Need for Speed World, EA's massive free to play MMO launched worldwide yesterday. First details of the Need For Speed World microtransaction model have emerged from our review.

Need For Speed World is free to play in part, giving users access to the entire game world, but locking out certain aspects to standard members.

Reviewer Russell Barnes explains the Need For Speed World payment model in detail, "While you’re supposed to be able to open up the game without spending real cash, that’s far from true, to the degree that the game can’t really be classified as F2P at all."

"For example, non-paying customers cap-out at level 10," Barnes continues, "meaning only basic Tier 1 cars and challenges are available. In classic MMO terms this is nothing more than a free trial. If you play it right, you’ll cap out in a couple of days meaning you’ll need to buy a Starter Pack from EA which opens up the game and grants you a wedge of the micro-transaction cash known as ‘Boost’."

"Top this off with the fact that certain items are only available to buy with Boost anyway (things like renting better cars, giving yourself a three day 25 per cent XP or cash boost and so on) and you’ve got a very imbalanced economy."

Read our massive Need For Speed World review here.