Free-to-play isn’t just a model for Facebook games and MMOs anymore, as evidenced by games like Battlefield Heroes and Play4Free. Ubisoft will be adopting the free-to-play model for a new Ghost Recon game it announced today, Ghost Recon Online.
This is a separate project from Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, the in-development GR game for consoles, handhelds, and PC. This is a new PC exclusive that’s described as a third-person, multiplayer, cover-based tactical shooter for PC. The press release claims the game has “rich graphical environments and maps, which rival the quality of those traditionally seen only in retail games.” That might seem like a big claim, but judging by the trailer, GRO is looking pretty good at this point.
The trailer also shows some of the game’s mechanics — you can slide into cover or sprint up to an enemy with your shield and knock him or her over — and high-tech tools that are at players’ disposal. Characters are shown going invisible and at one point have some sort of aura surrounding them (a shield, perhaps?).
