Sony and Microsoft to go 'heavily' on free-to-play next gen, says Epic's Rein

Epic Games VP Mark Rein has said that both Sony and Microsoft are to chase the free-to-play and in-app purchase business models with their next generation of hardware.

"The next-gen consoles are going to be fully embracing the free-to-play and these IAP-type business models," Rein said at the Game Horizon conference today. "So in case you don't know that I'm putting that out there. Sony and Microsoft are both going heavily in that area."

Joystiq reports that when pushed on the issue with the suggestion that there weren't many examples that the companies were moving in this direction, Rein remained confident.

"Well, I'm telling you," he said. "I'm telling you what they're telling developers."

E3 is mere weeks away - and we may learn more on the platform holder's free-to-play plans there.