Report: Blizzard working on F2P game

Blizzard is reportedly working on an unannounced free-to-play game, in an effort to offer microtransaction-based revenue streams alongside subscriptions.

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Blizzard Entertainment is reportedly working on a free-to-play project, though the exact identity of the game is unknown. This is being referred to as the first step in an overall shift in the company's business strategy, ultimately leading to offering both subscription and microtransaction-based titles side-by-side.

The Develop source claims that the F2P title is an unannounced game, which would discount the most obvious possibility of Blizzard DOTA. Project Titan technically hasn't been formally announced, so that could be the mystery game, or it could be an entirely new project.

We've seen speculation about Titan as a free-to-play game before, especially with the possibility of alternate advertising models. Meanwhile Blizzard's current hit MMO, World of Warcraft, is free-to-play up to level 20.

Blizzard COO Paul Sams noted last year that a F2P model is "possible" for the company, but "at this point we haven't decided to make a game where that is the model. But that doesn't mean that we won't." Titan was in development at the time, so if the game is going free-to-play, it must have been decided since then.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    February 23, 2012 10:45 AM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Report: Blizzard working on F2P game.

    Blizzard is reportedly working on an unannounced free-to-play game, in an effort to offer microtransaction-based revenue streams alongside subscriptions.

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      February 23, 2012 11:11 AM

      It's cool, whatever it is we won't see it until 2015.

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        February 23, 2012 11:23 AM

        That's a bit optimistic.

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          February 23, 2012 11:37 AM

          I think Furyofthefilmfan means the first concept art we'll see is in 2015.

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      February 23, 2012 11:18 AM

      Diablo 3 console edition.

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        February 23, 2012 11:23 AM

        [deleted]

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          February 23, 2012 11:29 AM

          It has to be an unannounced game though, which means it can only be Diablo 3 console edition or

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            February 23, 2012 11:40 AM

            Unannounced GAME, yes. Diablo 3 is announced, sillypants. A specific edition doesn't count..

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              February 23, 2012 11:49 AM

              Diablo 3 the pc version was announced. Diablo 3 the console version has not been announced officially.

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                February 23, 2012 12:08 PM

                Aaaand it's the same game, just different editions. Officially or not. :)

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                  February 23, 2012 12:51 PM

                  One game works on a computer. The other game works on an xbox 360. If you think they are the same game go try to play some console games on your pc and vice versa. Don't worry I'll wait.

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                    February 23, 2012 3:42 PM

                    I am pretty sure its not the console version of Diablo 3 they are referring to here. Diablo 3 may have a real-money auction house but they haven't said they were adding a micro-transaction system typical of other MMOs.

                    This is likely something new. Generally when someone talks about Free-to-play model they are talking about a MMO or service based game. Diablo 3 isn't any of those things really.

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                    February 24, 2012 1:46 AM

                    Way to say nothing in two lines of text, kid. :) Just don't cry when you realize it isn't DIABLO 3Z ON CONCOLEZ, haha.

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      February 23, 2012 11:21 AM

      Blizzard Doh-tah!

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      February 23, 2012 11:53 AM

      Considering how good Blizzard is at taking existing game ideas and types (RTS, MMO, ARPG) and improving on them, this could be the best F2P yet.

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        February 23, 2012 1:20 PM

        Starcraft: Ghost? then again, that got cancelled so maybe the preserves the track record

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      February 23, 2012 12:01 PM

      [deleted]

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      February 23, 2012 12:58 PM

      If Blizzard hasn't announced it yet, that means its at least 5 years out.

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        February 23, 2012 1:05 PM

        I hope they announce it before they announce the Diablo 3 release date, just to see the blizzard forums blow up. They will assume all work has stopped on D3 and focused on this unannounced title. The wailing and gnashing of teeth when they released those V-Day pictures was hilarious. People complaining that the artists should be focusing on D3 not doodling.

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      February 23, 2012 1:02 PM

      Did anyone look at the source of this "story"?

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      February 23, 2012 1:02 PM

      With the blizzard store and the pets and mounts I thought they already had microtransction based ravenue? o.O

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      February 23, 2012 1:20 PM

      Think this may be Titan? Titan isn't officially "announced" yet, as we don't even know if that is its real name, so it's not entirely impossible. Maybe it's a F2P MMO?

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      February 23, 2012 4:27 PM

      I really can't see Blizzard getting another subscription based MMO to market, and I agreed with Smed when he mentioned that SW:TOR is probably going to be the last big sub-based MMO. It only makes sense - I'd be playing multiple games with different sets of friends if it weren't for subscriptions, and I'm the type to spend a little cash in F2P markets (shut up, I wanted the female Keeper of the Forest in HoN....).

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        February 23, 2012 6:30 PM

        I agree subscriptions basically anchor a player to a particular game. To win in the subscription model you have to out class and out spend the competitors. This found changes what is deemed a success and failure. As past MMO failures and rebirths show is that it isn't a sustainable model.

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      February 24, 2012 4:11 AM

      Origin Battle.Net Exclusive

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      February 24, 2012 4:29 AM

      "in an effort to offer microtransaction-based revenue streams alongside subscriptions." When they even talk to their customers like that you know that's no longer Blizzard talking.

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      February 24, 2012 6:07 AM

      I hate free to play ... it's a way of getting mass market == dumbed down game
      Way to go Crytek , fucking traitors.

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