Nice moves, Naughty Dog
It’s not a new trend, but it’s a good one. Xbox’s flagship property did it last year inHalo 5, and now PlayStation’s biggest name is doing the same inUncharted 4: A Thief’s End. Over the course ofUncharted 4‘s lifetime, all added multiplayer maps and modes will be free for players.
Naughty Dog announced the news via thePlayStation Blog. Lead game designer Robert Cogburn writes that this means the “multiplayer community won’t be fragmented by different types of DLC.” Everyone will have access to the major features without any additional cost.
Where the developer makes room for monetization is with the cosmetic and gameplay items.Uncharted 4implements a “relic” system of currency. Relics can be earned through play and then spent on chests that award random items. This method is entirely free. Alternatively, players can spend real money on “UnchartedPoints” and buy these items straight away.
WhenUncharted 4launches, the included multiplayer modes will be ranked, command, team deathmatch, plunder, a warm-up playlist, and trials. Over the course of a year, Naughty Dog will slowly add to that. A roadmap was published that gives a rough timetable for many of these features. The actual game is still a week away from launching, but we already have a good idea what to expect a year from now.
