New SoulCalibur lacks multiplayer because of its "pay-to-win model"

For SoulCalibur: Lost Swords, Namco Bandai elected to use a free-to-play business model and, perhaps even more notably, ditch the multiplayer mode that was so central to past entries in the series. As it turns out, the decision to leave multiplayer out stems from the use of what its developer describes as "a pay-to-win model."

In an interview with Siliconera, Lost Swords producer Masaaki Hoshino said, "The reason that we went single-player... well, originally, we were thinking about having a multiplayer option, but because we're going with a pay-to-win model, we were worried that by having online multiplayer, for all the new users that would be coming in experiencing the game for the first time, they might be immediately deterred by fighting against opponents who had superior equipment and gear--and we didn't want to have that kind of negative impact on new players.

"In the singleplayer experience, having a pay-to-win structure won't impede the player's experience with the game," he added.

There are different approaches to free-to-play games--some go the route of games like Dota 2 and Team Fortress 2, selling primarily cosmetic items that don't affect gameplay. Others sell items that give players an edge or prevent them from playing as much as they want without paying. Lost Swords, which was announced last year and then released in April on the PlayStation 3, does both, offering in-game purchases for things such as treasure chests and potions that can be used to extend the amount of time you're able to play the game.

Hoshino says the game is targeted at "old fans and new players alike," although it's "definitely catered towards an audience who will experience the franchise for the first time." He also said making the game free-to-play "wasn't so much about the business model itself, but the idea that we wanted to expand the market to the more casual user, and we thought that the free-to-play mold would fit that model better."

Abandoning multiplayer in a fighting game seems like a particularly odd decision considering how critical it is to the success of the genre. While series fans may balk at its omission, they can continue to play 2012's SoulCalibur V while waiting for a proper, multiplayer-equipped sequel.

If you've tried out Lost Swords, which is a free download on the PS3's online store, let us know what you think in the comments.