We’re back for another instalment of our F2Pmeter, this time putting the free-to-play-ness of the futuristic third-person shooter Defiance to a test. Available on PlayStation, Xbox and PC, the title features an open world where the in-game events are directly influenced by the Defiance TV show broadcasted on SyFy channel.
Defiance thrusts players onto a future Earth and puts them into the shoes of Ark Hunters searching for advanced alien technology. The game’s massive environment allows for nearly never-ending exploration, huge co-op battles and dynamic missions.
And before we actually head off for the test, just let us remind of the fact that our testing candidates begin with a 100% of free-to-play-ness, and depending on how our questions have to be answered, this percentage will change.
No. Today, everybody is able to sign up for Defiance and play for absolutely free after downloading the client since the title has changed to free-to-play in June 2014.
Yes (optional) – -15%. Those who want to spend money on the game can purchase Patron status ($9.99 for a single months, with discount for subscribing for three, six or 12 months) in order to gain various benefits, including a discount in the Defiance shop, boosts on reputation, skill and XP gains and several other bonuses. Players that bought the title before the adoption of a free-to-play business model are granted extra perks such as additional ark key/ inventory/ loadout capacity and more character slots.
Yes (but...) – -5%. While the store offers a total of 5 DLC packs at a price of $9.99 each ($39.99 for the bundle), the game regularly receives free content updates as the Defiance universe keeps evolving due the intersection with the TV show.
Yes – -5%. Paying users are able to get access to BITS in order to redeem them for gear, vehicles and more, as well as to the already mentioned DLC packs.
No. The items that are on offer for purchase range from aesthetical customisation options for vehicles, gear, etc. to XP gains boosters and so on, meaning they solely for either cosmetic or convenience purposes and only allow for a unique look of the customer’s character or for saving time without proving paying community members with a direct gameplay advantage over F2P gamers.
No. Each and every player can fully customise their interface for absolutely free; the store doesn’t offer any further options for purchase.
No (but...) – -5%. During character creation, players may choose from those two species that are available since the game’s original release: Irathient and Human. The third species, Castithan, is only available to players that paid for the first DLC pack. As Defiance doesn’t features any character classes, in-game roles are defined by skills as well as different types of armour and weapons, all of which is freely accessible for everybody, resulting in the opportunity to perfectly customise your character to your favourite style of play.
No. At this precise moment, there isn’t any auction house incorporated in Defiance.
Yes – -10%. While F2P users are granted 35 inventory slots when starting out their game, others that paid for the title prior to its conversion to free-to-play have access to double the amount of slots.
No – -15%. The content included in the 5 DLC packs (new gear, weapons, storyline missions, battle arenas, factions, etc.) is only available for real-world money, the whole Bay Area and content released since the switch to F2P and with future updates, however, is available to everybody without any restrictions.
No. Players aren’t faced with any limitations when it comes to high-end content.
Yes – +10%. Due to the fact that paying users may only buy cosmetic or time-saving items that won’t convey any unfair advantage over F2P players, Defiance appears to be absolutely playable without taking out your wallet and rather fair for everybody.
Our F2Pmeter test of Defiance results in a 55% of free-to-play-ness.
does micro transactions give and advantage? YES!! you have no acceses to the last PERK wich are the ones more powerful, you require one of the DLC to have acceses to those very powerful PERK so yes, micro trans give advantage