Why DC Universe is Going Free-to-Play

Eurogamer: DC Universe Online is going free-to-play to "open up" the game to a wider audience, according to the game's executive producer Lorin Jameson.

Speaking to Eurogamer earlier today, Jameson explained that the move, announced earlier this week, is also a reaction to player feedback demanding different ways to play the game.

[TekoIie]

This is some of the best news this year for me :) Loved the beta but didnt want to have to pay to continuously play a single game.

But with it going free they can expect me purchasing it brand new!!!!!

[DirtyLary]

Its a fun game. Got my ps3 dualshock working on the pc version and it ran flawless. It suffered from redundant content, iffy pvp mechanics. Hopefully most of it is fixed.

[guitarded77]

@Pekolie

Ummm... you don't have to buy it, it's going to be free to download. They are doing away with the retail disc since it's going free to play.

[itsralf]

So I paid $60 for the disc for nothing?

[antz1104]

^ Its not nothing if you got to play it for a year while the rest of us waited.

Otherwise if you just bought it......YUP.

[ElementX]

It's going free because people aren't subscribing.

" "No, I think we've been doing really quite well. We sold a lot of copies, we've had a lot of people paying and playing the game. This was just a way to open up to even more folks."

Jameson wouldn't offer up any figures, but insisted the game is in good health."

We all know the truth.

[LOGICWINS]

"It's going free because people aren't subscribing."

Obvs...why else would you suddenly offer something for free if "a lot" of people were paying for it.

[Ace_Man_6]

i agree with you but TF2 on Steam has gone Free-to-Play, and that does amazingly well

[Dark_king]

because they can make more money with the free-to-play nickel and diming method then the subscription alone.For the most part it is doing good.Its just why settle for good when you can do great.

[Bolts]

TF2 going for free is different. Valve wanted to use TF as a sale promotion platform. It wouldn't make any sense for them to offer TF2 hats and gear on Skyrim preorders if most customer doesn't already own TF2.

Their solution, give it away for free so they can use it to promote sales of other games. Brilliant really.

[evrfighter]

well ya they sold a lot of copies. I own 2 on my lan but I don't see myself picking this titles up again.

especially now since I don't bother with f2p titles. I'd gladly give up mmo's altogether if they all go pay to win. The only thing they are good for is to kill time waiting for the next big game to come out.

[SoapShoes]

Yeah well apparently not because this is Sony Online's best selling game to date, even higher than Everquest.

[BlackTar187]

Well i think a successful Micro transaction game nerfs alot of pay to play income. That's just how it is which is why these micro transaction companies are getting so big. Who would have thought element x and logicwin are the first to say its because of something bad. You guys need to stay out of article on stuff you don't care about.

[gumchewinasskikr]

Elementx

Really? We all know the truth? I haven't a clue because I don't know the figures. but I do know I have several friends who are addicted to it.

What is more likely is that the free and pay for in game stuff model has in the past shown to be more successful than a retail model. Lots of games use it on Apple IOS system, SOE's own everquest uses it, and home is very successful using it.

[Soldierone]

Finally....so glad I had the power to hold out this long. No way to get rid of the disc once you played it, and I hate pay to play. Now that its going to be free ill gladly buy the game as soon as it happens!

[J_Cob]

From what I read on various website you'll be able to download the game for free on PSN so no need to buy a disc again unless you want a physical copy. I could be wrong as sites can be unreliable nowadays.

[Soldierone]

Yeah Im just waiting to see if the discs go on sale somewhere. They come with a free month so i could get the trophies during that free month since you cant get them without paying.

[J_Cob]

Just based off the fact that it'll be a free download I'm guessing the physical copy will drop in price dramatically. I'll probably pick it up too since I'm running low on HDD space. Nice talking with you.

[NYC_Gamer]

Because not many users are paying the monthly fee

[Blaze929]

It's going free to play because many won't pay to play.

[Megaton]

Because it was a disastrous flop, like most MMO's? It's very hard to achieve success with the P2P model. Everyone wants to be the next WoW, but they just end up in the P2P graveyard if they're too stubborn to change up when they see the writing on the wall after the typical lackluster launch.

[badboy7428]

I might buy it.

[beast242tru]

i played a little of free realms and im ready to buy a subscription it mite be same thing in this game

[Neko_Mega]

People that say its because you pay to play, are 360 users.

Which is funny because you pay for less for XBL.

[ryhanon]

You really can't compare the two, not that I'm a fan of having to pay to play online with my 360 (I actually cancelled my gold sub last year). Paying the XBL fee (regardless of how you personally feel about it) grants you the capability to play any game online. Paying to play an MMO grants you the capability to play a single game online. These are completely different things.

[Neko_Mega]

They why you put it, it sounds about the same thing minus it being one game.

[Soldierone]

I actually only play online with my PS3, don't pay for live, and hate pay to play games. Its an auto turn off for me. Why should I shell out 60 dollars, 74 with tax, and then be forced to pay another 15 dollars a month to play said game? Am I paying 74 dollars just to look at the disc?

With the Star Wars game it feels a little differnt. They are taking the effort in voices for every single line in the game, that costs money, and if there are a lot of updates and added missions that would be worth it.

[BlackTar187]

where do you live that you pay $15 in tax on 60 purchase.

If you but games monthly then this will save you money or it would have if you got hooked and only paid $15 a month instead of $60 every 2-3weeks for the newest game.

[Grimhammer00]

Lol. I saw this coming before even the launch.

[user858621]

Its going free because it wasn't worth subscription, biggest put off to me was combining pvp with pve

[PirateThom]

The P2P model is, thankfully, dying. Microstransactions and premium subs will definitely take over in the MMO space. WoW has P2P locked down. The Old Republic will be the next to suffer this fate.

[admiralthrawn87]

lack of content, lackluster gameplay. it it was a good game, the people that started wouldnt have left.

sorry to say but the MMO market is extremely tough. You either do everything right or don't do it at all.

With WOW, Guild Wars 2, the old republic, and to an extent Rift...theres just not enough room for an MMO that is only kind of fun

[Knightofelemia]

I was going to get this game when it came out but I don't want to pay a monthly subscription fee. Now I am going to pick it up since its free to play but I wonder how long that free to play will last before a person has to pay again.

[Dark_king]

I believe it will be free to download next month so don't go and actually buy it.

[nefertis]

Eventually i will get back in but im playing wkc 2 which is taking up more of my gameplay time. Im about too get my avatar knight.

[jessupj]

I hear it's still quite limited though. Players are capped to level 5 and trophies are disabled unless you pay.

Can anyone clarify this for me? Lots of sites are telling me different things.

[Soldierone]

Of everything I read so far, the only true thing there is there will be no trophies for non-paid players. Sony doesn't allow "free" games to offer trophies. Which is stupid since several services in Japan have trophies for simply watching TV.

http://www.dcuniverseonline... (Official list of differences)

[Brownghost]

Yay thanks to microtransactions more games are going F2P

[itsralf]

i hate microtransactions but i hate $15/month subscription fees even more i think.

[Tres21]

im glad it goin free 2 play i had a character under my friends acct who use 2 stay wit cuz he wanted the game & didnt mind the sub-fee i just wish i could get that character transfered over 2 my acct

[TheCopyNinja]

If anything theyll gain more subs this way.By making it free theyre letting ppl really enjoy the game without worrying about paying every month or having a time limit. Those that really enjoy it will probaly buy the premium/legendary and those that dont will simply miss out on nice content.

[outwar6010]

hell yeah!!

[buddymagoo]

I'm looking forward to it as it means more of my friends will be playing

[tickticktick]

Not enough people playing it to make any money. Kinda like every other MMO accept WoW and Everquest.