Will Free to Play Game be the Main Stream?

Have you ever noticed that the traditional client game developers or publishers are expanding their business to free to play online games on pc end?

Not long before, Blizzard has announced Heroes of the Storm, a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena game will soon be opened to the public. This game stopped the close beta in August, 2013 and started  its open beta last year. You have free access to this game but in which way it makes profits? Just like other free to play games, you need to pay for the mount, equipment or skins of a higher degree. 

Coincidentally, the 343 industries announced yesterday Halo online will begin its close beta exclusively in Russia this spring without clear date specified. This is also a free to play MMO game that 343 industries first tried to release on pc end.

Both Blizzard and 343 industries are big brothers in the game industries but why the traditional client game developers start to dispute the free to play market?

It's easy to gain players on pc and mobile end than on consoles. If only there are net and computer or smartphone, players can start playing games. Since there are uncountable free games was released on pc and smartphones every day, why players choose a "first pay, then play" game? The right strategy I think is to grab enough players first with the game spot then start to consider the profit gaining. 

Far more than free to play games will be a trend,  free to play games on the mobile will certainly be the main strategy for the globe developers and publishers. For example, the Chinese game giant 37games is also exploring the mobile game market now. 

The universal use of smartphone will certainly bring forth the mobile game development. Will free to play game be the main stream? I think the answer is YES.

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Halo Online- Multiplayer PC Version is Coming to Russia

343 industries has announced today the free to play multiplayer game "Halo Online" will soon starts its close beta in Russia. Halo online is designed a totally new pc experience tailored for Russian gamers. The game is set on a secret UNSC space stationed called “Anvil” where Spartan-IV soldiers train for battle and test brand new experimental technology. Close beta for this game was planned to released in later Spring this year in Russia but the specific date has not been announced yet.

As 343 industries revealed that halo online was built from the ground up as a MMO since they have no plans ever to bring it to Xbox One. 

For 343 industries, it is a learning opportunity for exploring the ways to welcome new fans to the “Halo” universe. During the closed beta, the gameplay, features and the in-game economy will be continuously adjusted and modified. 

" Right now our focus is on learning as much as we can from the closed beta period in Russia. Theoretically, any expansion outside of Russia would have to go through region-specific changes to address player expectations." stated by 343 industries.

Can we just speculate that if halo online succeed in Russia, will 343 industries expand their business on free to play game on pc end worldwide at the same time emphasizes localization in target market? If it does, there is still a long way to go.

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