Is Microsoft Revising Its Stance On 360 MMOs??? News

Microsoft may be taking a long hard look at its policy towards MMOs on Xbox 360 according to rumours that have been surfacing on the web, with developer Turbine dishing the dirt on a planned Xbox 360 version of Lord of the Rings Online.

A "reliable source" at Turbine has reportedly told Destructoid that the main snag in the development of an Xbox 360 version of the game has been Microsoft's policy towards MMOs on Xbox Live. Turbine wants to deliver a free-to-play MMO, which is currently at odds with Microsoft's subscription based Xbox Live service.

However, according to the report, Microsoft is currently looking at news ways of distributing titles like LOTR Online for Xbox 360. The crux of the matter is providing a model that allows Silver Xbox Live members to play online while, at the same time, saving Gold members from having to pay two separate subscription fees.

The Xbox 360 has had a torrid history where MMOs are concerned, including an Age of Conan title that is yet to emerge on the console and the cancellation of Marvel Universe Online last year (not to mention the canned Halo MMO project at Ensemble). The first MMO to launch on Microsoft's home console, Final Fantasy XI, has arguably been the most successful.

Turbine's Xbox 360 version of LOTR Online is apparently at a stage where the technology for such an undertaking is ready to go, although the perception that the title is ready to hit production lines would be "factually incorrect" according to the developer.