Free Online Games Sink Pirates for Emerging-Market Growth
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Video-game makers that once steered clear of emerging markets to avoid getting ripped off by copycats are returning with free online offers to make money from customers willing to pay for add-on features.
Electronic Arts Inc., whose “Command & Conquer” is ranked by researcher NPD among the top-five best-selling PC franchises of all time with more than 30 million copies sold since 1995, will make the game free online next year. Ubisoft Entertainment SA, known for its “Assassin’s Creed” and “Tom Clancy,” introduced seven browser-based free-to-play titles at the Gamescon event in Germany this month.