business models
Overwatch 2’s Jon Spector confirms that hero unlocks will be on the free track of the battle pass
Blizzard has not been doing a great job of managing its leaks lately, and another one hit last night when a description of Overwatch...
Vague Patch Notes: The MMO term ‘pay-to-win’ is a red herring
It probably hasn't escaped anyone who has been reading my writing over the past several years that I have something of a vendetta against...
The Daily Grind: What do you think is right to charge for in a free-to-play MMO?
We all understand that free-to-play games still basically want your money, yes? That's the whole point of the business model. But the question is...
Fallout 76 clarifies that seasons will be free, with some potential Fallout 1st bonuses in the future
If there's one thing that Fallout 76 does remarkably well, it's making people angry about the way the game is monetized, all the way back...
Bless Unleashed offers a two-part preview of its cash shop
With Bless Unleashed finally approaching a launch, the developers want you to be aware of it and feeling good about giving it a spin. And...
The Daily Grind: What are your expectations from buy-to-play MMOs in 2019?
Because I am old I still remember the halcyon days when the original Guild Wars shocked the world with its plan to serve as a...
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is now free-to-play with a new battle royale mode
Gosh, the mighty have fallen when it comes to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The game isn't hemorrhaging players like certain other titles, but it does appear...
Saga of Lucimia’s creative director debates the merits of MMO business models
The debate over MMO business models is constantly ongoing: There are those who swear by monthly subscriptions, those who prefer strictly free-to-play, and those...
Surprise! Shroud of the Avatar is now officially free-to-play
Have you taken advantage of the fact that Shroud of the Avatar has gone free-to-play yet? Or are you staring at that with some...
The Daily Grind: Have you tried more MMOs now that almost everything is free-to-play?
It feels like a long time ago now (because it was about a decade) but I still vividly remember when Dungeons & Dragons Online...
EVE Evolved: Two ways that EVE Online’s monetisation could be expanded under Pearl Abyss
When Pearl Abyss bought out CCP Games last week, the overwhelming message to EVE Online players was that it would be business as usual...
Valve’s Artifact will feature no moderation and no cards earned through play
Oh boy.
If you've avoided hearing about Valve's upcoming digital card game, Artifact, you might want to take a look at the latest interview from...
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds plans longer embargos for its crates on the Steam market
Getting a crate in PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is meant to be a reward for the player, but it's also frequently meant something to resell on...
Champions Online puts subscription switch on hold in light of player disapproval
So, as we reported Friday, Champions Online was on deck to lose its subscriptions just like Star Trek Online. Except that as many, many players...
The Daily Grind: What would (or already did) convince you to buy an MMO lockbox?
Look, we know, none of the people reading this right now like lockboxes. And, you know, for good reason. But despite that dislike, lockboxes...
Ashes of Creation adds monthly time-limited pre-order packages to the tune of $500
Good news, Ashes of Creation fans, you can now give the development team more money! The team has rolled out new pre-order packages for...
Ubisoft investor presentation highlights the profit benefits of ‘games as a service’
Have you wondered why it is Ubisoft is so dedicated to putting out a continual string of games as a service, even its ostensibly...
The Daily Grind: What MMO will be the next to change up its business model dramatically?
You may not like it, but the vast majority of MMORPGs are free-to-play or buy-to-play as of 2018. EVE Online went free-to-play at the...
EVE Online’s Arms Race update offers more ships to free players today
Before you get too excited, let's note that today's update for EVE Online is not simply handing out ships like space travel-shaped candy. Free...
EA drops the costs of heroes – and reward payouts – in Star Wars: Battlefront II by 75%
Don't be too proud of the barrier to entry you've constructed; the ability to make in-game unlocks incredibly expensive is insignificant next to the...
