‘Just Cause 3’ Xbox One Screens Leak And Reveal Possible Micro-Transactions

Is Just Cause 3 heading to next-gen? It looks like the third game in the open-world series is heading to at least the Xbox One based on screenshots that leaked out Tuesday.

The leaked Just Cause 3 screenshots originated from Xbox Underground. You can tell because nearly every inch of them is plastered with their watermark. According to the poster Chrom3xMoDz, they were taken from a debug build of the game. This is the same individual who’s built a reputation on YouTube for modding Xbox 360 titles like GTA V and leaking information.

One of the screenshots shows off impressive lighting for the open-world game. Presumably, it will be in the 900p to 1080p range and run at 30 frames per second (fps) when released. That’s the common setup for open-world games ranging from Assassin’s Creed Unity to GTA V on both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Also, the screenshots kind of give away the fps too.

Interestingly, another screenshot shows what appear to be micro-transactions at first glance. It shows a diamond currency being used to buy or rent in-game vehicles from a “Black Market” screen. Normally, you would think the diamonds would just be earned in the game. However, the big “Buy More” prompt next to the diamond currency at the bottom left of the screen reveals a real-world money transaction taking place.

It’s unknown if this implies the game will be a free-to-play title or a full retail game with micro-transactions that have generated backlash in titles like Forza Horizon 5. NeoGAF insider shinobi602 claims Just Cause 3 is not a free-to-play game. However, “it won’t have a traditional release.”

We’ll likely have to wait for some official announcement

Avalanche Studios was the developer behind the first two Just Cause titles with Square Enix serving as the publisher. Presumably, the studio is still relatively early in development of the third game. It’s currently working on a Mad Max adaptation for 2015 that’s loosely tied to the reboot film starring Tom Hardy coming in May of the same year.

Realistically, Just Cause 3 likely won’t be out until at least 2016 with Mad Max already on the docket for 2015. Avalanche hasn’t shown the ability to pump out big retail releases on a yearly basis though. 2017 is much more likely in that case; unless, of course, the non-traditional release allows it to hit earlier.

Are you interested in a Just Cause 3 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One? Does the prospect of micro-transaction scare you off? Sound off in the comments below.

[Images via Xbox Underground, Just Cause 2 Wiki]