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