Star Wars The Old Republic has been announced to give players the Free-To-Play Option
You’ll be allowed to play up to level 50, with original races and class combinations. but some content will be restricted.
Stars Wars The Old Republic Free To Play model introduced
The Old Republic will be free to play come this fall, but will retain an optional subscription service which will give access to certain content. This will include high level content, new features to the game and ‘unlimited access’. Paying subs will get access to perks such as extra bank slots, and more PVP zone wartime. Free to play users will be able to to use the warzones on a weekly basis, but it’ll only be a small number of times before you asked to cough up for the option of playing more.
The Old Republic’s Subscriber loss is not the key reason for the choice
Despite the Old Republic’s subscriber loss, EA says that it isn’t the key reason for its decision. I myself was a keen The Old Republic player for the first few months, but due to time constraints I cancelled my account and haven’t activated it again due to games such as the almighty Guild Wars 2 being completely free to play online after your initial purchaase. The Bioware GM Matt Bromberg said this in an interview:
“There has been some decline in our subscriber numbers, but I wouldn’t say that’s what’s driving the decision…what’s happened in the marketplace is that free-to-play has really become the market standard for MMOs and we felt like there were both potentially millions of new players who were Star Wars fans who never tasted the game because the subscription was a barrier. Our research also told us that a lot of the folks who we had earlier on who left the game would like to come back and try some of the new features and content that we’ve put into the game since they’ve left if the subscription wasn’t a barrier. So we feel like the market and our players are telling us that greater access is what they want and so we’re really responding to that.”
Extra Content for the Old Republic in August
Another point was made by Bioware, that with this model they will be able to provide more frequent content patches. The first of which we will see in August, which is the exact time that TOR will go on sale for a short while until $14.99 , this sum will give you the game and a month of paid game time (not too bad at all, and I would suggest checking the game out for this price if you’ve not already done so!).
You can also access some content by spending what will be introduced as Cartel coins, which will be an in-game currency. If you’re a subscriber you’ll be given a certain amount of coins for free each and every month.
But, for those of us who were once Subscribers and have fallen by the way-side and decice to join the galatic fight again, will be given certain bonuses. You’ll earn 150 Cartel coins for each paid main before 31st July of this year. If you’re the proud owner of the special edition, you’ll be better off still, as you will net an extra 1,000 Cartel coins.
For more info please read their official website here
