Bioware "Looking at Free-to-Play" for The Old Republic

[OmegaFenix]

Star Wars: The Old Republic may adopt a free-to-play model, according to lead technical designer Emmanuel Lusinchi.


In an interview with gamestm, Lusinchi admits that Bioware acknowledges the need to adapt in the increasingly overpopulated MMO genre.


“
We have to be flexible and adapt to what is going on.


He said, "The MMO market is very dynamic and we need to be dynamic as well. Unless people are happy with what they have, they are constantly demanding updates, new modes and situations.


"So we are looking at free-to-play but I can’t tell you in much detail. We have to be flexible and adapt to what is going on."


The Old Republic has had a tough time of late, with reports of falling subscriber numbers and staff layoffs resulting in many speculating about the game's future. But when IGN interviewed Emmanuel, he revealed that Bioware is still committed to making the game the best it can be, and this seems to be another step in realising this.


He goes on to explain that all MMOs are feeling the pressure in an increasingly clustered marketplace, with even the genre-dominant World of Warcraft experiencing a shrinking playerbase. Emmanuel suggests this means that now more than ever MMOs need to be flexible with their content plans and willing to adapt quickly.


"“I think it’s more than the free-to-play model – it’s more that there is a lot of competitive offers,” Lusinchi claims. “If it was just free-to-play games and they weren’t very good it wouldn’t even be a question but there are definitely good games out there and good games coming out, so of course all of this competition impacts your plan with what you want to do.”


The Old Republic's content patch 1.3 is due soon, and more was revealed at E3 about what we can expect in the coming months.

Source: IGN

I wish I could say this surprises me, unfortunately it doesn't.

[Grimspoon]

No surprise there. I will play it if it goes F2P. Otherwise I will pass thanks.

[Isengard]

No surprise there. I will play it if it goes F2P. Otherwise I will pass thanks.

Ditto. But can't developers see that the MMO market is highly over-saturated? Pay to play is not going to work anymore, unless you are WoW.

[Pr⊕phet]

I'd rather play when the Jedi class is not a split version of itself.

[MOnk]

If this goes free to play I will probably play the shit out of it and drop some cash every now and then as I see fit depending on my enjoyment and time. Like I said from the start, if they released this as 2x$60 KOTOR games I would have bought both without question, but I'm just not interested in paying R150 a month and feeling forced into playing a game just to get my monies worth.

[OmegaFenix]

If this goes free to play I will probably play the shit out of it and drop some cash every now and then as I see fit depending on my enjoyment and time. Like I said from the start, if they released this as 2x$60 KOTOR games I would have bought both without question, but I'm just not interested in paying R150 a month and feeling forced into playing a game just to get my monies worth.

Same, I picked the Collectors Edition up for around £35 and played my month free but didn't resub, not because I didn't enjoy it but because I didn't have time and feeling forced to play never works out.

[panthis]

player base has obviously plummeted... l0l

[Glordit]

player base has obviously plummeted... l0l

It did, a while back already. If they do make it free to play they are guaranteed to make something you'll eventually have to end up paying for to progress in the game. I Prefer a pay once and get the game, all the extras you can pay for.

[Deceptor]

Same, I picked the Collectors Edition up for around £35 and played my month free but didn't resub, not because I didn't enjoy it but because I didn't have time and feeling forced to play never works out.

Agreed! I'll definitely start playing it again if it goes F2P.

[diabolus]

They will need to get their F2P sorted out before Guild Wars 2 hits, because even though GW2 has a box price, it is essentially F2P after that. The subscription on SWTOR is not going to fly with GW2 out.