CCP's Dust 514 is F2P, PSN-only

Eve Online developer CCP has revealed that its upcoming massively online shooter Dust 514 will be a free to play title, funded by in-game purchases - but exclusive to PlayStation 3 and only released via PSN.

However, it will be linked to the PC-only Eve, in what is being pitched as one giant online universe. "A single bullet fired on the planet below can pivot the balance of power in EVE Online," stated CCP. "Every action has consequences, and every reaction has the potential to topple empires."

Both games will share the same shard-based server, revealed CCP CEO Hilmar Veigar Petursson at Sony's pre-E3 conference last night (as documented by GamesIndustry.biz here). "We're taking a console shooter and connecting it directly to a PC MMO."

Little information on how this would work in practice was given, but a closed beta for Dust is due before the end of 2011, with a full release via PSN mooted for next Spring.

Move support is promised, while CCP also plans to bring some element of the game to PlayStation Vita/NGP.