Free-to-play titles hitting Xbox Live next year?

IGN is reporting that a “trusted source” has told them that Microsoft will be launching free-to-play titles (read as: microtransaction-based games) on the Xbox 360 next year.

According to IGN staffer Jim Reilly: Sometime next year, Microsoft will make available free-to-play (F2P) games through Xbox Live, a trusted source told IGN. This will allow publishers and developers to release games through the service for free where users can then purchase additional content, such as weapons, experience points, in-game currency, and perks.

The F2P business model is traditionally used for massively multiplayer online games on PC, such as Vindictus and Dungeon Fighter Online from Nexon and League of Legends by Riot Games. Electronic Arts also began experimenting with a F2P model for shooters, including Battlefield Heroes in 2009 and more recently with Battlefield Play4Free, which is currently in open beta.

This news is not too surprising, as Dungeon Fighter Online has already been announced for Xbox Live Arcade in its full, untrammeled free-to-play MMO form. However, seeing games like Battlefield Play4Free and Vindictus on Marketplace would be pretty cool.