EA and BioWare have just announced that Star Wars: The Old Republic will get a free-to-play option this fall.
How this works: Players will have access to all eight character class storylines up to level 50, with some restrictions. Going beyond this level to access new game content and features can happen through subscriptions and individual purchases. So, this is like a hybrid F2P model, and microtransations can get you past that level 50 barrier if needed.
Of course, the standard subscription model is still available. With this change, subscribers will now also recieve monthly grants of Cartel Coins, the new virtual currency that is coming to this title.
This fall, SWTOR will go on sale for $14.99, and will include one free month of subscription. More game updates are coming from BioWare, too, so watch for those. This new webpage lays out all the details of the expected changes for both current and new players.
“Players want flexibility and choice. The subscription-only model presented a major barrier for a lot of people who wanted to become part of The Old Republic universe,” said Matthew Bromberg, GM of BioWare Austin.
Does this break a barrier for you? Or, if you’re a current player, how do you feel about this F2P change?
