400°

Crytek: 'The future of consoles is free-to-play'

Just a few weeks after Crytek saying that they are going free-to-play in the future, now Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli reinforces the idea and states that the platform holders just aren’t willing to accept digital-only and free-to-play online games.

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PopRocks3594328d ago

Doubt it. Current generation consoles don't make it easy for F2P games to coexist. Playstation 3 only has one (with another on the way I think) while the other two sit around with zip.

However, I heard the Wii U's infrastructure is more open and supports F2P. I'll be darned if the other two don't follow suit with their upcoming consoles and corresponding network upgrades.

alexkayl4328d ago

I guess it just takes one of them to take the risk (and reap the rewards) and the others will immediately jump aboard.

However, since the PS3 (for example) has a couple of F2P games, rejecting Warface doesn't seem like a sensible option, but we'll see how things turn out.

PopRocks3594328d ago

Seems like a no-brainer for me. Throw some free games to your audience to get them involved with the network and maybe they'll get more conventional games later.

For example, if Wii U got the non-vanilla version of TF2, I would be quite pleased.

zeal0us4328d ago

Sony accept F2P more than even the 2 corporations.

Nintendo had that E3 Ghost Recon Online Presentation

MS had a few MMO titles(excluding ff11) in the works but most dev would just trash the 360 development. Beside MS would most likely require XBL Gold if there was any F2P mmos coming to the 360 so truthfully it wouldn't be F2P.

pixelsword4328d ago

this article needs research. I can play DC Universe online from my PS3 right now for free, and Dust 514 is also free to play, so why would Crytek have problems when they aren't even going to be the first F2P game on the PS3?

gaffyh4327d ago

Crytek are probably saying this because none of the companies want to distribute the game for free, so even if it is free to play, it would take up space on the PS Store and XBLM, and it would take up bandwidth. And Sony charge publishers for the bandwidth usage of their games, and Microsoft do a similar thing I believe in some way.

sikbeta4327d ago

ALL games F2P @ the same time and you'll see just a bunch survive, everyone else will be f@*ed and then blame on something else and jump to another fad...

BattleAxe4327d ago

I think Microsoft would have to exit the gaming business for that to happen.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4327d ago
vividi4328d ago

sony has 2, DC and free realms

ABizzel14327d ago

PS Home can be considered F2P since it has games in it as well.

MAG is now F2P, and I'm sure there are others.

FunAndGun4327d ago

@dead_eye

KZ3 is not F2P. it is just a demo up to level 10, then you have to buy the game if you want to keep playing.

not the same as a Free to Play game.

miyamoto4327d ago

For the PS Vita is Phantasy Star Online 2 by Sega.

And Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation for the PS3 by Namco Bandai baby!

Freemium games galore!

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4327d ago
WeskerChildReborned4328d ago

Technically two with free realms which is not really worth mentioning.

humbleopinion4328d ago

Microsoft already announced Ascend which is going to be their first F2P game.
I recall that Joyride was also supposed to be F2P, but unfortunately they turned it to a Kinect game (and then released the sequel as a regular arcade game).

alexkayl4328d ago (Edited 4328d ago )

Things are starting to change, but a couple of games each year are still not enough to push more developers to it.

dead_eye4327d ago

So what your saying is until Ascend is released and we know it's f2p then it's probably not a good idea to count it as one just yet.

DragonKnight4327d ago

Sorry but, if you are required to pay for Live Gold in order to access the online to play the f2p game, then it's not f2p. Free to play means that it costs you literally nothing to play the game, which will NEVER happen on a Microsoft console.

humbleopinion4326d ago

@dead_eye,

Yep, that's what I'm saying. There have also been countless F2P games expected to hit the consoles like Huxley and Conan, and eventually nothing came out of it.

On the other hand, coming to think about it The X360 already supports a number of entirely f2p games - only these are not MMOs. Aegis Wing is a free game available for everyone (either Gold or Silver members), some sponsored games were also available for free in the past, and sometimes there's the occasional free table in pinballFX (which is also free to download, and you have to pay for individual tables). So I guess DragonKnight got it all wrong.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4326d ago
badz1494328d ago

especially regarding Sony. like many here have said, Free Realms, DCU Online and soon Dust514, I don't see how Sony is against the idea. in fact, HOME is a F2P game too

alexkayl4328d ago

If they rejected Warface, then they're not entirely clear on their intentions. And by having a couple of F2P games doesn't mean they want every game to be free.

DragonKnight4327d ago

Maybe they rejected Warface because they don't like Crytek. Ever thought of that? Maybe they don't want to spend bandwidth dollars on a game they don't think is worth having on PSN? There could be any number of reasons for Warface to have been rejected, Crytek is just whining.

Tachyon_Nova4327d ago

What he was saying is that they have a dependence on retail they arent willing to shrug off, which is clearly true...

badz1494327d ago

maybe instead of using PSN, CRYTEK wants to have a total control over Warface like Konami was with MGO and their stupid Konami ID. who knows

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4327d ago
kevinsheeks4328d ago

They should follow it if you can't adapt you get left behind

ATi_Elite4327d ago

"I've believed for about a year now that as soon as tablets can stream on to TVs, then there's no reason why you should buy a console anymore."

Smartest thing I've heard from Crytek in awhile! Too bad this is OLD News cause many Tablets and Smartphones have video out ports already allowing them to Stream to TV's, buy a $30 dongle and connect them to your TV!!

Seriously though about time the Next Gen consoles get released, Tablets will be just as powerful as The Next Gen Consoles.

Now as far as Free 2Play Crytek is right about console/Retail/hardware business model cause Sony/MS/Ninty need stores to sell their hardware.

F2p works very very well on the PC and has the PC raking in the money! Zynga, Valve, Blizzard, Nexon EACH makes over a Billion dollars yearly just on GAMES and PC gaming as a whole made over $18 Billion last year!

Consoles will incorporate more F2P and micro-transactions into their games next Gen especially with the influx of MMO's Next Gen on consoles.

Sony/MS/Ninty are gonna have to quickly change their business models to keep up with changing Tech. The PC being the Leader has already shown the world how it's done.

EA has several F2P titles with each game bringing in over $3 million a month and growing and these are not even close to being AAA titles.

vortis4327d ago

According to the stats, though, mobile gaming (tablets/phones/etc.,) absolutely pale in comparison to home console retail numbers:

http://www.cinemablend.com/...

http://www.gamesindustry.bi...

Tyre4327d ago (Edited 4327d ago )

@ATI Elite U just say this cause ur a PC gamer and a console hater. F2P the way Crytek means it, is OK(they mean well). But most other companies want to deceive gamers with F2P and charge the hell out of DLC after u started a gimped half made game...it is a horrible way to get gamers into the online only gaming. Just because it is too early for streaming only, they make up this stuff, so we get used to online only gaming and less ownership and not question it. They can try but i hope gamers will not fall for this deception. They can stick F2P up their *rses. This will result in segregation amongst gamers, pay to play the rest of the game, we will all be scattered and they will make loads of unjustified profits.

Ducky4327d ago (Edited 4327d ago )

^ You're acting like this hasn't already happened with existing paid games.

Let's go over the elements of a typical F2P game:
- Everyone can play the game
- Maps and game-modes will typically be available to all, but paying members might get earlier access
- Players can pay for 'boosts' which let them unlock things either instantly or faster than normal
- Players can pay for exclusive cosmetic items that have little impact on gameplay, but look fancy
- Players can purchase exclusive paid-only items (such as weapons if it's an FPS game) which might give the paying members an advantage in gameplay (a characteristic of 'pay-to-win' games)

Ok, now, look at Battlefield3 and its premium model. It has almost all of the traits of a F2P game, except it isn't free. (You can also purchase 'unlock kits' which will unlock items without having to level up)
... and it would appear that other games are also starting to do something similar by offering 'passes' that offer similar bonuses to players who pay more than everyone else.

avengers19784327d ago

and then they will kill us with micro transactions... I would rather pay 60$ for the game and not have to spend 100$ to make it worth while.

specialguest4327d ago

There will be companies that will abuse the F2P model. We'll end up paying more in the long run for what would have been considered a "complete" retail version of a game.

Persistantthug4327d ago

There are some Japanese/Korean based ones like UNCHARTED WATERS ONLINE, and another called ANGEL ONLINE.....they are in the Japanese store.

Then of course we've got FREE REALMS, DC UNIVERSE, KILLZONE 3, and the upcoming DUST 514.

xAlmostPro4327d ago (Edited 4327d ago )

Hi Crytek, prove it and make Crysis 3 or the next edtion of Crysis 2 free to play for us all :)

Crazyglues4327d ago (Edited 4327d ago )

I don't see how this could work, when you start to give people stuff for free then free is all they want.. it kinda takes away the value..

Kinda like if you can download the Music for free why would you want to pay for it?

-But it would be interesting to see if they can actually make this work, but I don't see how it's going to make people want to buy it...?

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ATi_Elite4327d ago

The PC has been doing F2P for years now and the PC made $18 Billion dollars last year and will surpass that this year.

F2P lets you play games for free and spend money on them to customize weapons, characters, or level up faster.

Free 2 play works Great for everyone and the PC has proven it which is why consoles will be getting this business model now.

If you have questions about F2P ask me i know almost everything about it and can give you a Long list of great F2P games.

I'm currently in the Firefall MP Beta and this is a AAA+ F2P game and it's awesome and I haven't even touched the SP mode yet!

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 4326d ago
Crazyglues4327d ago (Edited 4327d ago )

Yeah that's a good example, but will Dust514 make it's money back, the money it cost to make the game..?? -we shall see, it's not a successful idea just yet, but I guess we will see if this works..

and if this is what Gamers want.

but would they have made a better profit if the game was just a little cheaper instead of free? I can't wait to check it out, I hope the game is really good, this will be a good test of this idea of making games free to play. -if they can make it work.

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THC CELL4328d ago

I highly doubt Sony are against it, intact it looks to me Sony are pushing it

fermcr4328d ago (Edited 4328d ago )

Sony supports F2P... on their consoles and PC.

Microsoft and Nintendo don't give anything for free. If you want, you pay.

Series_IIa4328d ago

MS Flight is free and so is Age of Empire online

alexkayl4328d ago

But that's on PC, not on Xbox 360...

shackdaddy4327d ago (Edited 4327d ago )

Nintendo gives out free games all the time and their wiiu supports f2p games and microtransactions...

Microsoft is the company that doesnt support it (on their consoles at least)

doctorstrange4328d ago

Dust, PlayStation Home, that terrible Treasures of Montezuma Blitz

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150°

Sony Patents To Prevent You From In-Game Harassment By Reading Your Emotions

A new patent recently published by Sony wants to gather biometric data of gamers to track whether one is being harassed using AI tools.

Profchaos7d ago (Edited 7d ago )

I hope this is one of those patents that never comes to fruition.

I already dislike the fact you can pay a significant amount for a online service buy associated games and content on said service and get banned from that service over potentially a misunderstanding the bans are already handed out for flimsy reasons

I'd rather see money invested in a ban that simply removes the offensive players ability to communicate with unknown players allow them to continue party chats with friends but not with Joe blow on cod.

exputers7d ago

Agreed. Blizzard recently banned a college Overwatch 2 player who's dependent for saying "shit." Pretty harsh.

Profchaos7d ago (Edited 7d ago )

How rediculas really. You can't say a word that's allowed in most PG films and prime time TV but the game is based around killing the enemy team using guns, explosives etc.

It's just backwards.

just_looken7d ago

What your talking about is called block list

In 2006 a spaceship dropped of the playstation 3/xbox 360 i say that that generation was the last great gen with game functions/tech that has yet to comeback

Anyhow the playstation 3 if you block listed a id they could not talk to you in chatroom with either text or voice. But that was pre mind fucked 2018 when people were more human than sheep.

But hey gta 6 is coming out billion dollar budget without a single player custom character creator and without singeplayer coop off/online something saints row 1-3 had on the xbox 360.

z2g7d ago

Take my social security and bank account numbers too! Here’s a picture of my wife and our address.

phoenixwing7d ago

Cmon where's the pictures of your children. Don't hold out on them.

H97d ago

At this rate I feel Sony will eventually sell a room to play games in it where they can monitor your every breath

jambola7d ago

I genuinely get a bit worried sometimes when a friend says something that could be offensive In a party
Because I have no trouble believing some bans would happen when in a private party for saying something wrong

SegaSaturn6697d ago

I want them to censor erotic content by measuring my groin temperature so i dont get too distracted while playing black ops 2.

Popsicle7d ago

Terrible idea. Not only do I not consent to providing my biometric data, the potential for mishandling biometric data is almost a certainty. Positive stress and negative stress can produce similar changes in biometrics. Interpreting the precise emotion a person is feeling is not only invasive but could be easily misconstrued. I hope this never comes to fruition.

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130°

Sony Could Increase Your Game's Difficulty If It Sees You Complain About It

Sony has recently published a new patent that wants to dynamically handle the games' difficulty and gameplay based on the player's emotions.

jznrpg8d ago

This is something I might use. Sometimes I play some good games but they don’t have difficulty option and are a little too easy.

Profchaos8d ago

Souls games will be like that players struggling make it harder

PassNextquestion8d ago (Edited 8d ago )

I think if used correctly it could work well

jambola8d ago

cool idea
cool idea for horror games especially
the way it's explained here sounds like it could never be forced hopefully, so that's ok with me

Show all comments (8)
80°

Nintendo's Massacre Of The 3DS And Wii U Is Finally Complete, Regrettably

Hanzala from eXputer: "The cruel hammer of Nintendo has fallen. Farewell, 3DS and Wii U, you surely brightened my life and many others; you won't be forgotten."