Sony Opts for Paid Model Over F2P in Live Service Games

Sony recently dedicated a significant portion of its State of Play event to showcasing the upcoming hero shooter Concord, signaling its intent to focus on live service games. Notably, Concord will launch at a $40 price point, similar to Helldivers 2, indicating a potential shift away from the free-to-play (F2P) model commonly used in live service games. This approach may create difficulties, but it could ultimately result in a more stable business model. The decision to release Concord at a paid price point, rather than adopting a F2P model, suggests that Sony is committed to this strategy. Although the company has not explicitly announced this approach, the pricing of Concord and Helldivers 2 implies a level of commitment to the paid model. Sony's choice to use this pricing strategy for both a co-operative PvE game like Helldivers 2 and a PvP hero shooter like Concord indicates a potential "house style" for live service games. This approach may involve an upfront payment, albeit at a competitive price, which could have significant implications for the types of live service games Sony will launch in the future. The prevailing industry logic suggests that F2P models are necessary to remove barriers to entry and attract the maximum number of players. However, Sony's decision to opt for a paid model may be influenced by the success of Helldivers 2, which has become the fastest-selling PlayStation game to date. The company may be relying on this data point to inform its strategy, despite the potential risks associated with premium-priced live service games. The advantages of F2P models for live service games include encouraging a wider player base, improving the experience for paying players, and facilitating cross-platform play. Nevertheless, Sony's decision to avoid F2P may be driven by a desire to reduce player churn, create a more invested community, and leverage the PS Plus subscription service to offer games for free without adopting a F2P model. By choosing a paid model, Sony may be able to mitigate the risks associated with F2P games, such as toxic player behavior and a lack of engagement from non-paying players. Ultimately, Sony's decision to opt for a paid model over F2P may be a calculated risk, but one that could potentially lead to a more sustainable live service business in the long term.