Have you ever noticed that the traditional client game developers or publishers are expanding their business to free to play online games on pc end?
Not long before, Blizzard has announced Heroes of the Storm, a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena game will soon be opened to the public. This game stopped the close beta in August, 2013 and started its open beta last year. You have free access to this game but in which way it makes profits? Just like other free to play games, you need to pay for the mount, equipment or skins of a higher degree.
Coincidentally, 343 industries has announced not long before the free to play multiplayer game "Halo Online" will soon starts its close beta in Russia. Halo online is designed a totally new pc experience tailored for Russian gamers. The game is set on a secret UNSC space stationed called “Anvil” where Spartan-IV soldiers train for battle and test brand new experimental technology. Close beta for this game was planned to released in later Spring this year in Russia but the specific date has not been announced yet.
Both Blizzard and 343 industries are big brothers in the game industries but why the traditional client game developers start to dispute the free to play market?
It's easy to gain players on pc and mobile end than on consoles. If only there are net and computer or smartphone, players can start playing games. Since there are uncountable free games was released on pc and smartphones every day, why players choose a "first pay, then play" game? The right strategy I think is to grab enough players first with the game spot then start to consider the profit gaining.
Far more than free to play games will be a trend, free to play games on the mobile will certainly be the main strategy for the globe developers and publishers. For example, the Chinese game giant 37games is also exploring the mobile game market now.
It may come down to not just free to play but doing it right.Take League of Legend for example, that's how its done. Paying money doesn't give you an advantage. But Pay to win is usually how most Free to Play games go and it hurts it's growth and overall feel.Not matter what kind of the pattern of free to play game is, the universal use of smartphone will certainly bring forth the mobile game development. Will free to play game be the main stream? I think the answer is YES.
