Sony mulls PS3 microtransactions, item trading for Dust 514

By Tom Phillips Published 24 January, 2012

"Breaking new ground" on PSN.

Sony is mulling the addition of micro-transactions and item trading on PlayStation Network, beginning with PlayStation 3 and Vita online shooter Dust 514.

Developer CCP said plans for dealing with Dust 514's item management were "breaking new ground" on PSN and, if implemented, could become a universal system for buying, selling and trading content using Sony's online services.

"We're having many meetings with Sony to ensure they have solid policies on virtual currency," CCP boss Hilmar Pétursson told Develop. "Given the amount of back and forth there, we can definitely see us breaking new ground."

CCP said Sony was hammering out price guidelines and item restrictions to allow Dust 514's system to be expanded to other games if successful.

"We are both trailblazing together. CCP and Sony are right there in the same room figuring all this out together," CCP marketing exec David Reid added. "I've only joined the company for about 72 hours and about half that time is speaking to Sony.

"If there is a retail play, Sony has tremendous routes into that. They have PlayStation Network cards sold over the counter. There's so many ways for us to get our brand everywhere."

CCP plans for Dust 514 to include robust systems of virtual commerce similar to its traditional PC MMO Eve Online, which Dust 514 ties into.

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About Tom Phillips

Tom joined Eurogamer in 2010 and has quickly made his mark writing news and columns and coming up with puntastic straplines. Questionable beard. @TomPhillips151 on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Phillips archive page.

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Comments (17) Latest comment 4 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • uninspiredcup #1 4 months ago

    Not breaking new ground, steam bro. Steam.

  • BAM! #2 4 months ago

    "Breaking new ground on PSN"

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #3 4 months ago

    Its good to see Sony are open to these things, and especially that they will spearhead it with a 3rd party instead of just keeping it all in house, bodes well for the future of PSN.

  • danclarke #4 4 months ago

    Hasn't FIFA Ultimate team already got both micro transactions and trading?

  • Velios #5 4 months ago

    Basically they are trying to figure out a way of rinsing the PSN network's players of as much cash as possible without it looking blatant.

  • Triggerhappytel #6 4 months ago

    I always thought Sony should have made DC Universe Online support microtransactions when it went F2P - I only dabbled with it really for a couple of weeks, but I would have gladly spent 4 or 5 pounds on cool weapons or mini-content, whereas I wasn't prepared to spend double that on DLC or a month subscription.

    Anyway, glad to see Dust is coming along well, and I hope it finds a lot of success. If this pricing model works out then I'd bloody love to see MAG 2 supported by micro-transactions.

  • Po1ymorph #7 4 months ago

    @Velios I do not think they are trying to rinse anyone. Micro-transactions are the bases of most MMO's nowadays. You either buy things or don't, it's up to you.

  • Cjail #8 4 months ago

    I read the complete article and another interesting thing they say is that Dust 514 will keep EVE's approach on updates/expansions.
    This means that the game will evolve over time and will, hopefully, get better as well.

  • simsini #9 4 months ago

    If there was ever a time where the majority of games had micro-transactions I would quit gaming. It is bad enough on Facebook and has crept onto mobiles, it would be unacceptable on a dedicated gaming console.

    The worst case example is Let's Golf 3 on Android. The game is free, but you have to pay to play more than 5 holes per day. It would cost £70 to purchase all items available for the full game!
    Edited by simsini at 24/01/12 @ 10:06

  • telboy007 #10 4 months ago

    Oh, so that is where MT from Eve Online went!

    (yes I know MT for Dust was announced ages ago, I'm trying to be witty)

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #11 4 months ago

    The thing is 'mircotransactions' is misleading here: From whats been said in the past CCP only want to use the PSN store systems as a quicker way of 'updating' the DUST's weapon/item/skill system without directly updating the game all the time, as well as use it as a player market as stated.

    Mircotransactions imply that CCP intends to use a 'buy to win' system in DUST, but being a direct link and affect on EVE it's surly not an option here, CCP have already stated you buy the game and regain the cost back in ISK (in game money) and that you gain ISK by completing contracts/missions set by players in EVE.

    To add a 'buy ISK now' button to the PSN market would counter the interaction required between DUST and EVE, which is the core reason behind the game
    Edited by Kremlik at 24/01/12 @ 10:28

  • Tiberius_Gracchus #12 4 months ago

    I'm looking forward to this. To be part of that universe is extremely exciting. I hope it works out and if there is something worth having through micro transactions, i'll buy it.

  • killuminati2911 #13 4 months ago

    R they planning on putting a game into DUST aside for micro tansactions??

  • deded #14 4 months ago

    @danclarke
    Hasn't FIFA Ultimate team already got both micro transactions and trading?
    ...and look how well that worked out, (Microsoft/EA 'non-hack'). Sony need to be really careful about security if they start messing with MT in a big way.

    I'm hopeful Dust can be cool though.

  • Snake_2011 #15 4 months ago

    really looking forward to this never new I could carry on with the Vita as well bonus.

  • monty_79 #16 4 months ago

    Always really liked the look of the EVE universe, but never had a decent enough PC to play Eve, and not sure if I want to pay a monthly subscription. Hopefully this game will be great!

  • TrevHead #17 4 months ago

    TBH I cant blame CCP for including microtransactions, if they plan on keeping players invested in dust for the long term they need to include some pay 2 play system. Otherwise the servers will be empty in 6 months time.

    COD does the same thing by releasing over priced map packs and its elite version.

    At the end of the day the main thing is how does mt affect the gameplay