Today CCP Games announced that it’s PlayStation 3 exclusive, Dust 514, will be the first Free to Play (FTP) MMO FPS on a console. Dust 514 is the first game of its kind. An FPS in a persistent and massively shared, EVE Universe. Upon release the game will be free to download off of the PlayStation Store and players will be able to jump right into the action.
Before I get ahead of myself, I’d like to take a moment to explain exactly what Dust 514 is. It’s the first MMO FPS of its kind. The game is largely based around gaining territory, resources, and notoriety. It will bridge the gap between console, PC, and Mac. Players will work with or against each other in real-time across all three platforms on both Dust 514 and Eve Online. You wage war against your enemies to aid and advance your cause.
To this date, MMO’s on the PlayStation 3 have proven to be less than successful. We have yet to see an MMO that has blown us away on the console. Dust 514 is promising to do just that. EVE Online and Dust 514 will be working hand in hand, actions taken in either one will have effects that will ripple across the entire EVE Universe. Players on the PS3 playing Dust 514 share a realistic player-driven economy that interacts with gamers on EVE Online who play on PC and Mac. As stated by CCP Games on their website “unlike in any other game, your actions can truly topple empires.”
Phil Rosenberg, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Sony Computer Entertainment America had the following to say about Dust 514 being FTP:
“As the first true free-to-play FPS on PS3, Dust 514 signifies a big step forward in the evolution of console gaming. PS3 is the only platform where players will experience a AAA game like this for free and showcases our commitment to deliver the best games exclusively on PlayStation Network.”
One can only hope that they’re practicing what they’re preaching. There have been a few MMO’s on the PS3 already that are free to play and they haven’t done so hot. On the other hand, the free to play model has been highly successful on PC over the past year. One shining example would have to be League of Legends. One can only hope that it transfers over to the console as well.
The one question that CCP left unanswered was what aspects of the game would actually be charged for. Earlier this year they stated that equipment in your loadout will be purchased using in game currency (just like in EVE Online) or you can actually use real life currency. Of course, something like this is optional, as most things in free to play games are.
The first global hands-on demonstration of DUST 514 will take place at CCP’s EVE Fanfest March 22-24 in Reykjavik, Iceland.
To learn more about the game visit CCP Games’ website, check out their youtube channel, or follow them on twitter.
