Deep Down is Free to Play

Capcom announced yesterday that their upcoming PlayStation 4 RPG Deep Down is going to be a free to play title. Given what we know about the game, which isn’t a lot, this is a rather interesting development and might hint at the direction the game will take.

We know very little about what Deep Down actually is.  We know it’s an RPG and looks a bit like Dragon’s Dogma, although it’s confirmed to be unrelated to that title.  They have stated that the game will have a random dungeon structure, as well as random monsters and weapons, to keep the game interesting for as long as possible.

The game is also said to take place in 2094 in New York, or more accurately under it, in a series of caves that serve as the game’s random dungeons. The modern future is an interesting setting for a fantasy RPG, though not entirely unheard of.

Given all we know about it, we can get an idea of what the free to play structure could turn this game into, though we can’t do much more than speculate right now. Given that it’s a dungeon based MMO, it’s unlikely it will take the Dark Souls structure of anonymous co-op, though the initial trailer did give a Dark Souls vibe. Hopefully, it will be more like a 3-D action RPG in a Diablo or Torchlight style, the random gear and monster hint that this could be the case.

Given how gorgeous the game looks, I expect there to be a real world currency option in the game, to help recoup development costs. This comes especially from the fact that the game is PS4 exclusive, limiting the player base to one system. My hope is that the game doesn’t become pay to win, though. I don’t expect PvP to be an option, but pay to win still hurts cooperative multiplayer and takes all the fun out of the game.

Capcom also announced that a playable alpha version of the game will launch around the same time as the PS4 launch in Japan.  No word yet on whether this will be a worldwide alpha, or whether it will be an open or private alpha.

Still, the prospect of yet another free to play game for the PS4 is exciting.  Deep Down joins Warframe, Planetside 2, and DC Universe Online to create a robust early lineup of free to play multiplayer titles on the PS4. These games waive the PS+ requirement fee for online multiplayer as well, giving players who don’t want to purchase PS+ a few multiplayer options. It’s good to see a true RPG join this number.

So, are you guys excited for Deep Down? Sound off in the comments, and stay tuned to Gameskinny for more PS4 news!