Wargaming axes 'pay-to-win' model for 'free-to-win' plan

Wargaming's vice president of publishing, Andrei Yarantsau, has said on Gamasutra that the company will be removing all "pay-to-win" elements from its games and will replace them with a "free-to-win" model.

All in-game components from World of Tanks, World of Warplanes, and World of Warships that gave players an edge gameplay-wise will not be available for purchase with real money. Examples include premium ammo that gave players a bonus to armor penetration.

Wargaming will instead focus on receiving revenue from transactions for cosmetic items and customization options. The company stated that the free-to-win model would balance out the loss of the previous model, and hoped that this new system would facilitate World of Tanks as "a true eSports discipline."

In related news, Wargaming announced that World of Warplanes will be in open beta soon. The game will enter two open beta phases as well as go through a wipe that will reset players' achievements, planes, credits, and gold.