Turbine looks to micro-transactions

By Oli Welsh Published 6 January, 2009

Don't worry - not for its existing MMOs.

MMO developer Turbine is to move from its traditional subscriptions to a micro-transaction-based business model on a future game.

The news came in the form of a job advertisement for a micro-transaction and e-commerce manager, as spotted by Massively last week.

Players feared this might mean the introduction of item shops to Turbine's subscription games Lord of the Rings Online, Dungeons & Dragons Online and Asheron's Call. Sony Online Entertainment recently made this move with EverQuest and EverQuest II, much to the consternation of fans.

But a Turbine representative reassured the public that this wouldn't be the case. "We know the recent job listing has caused a bit of a stir, but please be aware that this posting is for an unannounced future project," the rep said in a forum post.

The new recruit "will be responsible for delivering and maximizing the revenue derived from Turbine's micro-transaction-based in-game store", according to the ad.

Perhaps Turbine is looking to use micro-transactions rather than subs to support its forthcoming console game.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (8) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • DDevil #1 3 years ago

    Headline borkage for this article on the main page.

  • ZuluHero #2 3 years ago

    yeah - i just clicked it out of interest :)

    EG should do this for everything. I like it! :p

  • DFawkes #3 3 years ago

    Damn, I was hoping LOTRO was going free since I can't afford the sub. Oh well, guess it's Guild Wars still.

  • Dizzy #4 3 years ago

    Rumor has it they are working on a new DnD MMO on 360/PC. Free on Live and supported by micro transactions would probably be a viable route for Turbine. Then again it could also be the new Hobbit game, a LOTRO spinoff. Guess we will find out soon, Turbine said they would announce something next few months.
    Edited by 3 at 06/01/09 @ 11:35

  • Bleh #5 3 years ago

    "Then again it could also be the new Hobbit game, a LOTRO spinoff."

    Thought Turbine only held the license to make a MMO in the Lotr universe and EA holds the other parts.

    Hopefully they hold there word and don't make this in the existing games.

  • Dizzy #6 3 years ago

    "Thought Turbine only held the license to make a MMO in the Lotr universe and EA holds the other parts. "

    No Turbine has rights to books I seem to remember and EA to movies (and books probably).

  • DFawkes #7 3 years ago

    Nope, EA even got the book rights now, which is why some of the stuff in Battle for Middle-Earth II is from the books. I'm assuming Turbine must've retained the MMO rights though.

  • Dizzy #8 3 years ago

    > I'm assuming Turbine must've retained the MMO rights though

    They have LOTRO MMO rights to 2014.