14 DAY TRIAL // Sony Online Entertainment plans to gradually introduce the game’s monetization options during EverQuest Next Landmark’s testing phases.
Dave Georgeson, director of development at SOE, stated on Sony's forums that although the upcoming role playing game will be free-to-play, it will still require some sort of economy in order to be sustainable.
The upcoming introduction of microtransactions to the game will be closely monitored, along with feedback from players, in order to integrate the monetization system as seamlessly as possible.
The first iteration was the introduction of the Founder Packs in January, which allowed buyers access to the game’s closed alpha test.
SOE has reported that it will begin to introduce more options and that it will start selling various items toward the end of the alpha, offering players commodities such as in-game resources and clothing.
Georgeson has pointed out that the current resource progression system, made by purchases, will be changed when the final version rolls out, for now being implemented in order to provide players with some sort of “time shortcut.”
The team behind the ambitious project has stated its confidence that the game will be able to support itself without any compromises regarding gameplay balance.
“Currently, our progression game is limited by resources, so selling those resources may seem like we’re allowing you to pay for power. But our current game progression is not the intended real progression.
“Very soon, you’ll only need handfuls of resources to make picks and other tools. Tool and item progression will be limited by activities completed and achievements gained...not by resources,” Georgeson revealed.
As the alpha closes completion, more time purchase options will be made available, introducing home upkeep, market stall renting and numerous crafting shortcuts, such conveniences being offered in order to speed up the whole process and projected not to affect game balance in any way, as the same results can be achieved by going through the motions in-game.
The company has announced plans to launch the Player Studio when the game will transition into closed beta, allowing players to create, submit and purchase various templates through the in-game store, a time around which a new wave of buyable items will also be introduced, currently planned additions being sound and music packs, cosmetic pets, name and gender changes and others.
EverQuest Next and EverQuest Next Landmark are currently expected to launch sometime during 2015, and apart from the initially announced target platform, the PC, they will also be available on Sony’s next-gen entertainment system, the PlayStation 4.