A free-to-play game sounds too good to be true. Free to download? Cool!
However, the business model relies heavily upon microtransactions, little purchases gamers must make if they wish to obtain new items, skills, and other content. It’s a slippery slope, but Capcom believes they’ve hit on the right approach for their new F2P PlayStation 4 exclusive Deep Down.
In speaking on the company’s official website, deputy head of consumer games Yoshinori Ono talked about their goals for the game: Above all else, they want to keep the player playing.
“When we develop an online game, we aim to create a game that allows people already playing it to continue enjoying it. At the same time, we try to avoid boosting the number of players just for the sake of getting new people to play.
The game Deep Down is provided free of charge, but players are required to pay for additional items and other game content. To ensure people playing the game don’t lose interest, we will keep working to deliver stable long-term services.”
He didn’t provide us with exact pricing details, but he did say microtransaction prices will be “reasonable.” Furthermore, the fans will dictate much of the extra content Capcom produces, so gamers should feel a little better about shelling out the cash. You asked for it, after all.
I’m not the biggest fan of this F2P model but it appears to be working, so…
