Free-to-play games are now synonymous with the likes of Fortnite, Apex Legends and basically all battle royale games, and it was even the business model considered for BioWare’s Anthem until the company changed its mind.
Speaking to Edge magazine [via GamesRadar], BioWare’s Jonathan Warner revealed that when the game started development six years ago, it was planned to be free.
“We discussed a free-to-play model early on,” Warner said. “It just wasn’t a direction that the company was moving in – BioWare or EA. Dave Brevik did it with Marvel Heroes, and I think it’s an interesting business model. It has its ups and downs.”
When done well, free-to-play can be a huge moneymaker, as proven by Epic Games. Epic’s iconic game Fortnite uses the free-to-play model for its most-popular mode, Battle Royale. For its Save The World, loot llamas, skins and cosmetic goodies, you’ll be handing over your hard-earned cash.
Still, with the game literally bringing in billions for Epic Games, it only proves that free-to-play can be successful, but only if the base game is a hit on its own.
Who’s going to want to play a game that’s not fun, even if it is free? At least by selling a title for standard AAA prices, a company can guarantee money coming in, even it might not be as much as the free-to-play model could potentially collect (looking at you, Fallout 76).
There are a tonne of other issues commonly associated with free-to-play games, including balancing items and skill sets.
@PlayApex @Respawn AL was fun while it lasted, but the terrible gun balance is really proving the stigma attached to “free to play”. Peacekeeper one shoting full health and purple armor is a joke. Bring on #Anthem please!
— Hail King Bear (@hail_king_bear) February 12, 2019
The free-to-play model has divided opinions, with some loving and some lamenting the increasingly-popular way to sell a game.
Fortnite gets to sell $20 skins because its a better then AAA quality game that is free to play. Anthem is a $60 base game and will most likely have paid dlc. Its like these AAA devs are trying to kill there games. pic.twitter.com/xf7YoTeuO0
— Korey (@Koreyzzz) January 30, 2019
What’s your opinion?
Anthem will launch on February 22 2019. Are you picking it up?
Featured Image Credit: BioWare/EA.