Crytek switching to “entirely free-to-play” development

Freeeeeeeeeeedom!

Tarryn van der BylJune 8, 2012

In news not even my Magic 8 Ball could have predicted, Crytek boss Cevat Yerli has announced that his studio would be dumping boxed games and moving into free-to-play development exclusively. The company is busy with Crysis 3, Homefront 2, and Kinect title Ryse, but once those games are out, it’s all about the free-to-play market.

“Right now we are in the transitional phase of our company, transitioning from packaged goods games into an entirely free-to-play experience,” Yerli told Videogamer. “What this entails is that our future, all the new games that we’re working on, as well new projects, new platforms and technologies, are designed around free-to-play and online, with the highest quality development.”

That means AAA, multi-million dollar games on a $0 gaming budget for consumers.

“As is evident in Warface, our approach is to ensure the best quality, console game quality,” he said. “That implies budgets of between $10m to $30m – so no compromise there – but at the price-point of $0 entry.

“I think this is a new breed of games that has to happen to change the landscape, and be the most user-friendly business model.”

My Magic 8-Ball said “NO DOUBT ABOUT IT”, but then I asked it if there’s still a future for boxed games, and it replied that, “INDICATORS SAY YES”. I think my Magic 8-Ball needs more coffee or something. Magic 8-Ball said “SO IT SHALL BE”.