Square announces microtransaction-based browser game service CoreOnline

CoreOnline, a microtransaction-based browser game service, has been announced by Square Enix.

The firm said the service allows players to experience "console quality games" through browsers, and the first titles released are Hitman: Blood Money and Mini Ninjas.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Tomb Raider: Underworld, and others will follow at a later date.

Games will be divided into segments where players will pay incremental amounts for each. Players can also choose to watch ads instead of dropping coin, and all payment, advertising and save data is all stored in the cloud.

"Square Enix is at the forefront of experimentation of new business and services models in the game industry," said CEO Yoichi Wada. "Through our CoreOnline technology service, users can access our content easily through the browser."

The service supports Chrome, Firefox and IE at present.

Thanks, GI International.