DC Universe Online goes free to play

In October superhero MMO DC Universe Online becomes free to play, Sony Online Entertainment has announced.

Both PC and PlayStation 3 gamers will be able to download and play the game for free, IGN reports.

Sony Online Entertainment said the decision was not a response to falling subscriber numbers, but admitted free-to-play was the company's preferred business model from launch.

"In terms of 'Is it a result in a drop in subs' - absolutely not," Lorin Jameson, SOE executive producer, insisted.

"This is the right business model. If I can be honest, the game ended up costing a lot more than we thought it would, and this was our preferred business model from day one."

Three versions of the game are available: free, premium and legendary. Free players have access to the current DC Universe Online gameplay, can create two characters and can join a league. You can buy game packs, additional character slots and powers through microtransactions.

Premium relates to any player who has spent at least $5 - that includes former paid subscribers and new players who have purchased $5 of in-game items. Premium players get more character slots, more inventory slots and higher cash limits.

And Legendary offers the maximum features. It costs $15 a month and includes all DLC packs at no cost, over 15 character slots, more than 80 inventory slots and the ability to form leagues.

Meanwhile, Sony Online Entertainment has ditched its automatic re-subscribe system based on fan feedback.

"I don't know about you, but my credit card statement every month is this amalgam of s*** of MMOs that I'm too lazy to cancel," Jameson said. "What we want is to offer people a way to not worry about that."