14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is keen on getting a share of the free-to-play market, at least according to a new report which says that the Xbox Live online service might soon receive free games, a first for the Xbox 360 console.
The North American company's notoriously difficult Xbox Live online service has become a bit infamous among developers that wanted to release free updates or DLC for the games that appeared on the Xbox 360 console.
Microsoft puts some severe limitations on any new content that appears on its Xbox Live service, but it seems that some of these things might be eliminated soon.
According to a report from IGN, publishers and developers will soon be able to release free-to-play games on the online service, and can then charge small amounts of money, or rather Microsoft Points, on microtransactions for virtual items.
The news is quite surprising, especially considering Microsoft's harsh policies, so expect the company itself to release the first few games until developers and publishers get used to the new system.
Free-to-play online games are becoming more and more popular these days, with companies like Electronic Arts saying that such titles, including the recent Battlefield Play4Free or Battlefield Heroes, are raking in more money than regular, $60 games, only through microtransactions.
If Microsoft in fact implements such a service, then it might prove to be quite popular, especially as big Xbox 360 exclusives are becoming rarer and rarer.
Sony has already released its first free-to-play online game on the PlayStation 3, in the form of Free Realms, which appeared last week, after becoming a huge success on the PC.
Microsoft could use its Games for Windows Live PC service to first test out the free games and then port them over to the Xbox 360.
Still, before you start getting anxious about such a possibility, remember that it's still just a rumor.