Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata recently announced that the Wii U will fully support both the free to play model, and the ability to conduct microtransactions. My friends, the time for first party Nintendo console DLC may be upon us (with Fire Emblem 3DS already confirmed for DLC, one can only assume Nintendo could bring this model to the Wii U).
While the Wii U itself will support the F2P scheme, Iwata made it clear that Nintendo themselves have no current desire to pursue the model, but it “won’t rule out the possibility.” It’s possible that Nintendo may be cautious of the F2P model because of the generally negative stigma surrounding it. But while “F2P” almost always garners a “Pay to Win” thought process in many people’s heads, it doesn’t always have to be that way.
In fact, Guild Wars 2 (while there’s an entry fee), is paving the way for a new generation of free to play games, and might just “legitimize” it in many naysayer’s eyes — if League of Legends, Tribes: Ascend, and many more haven’t already. I think with the right minds behind it, Nintendo could make an awesome Free to Play game — in fact, Nintendo Land probably could have been a great catalyst.
Wii U will support free-to-play games says Iwata [Gamesradar]
