Generals 2 goes Free to Play

[DarthMol]

Yep, you read the title correctly. This is an... interesting move. I'll smartly reserve my judgement until I actually get a chance to play the game but this was quite unexpected.

There’s already one free-to-play Command and Conquer game – Tiberium Alliances. This isn’t that. This is Command and Conquer: Generals 2, torn down to be a whole new dedicated F2P part of the C&C universe. Not many details are currently available, save that it’s going to be powered by Frostbite and is due next year, but closed beta sign-up begins today if you want a chance to see it early.

(At the moment, that address isn’t working, but it’s the right one.)

In the words of EA:

“We are thrilled about this opportunity to transform Command & Conquer into a premier online experience. For nearly two decades, this franchise has existed as something you buy; now we are creating a destination where our fans will be able to access the entire Command & Conquer universe, starting with Generals and continuing with Red Alert, Tiberium and beyond. With Frostbite 2, we are able to keep an emphasis on the AAA quality our consumers expect while staying true to the RTS gameplay they know and love – all available online for free.”

Unlike Tiberium Alliances, this is set to be a full-on C&C game, with elements like destructive terrain, physics, and multiple factions. More as it’s announced. And just as a quick disclaimer, the pic above is from the originally announced Generals – this new version may or may not look anything like it.

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[Graal]

Well, there goes any and all excitement I had for this game, right out the window.

[MOnk]

I shall reserve judgement until further details. AoE Online is a f2p rts and it's pretty decent so General 2 could be alright.

[Graal]

Yes, but even AoEO requires money to really get anywhere. A non-premium player will always be at a severe disadvantage compared to premium players. It would be much of an issue if the premium content was priced decently, but I paid R300 last year for two out of the four civilizations. Buying the other two earlier this year means I've already spent more money on the game than on a standard retail game.

[Glordit]

Generals 2 goes Free to Play ~ (pay to win/get a advantage over non premium players)

[Tank]

well i lost a ton of interest now

will still try it but only ages later

[Tsar]

well i lost a ton of interest now

will still try it but only ages later

Same. Very sad. I just wanted to really play skirmished against the pc.

[Graal]

A good question is actually what this will do to singleplayer? F2P is often accompanied by the words multiplayer-only.

[DarthMol]

A good question is actually what this will do to singleplayer? F2P is often accompanied by the words multiplayer-only.

It appears that there won't be any single player campaign, at least at launch.

EA recently announced that Command & Conquer: Generals 2 is going to be free to play under the umbrella of an online series known simply as “Command & Conquer.” Bioware Victory general manager John Van Caneghem told me last week that Generals 2 will ship without a single player mode. Instead, “co-operative and competitive” skirmishes will serve as the core, with more modes to be added later based on community feedback. A story mode could be added later, but “it is something we haven’t announced yet how we’re going to do it.”

Van Caneghem said that the studio “really want to get back to the roots of what made Command & Conquer great.” Generals 2 will let us harvest and throw up bases in order to “build a zillion units” and “go out and kill all the bad guys.” Despite the familiar RTS trappings, Generals 2 will be a dedicated online experience at launch.

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[MOnk]

My interest for this game no longer exists.

How they they say crap like "going back to the roots of C&C" RIGHT after saying it has no single player. That's like telling people you aren't racist while wearing a KKK outfit.