EverQuest II to Test Free-to-Play Waters

Another subscription-based MMOG is jumping happening board the free-to-bid train: EverQuest II will be launching nonmandatory F2P servers.

After Dungeons & Dragons Online and The Lord of the Rings Online went free-to-play, it was only a matter of clip before another major MMOG followed accommodate. This time or so, it's the jr. comrade to one of the grandfathers of Massively Multiplayer gaming, EverQuest II … sort of.

You see, EQ2 bequeath tranquillise continue to operate its normal servers As per usual, with a orthodox subscription-based fashion mode as its background. Simply SOE bequeath also be launching special servers for EverQuest 2 Lengthy, a version of the game that will let players download and play the entire game through The Shadow Odyssey elaboration for free.

Naturally, it's non all free: Predestined races, classes and spell tiers will be locked from those free-loading F2P-ers, and you'll need to flump cold heavily virtual John Cash if you want access. The item shop will also experience the standard goodies we've refer expect from F2P titles like-minded potions and accessories that give you a small extra boost.

Obviously, the about interesting component part of the change (and what most glaringly sets it apart from contemporaries DDO and LotRO) is that it separates F2P gamers and subscribers into what are essentially separate games. This isn't a bad idea, in truth, as it substance that you'll only have to balance subscribers against subscribers and free of players against free players kinda than pollination. If there's a downside, it's not immediately obvious.

A game departure free-to-play is traditionally seen as an reading that information technology is foundering financially. Of flow, presumption that DDO started raking in the bucks after it went F2P, and given that SOE isn't abandoning the subscription model entirely, this could exactly exist a display case of testing the waters to see if they're full of sharks, or money.

(PC Gamer)

https://www.escapistmagazine.com/everquest-ii-to-test-free-to-play-waters/

Source: https://www.escapistmagazine.com/everquest-ii-to-test-free-to-play-waters/