Torchlight MMO detailed, free-to-play, but feel free to pay

I’m sure the words Torchlight MMO got you interested in clicking this article, so we’re probably in the same boat regarding desiring details on the upcoming title. Runic Games, the company behind Torchlight, delivered one of the most impressive and satisfying single-player dungeoning titles ever in 2009 and they’re now trying to offer an MMO with similar single-player aspects, but with a more massive approach. Runic Games’ President, Travis Baldree, spoke to PC Gamer for their upcoming issue, which reveals a microtransaction methodology in Torchlight to earn money for the game. Despite being free-to-play, gamers will be invited to purchase items through the in-game store, similar to numerous other free-to-play MMOs out on the market.

I’d love to think this won’t sully Torchlight, but with such limited information about the title, I’m just uncertain as to whether the MMO portion of the game will be unbalanced due to the item store. As always, MMO gamers are never forced to buy items to keep up, but if Torchlight includes PVP, it could drastically shift the balance of the game, which is never a pleasant experience.

Baldree described the microtransactions to PC Gamer, stating: “our vision is to have an MMO that plays as close to single player as we can get it. It will have the same focus on relatively fast action: carving your way through hordes of monsters with a large number of hugely devastating skills. The game has to be solo-able, but players will have to have skills that make them useful in a party and make them work together.”

Well, that doesn’t explain anything about PVP, or if the game will include it, but at least we know the single-player and grouping aspects will be strong. All we can do now is wait. Let me ask you, if you played a FTP MMO, would you buy items? While we wait for more details, go pick up the original Torchlight for just $9.99 during the Summer sale!

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