Blizzard Free-to-Play Game Rumor Resurfaces
It's still probably related to Blizzard's secret "Titan" project, but an insider swears Blizzard is expanding its business to the free-to-play players.
An unnamed source reportedly close to Blizzard told Develop that the California studio will indeed apply the free-to-play model in an upcoming, unannounced game. Riding on eight or more years of World of Warcraft's subscription-based success, Blizzard will reportedly expand its business opportunities by continuing to provide subscriptions while also addressing gamers who would rather pay for in-game content and play when they can.
It's quite possible that Blizzard's free-to-play model with World of Warcraft Starter has served as testing grounds, to see how many new gamers the model could attract. The studio certainly hasn't ruled out the possibility of using the F2P model outside World of Warcraft, it just reportedly doesn't plan to use that model in the near future... or at least, that was the attitude some time ago.
"It certainly is possible, if we find ourselves in that circumstance, or if we come up with a game where we think that’s the right business model, the most appropriate for players to experience it," said Blizzard COO Paul Sams during BlizzCon 2011. "We don’t have any opposition to the concept, it’s just that at this point, we haven’t decided to make a game where that is the model. But that doesn’t mean that we won’t."
Even if a F2P model isn't on the horizon, Blizzard may eventually cave in. EverQuest 2, EverQuest, Lord of the Rings Online, Dungeons & Dragons Online, City of Heroes, Star Trek Online, DC Universe, Team Fortress 2 and numerous others have or will in the near future introduce a F2P model, covering both the casual and hardcore MMOG player. The pressure is on, so to speak.
For a while F2P has typically been associated with Blizzard's mystery project called "Titan." This is reportedly a casual MMOG and may very well fall in line with other hybrid MMOGs. So far we know that Blizzard has 90 of its most experienced MMOG developers working on the title, and the emphasis of the game will be playing with people you know as opposed to strangers (Spells With Friends?). The game will even co-exist with World of Warcraft, meaning Blizzard doesn't expect WoW subscribers to jump ship in favor of the newer casual title.
"I believe [it's] the most ambitious thing we've ever attempted," Sams said almost a year ago. "And I feel like we have set our company up to succeed on that. So, hopefully in 10, 15 and 20 years, that [new MMO] will still be growing strong and will have set a new mark in the industry for that type of product."
Twenty years? Sounds like Blizzard is trying to create the next Pac-Man or Sonic the Hedgehog. Will World of Warcraft even last that long? EverQuest turns 13 next month and it's still going strong...

"Buy Kotick Kredits! Upgrade that 3 slot bag with only 100 Kredits! Need armor? No problem, only 500 Kredits! Need more than white armor? Get your tier set for only 5000 Kredits!"
If F2P didn't already have the reputation for being the opposite of free, I am sure Bobby Kotick will firmly cement that rep.
They want to get people on Bnet to upsell them
"Buy Kotick Kredits! Upgrade that 3 slot bag with only 100 Kredits! Need armor? No problem, only 500 Kredits! Need more than white armor? Get your tier set for only 5000 Kredits!"
If F2P didn't already have the reputation for being the opposite of free, I am sure Bobby Kotick will firmly cement that rep.
They want to get people on Bnet to upsell them
F2P gets a bad reputation because of how most game developers choose to set it up. It shouldn't adversely affect game play and in League of Legends plain and simple it doesn't.
F2P=/=P2W
Unfortunately F2P is P2W in many situations and ruins F2P's reputation.
It can't be "billions". 10 million subscribers, ca 100 $ per year of income => 1 billion $. Plus "bonus stuff", minus roughly 300 million $ for servers and staff. (they mentioned it cost that much once, maybe figure is lower now)
So around 1 billion, not "billions". Never been "billions". Still pretty damn good for 8 year old game.
Then of course come the usual high premium items only obtainable through real money spending. Devs can be so very innovative in what they create every time to make you drool over in order to buy..
WoW is only 6 and a half years old...
11 million(supposedly) at its peak @ $15 a month = 165,000,000 a month * 12 months = 1,980,000,000 * 6 years = 11,880,000,000.....
and of course... blizzard never says how many subs they truely have... rumors and speculation are based off of so called WoW census data... which is inaccurate...
Only Asian MMO's and EA FTP titles.
Not exactly, around half of those subscribers are from Asia and they pay no where close to $15 a month. ;p
Also factor in the sales for the actual game + all the expansions. You are looking at a considerable amount of cash.
Actually WoW is approaching its 8th year now.
You beat me to it
But I think a F2P, dumbed down WoW has been a long time coming. Will be interesting if it is true. But I could care less, I got out of WoW before the first expansion before it started eating at my soul
But, I have a theory on their project "Titan". I think it could be a Blizzard DOTA. Why else would Blizzard file a lawsuit again Valve for use of DOTA? No Blizzard, the name doesn't belong to you. It belongs to the person(s) who created the mod that just happened to be used in conjunction with WC3 or whatever game.