, then they would not be selling any more Xboxes as well. There's a chicken and egg thing there. And they have to make radical calls."

Microsoft has resisted introducing free-to-play games on the Xbox 360 in the past, while Sony, with the likes of CCP's Dust 514, has proven more receptive to the idea. Yerli's already said that he's in talks with both platform holders about getting Warface, the free-to-play first person shooter, to consoles, although he acknowledges the perception that such games have.

"We know that free-to-play games have a bad image," he said. "They have a bad reputation - it's pay to win, it's low quality. I completely get that, but we are making free-to-play that's high quality. It's CryEngine 3, it's a big investment."

Yerli's beliefs hold up - Digital Foundry recently investigated Warface and came away impressed with a free-to-play game that boasted triple-A production values.

And Yerli's adamant that Crytek will stick to its guns when it comes to free-to-play - and that the kind of social gaming that implies would, for example, be a part of any future instalments in the Crysis series beyond the one that's planned for early next year.

"We will do a single-player esque experience," Yerli said when asked if Crytek would produce another single-player experience. "But it will be for you and your friends together. Single player with two players! Story-rich experiences for at least two people. The premise I can say clearly is that free-to-play is going to be part of any business model we have going forward."

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...e-free-to-play

This could be possible. Unless both understand the concern of gamers

[F34R]

OH, easy answer.. NO. Neither of them will struggle.

[radgamer420]

Both companies will be just fine.

[BoyBettaKnow]

Company switching to F2P model claims companies not doing the same (what would only benefit the first companies switch) will suffer.


I think both will be fine...

[DeviousOne]

Um two words....Fack NO!

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[Georges]

Nah

[Ghost-Rhayne]

Man some of these dev fucktards say some retarded shit. "We are chasing this business model, now everybody else had better so that we can feel secure in our decision to make high budget AAA games for free.". A lot of people are still very suspicious of F2P games being P2W, and unless you treat it right that can be what it becomes.

[DarkVincent07]

Free to Play has its place but it's not going to be an industry standard.... I don't wanna be playing Dead Space 4 on PS4 with constant micro transactions . It just doesn't work for every game/genre


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[admartian]

Due to the rise of iPAd/Tablet/hone gaming - I REALLY hope they don't! There should always be 'core' console manufacturers like Sony and Microsoft.

[Fon]

While most companies could thrive from this, others will go down in ruin a lot quicker then they are now. In order to keep the free 2 play model running, you need dedicated gamers. If your games play like shit or does not peak much interest, guess where you're going?.

[DeviousOne]

I don't believe free to play is gonna become a staple in the industry. None of the big 3 need to get into this industry. Free to play reminds me of the 2600 heyday before the crash of the gaming industry. A lot of games from everyone and anyone couldn't tell what was crap or good like a lot of free to play games.

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[Thorzilla]

OH, easy answer.. NO. Neither of them will struggle.

+1 to this. This F2P bullshit will be over soon when people finally realize that it's really pay to win.