Perfect World Showing 'Next-Gen' Free to Play Games at E3

After yesterday's news that free to play MMO operator Perfect World was acquiring Cryptic Studios, the company has announced its lineup of new games that will be on show at E3.

The expectations of the quality of free to play games is shifting. With many formerly full-price titles such as EverQuest II, Champions Online and APB shifting to a microtransaction-based business model, it's clear that "free" doesn't have to mean "mediocre." Perfect World hopes to be at the center of the free to play revolution with its recent acquisition of Cryptic Studios, as well as three new titles that the company will be showing off at E3.

Blacklight Retribution

Image from IGN.

Blacklight Retribution is a sequel to Zombie Studios' Blacklight: Tango Down, which hit XBLA, PSN and PC last year. The new game, built using Unreal Engine 3 and DirectX 11, features more MMO-like mechanics such as experience points and currency, as well as a skill tree, purchasable weapons, armor and customizations. Oh, and mechs. You can check out the worldwide reveal over at IGN to find out more. A beta is coming later in the year.