release expansions for Flight Simulator, yet Microsoft is now going alone with the launch of a free-to-play version. Contact Sales are not happy about this download-only title. Dominic Sacco finds out why
simplify the process for the customer and deliver a consistent level of quality through all of our releases,” says MS Flight’s Howard. “We’ll be taking the lead role in new DLC for the launch and first months. As we gain experience with the model and our consumers, we will explore opportunities to grow our offerings.” Mastertronic’s CEO Andy Payne is more concerned MS Flightshould be available through all digital distribution services, to open it up to a wide userbase. “We hope that Microsoft doesn’t try to control the market by insisting all add-ons are sold through an exclusive marketplace, Andy Payne adds.
If Microsoft keeps a walled garden around Microsoft Flight, that’ll close out millions of Steam users.
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Dermot Stapleton, Mastertronic “As a consumer I’d have to go to
Games for Windows Live, but if all my other games are from another digital distribution service such as Steam, Origin, Direct2Drive, Get Games or
“From a third-party perspective, if Microsoft try to control it, then to me that’s a bad move.
GOG, why would I want to have to play some place else?” Stapleton adds: “If they try and
keep a walled garden around MS FlightI don’t think it’ll be a bright move. That’ll close out millions of Steam users. But it would certainly swell the Games for Windows Live userbase to give away a product for that quality.”
By adopting the free-to-play
model, MS Flightcould be a runaway success. But the divide between Microsoft and other firms in the flight simulation games business has widened.
And the computer giant could perhaps find it difficult to engage with these veterans again, once the turbulence has settled.