Latest: check our story on why yuo should try the the Dead Island Epidemic open beta.
The latest addition to the list of Steam Early Access titles is Deep Silver and Sunlock Studios’ Dead Island spin-off, Dead Island: Epidemic. It hit the service today and is currently in closed beta, as well as being “fully functional,” according to the devs.
The free-to-play MOBA is not free-to-play on Steam right now. While those invited into the closed beta don’t have to pay, others have to cough up some cash for an early look.
Like an increasing number of F2P games offering Early Access programs such as SOE’s Everquest Landmark, Epidemic is offering some extras for those who pay-to-play.
For £12.99/$16.99, the cheapest tier, players get beta access, a pack of starter weapons, a golden hammer, three survivor characters, XP boosters and in-game currency.
The top tier pack, for £29.99/$44.99 contains all of that as well as stronger weapons, more golden weapons, exclusive early access to Dead Island’s hip hop chappy, Sam B, premium membership benefits offering weekly rewards and extra goodies at open beta.
While there’s a temptation to cry foul at F2P games charging for beta access, the amount of extra content that comes with the purchase strikes me as rather fair. At the very least, Dead Island: Epidemic is offering far more bang for your buck than other F2P paid betas, as well as plenty of bonuses that continue long after the game has launched.
Are any of you lovely folk tempted?