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Rumor: MS adding free-to-play games to Xbox Live in 2012

by JC Fletcher on Apr 11th 2011 3:30PM

According to an anonymous source speaking to IGN, Microsoft will begin releasing microtransaction-based, free-to-play games on Xbox Live Arcade ... just a bit too late for poor Dungeon Fighter Online (pictured).

The functionality required for such a game exists on XBLA already (free games and in-game purchasing). In addition, Microsoft has previously made tentative steps toward free-to-play in the past with Joy Ride, followed by a sprint away from free-to-play when Joy Ride became a full-priced retail game.

Despite the existing tech, and the history, IGN makes it sound like a new infrastructure specifically for free-to-play games will be made available to developers and publishers.

Source: IGN

Tags: free-to-play, microsoft, microtransactions, xbla, xbox

Reader Comments (49)

Microsoft.... free to play? hahahahaha... Only if they can cancel it and turn it into a paid poker game instead.

@SisypheanLife It's a Microsoft rumor so it is true.

@SisypheanLife

Its technically not going to be F2P anyways, you'll most likely need to have Gold just to play the game, so there is one associated cost. Then there will be the ever-so-fun conversion of money into microsoft points into whatever, or the like.

@SisypheanLife

I see what you did there.
R.I.P. 1 vs. 100 (pours out a 40 on The One's platform in the Sprint Arena)

@SisypheanLife haha, yeah

@DevilSei
EXACTLY what i thought... xD
When i need to pay to be able to play (with a game thats online-only there's no other way to play it on the XBox), i don't call it "F2P"!

Wha??!

Microsoft would add something free the year the world's supposed to end :P

You get what you pay for...

Free is crap. Always is, always will be.

@Apakal

It's sad that consumerism has done that to you.

I had a free hot dog once, it was pretty good.

You're right, Steam is horrible.
/sarcasm

@zero2dash

Steam has free games??

@zero2dash

I would argue, if I had ever actually used Steam before.

Though that's probably telling enough in itself that I've managed to play video games for 20 years without this incredible free service Steam provides...

@Urethra Alfredo

Here's a short list, plus they have promotions from time to time, such as when Portal was free.

@SisypheanLife http://gameolosophy.com/games/free-games-on-steam/

@Apakal it says nothing good.

@Cleric

Its sad that you think hot dogs can be good. Talk about consumerism...

@Apakal

It's sad that you're so self absorbed you literally think hot dogs are pathetic and beneath you.

@Lucky48

Blended, processes, chemically-washed, and put into a synthetic tube sounds delicious to you?

@ Colin

So not shoveling crap into my mouth on a daily basis makes me self-absorbed? I'm okay with that. Yes hot dogs are beneath me, as they should be for any person who isn't starving and has an ounce of self-respect.

When is free good again?

@Apakal

Winamp and Napster were pretty cool back in the day... and both were free.

@ngSliver

And look where they are now.

@(Unverified)
I know, I know!!

The "free" speech you're using right now?

What do I win? =)

@(Unverified)

I just put on a sweater because you're giving off so many douche chills.

Regardless, sometimes you can get something good for free. I don't think your sweeping generalizations hold up.

@(Unverified)
Are you serious? Hot dogs are one of mankind's greatest inventions.

@Lucky48

Is free PSN better than Plus? I am just curious since i am not a Playstation user. I know that Gold is better than Silver on XBL, so I am just wondering if that is how it is turning out on the PSN.

Free is good, I think, when it refers to choice or will.

@Cleric
Until u find out, what its made of... xD

1 vs 100 was free.... Joy Ride was supposed to be. I find it hard to believe Microsoft would be so kind keep to it

BRING BACK 1 vs 100!

Noooooooooooooo. I for one would much rather pay $15 than face a huge pile of tiny little buys.

@Acosta02

What if those purchases added up to less than $15 though? There are several XBLA games I'd have saved a ton of money on if i'd paid as I played instead of dropping the full amount outright.

@baby sea tuna

Well sure, but free to play games typically have micro-transactions that are intended to be repeated over and over or constantly add new things you need to buy to keep up. It's hard to look at a game like that and figure out how much you would "have" to buy.

You forgot to add

"Free 2 Play for the First Level"

Free to Play games with microtransactions (which aren't so micro when you can get full games off Steam or iOS for the same price.....) are actually quite lucrative. It's actually surprising that MS hasn't jumped on this yet.

If you look very very very closely it has a asterisk sign( * )

if you squint your eyes you can make out what it says

*Free isn't really free and it will only be free after you pay the initial 60/yr online fee, also, free will expire in a week.

@PR0F3TA Yeah, Xbox Live is still the "Pay to Pay to Play" service.

Knowing Microsoft, the 'free to play' games would have unavoidable advertisements from sponsors such as Sprint, the newest Halo map pack!, and Dr. Pepper among others that it would be next to impossible to actually play.

@andrewpoe yeah. I can only imagine it is going to boil down to "f2p" but the second you want to do anything you will be redirected to the XBL storefront to buy in game money or something.

@sammo21 you guys seems to be really unfamilar with f2p games. You should either try one or simply be quiet on subject matters you dont understand.

@andrewpoe Im not holding my breath, but if this becomes true then I might give MS another shot. They had me with the xbox, and blew it big time with the 360 buy rushing out crap and charging to play. Felt wrong paying for "Live" and since my crap kept messing up I traded everything in and went to the PS3. Thankfully I don't really miss my 360 at all other than playing Gears and a few rounds of Halo, I'm just glad Sony put their butts into gear once I woke up.

Omg its Farmville after all. Zynga was just tricking us

Pretty obvious you'll have to pay for it and then pay to keep playing because Microsoft.

@(Unverified) Er, that WAS the end. "Because Microsoft". Microsoft is the reason.

It's probably another Gold exclusive feature, meaning they're not Free-to-Play.

The Doritos sponsored games (and Yaris) are already free to play, so it's not like this is something new

"Microsoft."

"Free."

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk19/Threddd/black_guys_laughing.gif

Its finally happened. Pigs have grown wings.

♪Microsoft and free-to-play - 2 words combined that can't make sense
♪Possibly I've bought too much - PC gaming, I'll save so much

I don't really care for these free to play games anyways. Thats not why I bought an Xbox for.

Microsoft and free in the same sentence?

Don't be ridiculous

Breaking News

Rumor: MS adding free-to-play games to Xbox Live in 2012

Reader Comments (49)

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 3:33PM SisypheanLife said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 3:46PM Ellimem said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 4:05PM DevilSei said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 4:11PM FinderKeeper said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 4:15PM sammo21 said

Posted: Apr 12th 2011 6:10AM ThePlake0815 said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 3:34PM bloodlinejake said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 3:35PM TerryMasters said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 3:43PM Apakal said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 3:48PM Cleric said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 3:51PM zero2dash said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 3:57PM Urethra Alfredo said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 4:02PM Apakal said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 4:08PM SisypheanLife said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 4:08PM SisypheanLife said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 4:15PM sammo21 said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 4:23PM Apakal said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 4:58PM Colin said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 5:15PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 5:18PM ngSliver said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 5:28PM Apakal said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 6:22PM Mmmmz said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 6:25PM Colin said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 7:53PM MV93 said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 8:18PM RedgeHammer said

Posted: Apr 12th 2011 6:11AM ThePlake0815 said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 3:44PM Milkman4321 said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 3:45PM Mr Hett said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 3:45PM Acosta02 said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 3:58PM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 4:01PM Acosta02 said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 3:46PM xiLeShadow said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 3:50PM VeeDeeVee said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 3:51PM PR0F3TA said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 4:20PM sammo21 said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 3:59PM andrewpoe said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 4:16PM sammo21 said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 4:38PM Jack Kevorkian said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 5:56PM The angry pro consumer gaming ga said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 4:08PM The Tim said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 4:31PM Exu said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 6:01PM Exu said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 4:38PM CrashTunoku said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 4:50PM ShingoEX said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 4:51PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 5:02PM Hookah said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 9:42PM ViolentStCannon said

Posted: Apr 11th 2011 9:54PM GlockXIII said

Posted: Apr 12th 2011 8:29AM Land0fChocolate said

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