Bioware\u2019s highly anticipated subscription-based MMORPG The Old Republic landed with a big splash, but popularity seems to have dropped off since then.<\/p>\n
After hitting a million subscribers in a very short space of time, the subscriber eventually settled around 1.7 million. However, just a few months later this had dropped quite drastically to 1.3 million, mostly due to the lack of renewed subscriptions after the trial period.<\/p>\n
Introductory trials were offered to help combat the drop in subscriber numbers, but it looks like EA may be considering a free-to-play model.<\/p>\n
In an interview with GamesTM that has since vanished from the website, Bioware lead designer Emmanuel Lusinchi said that free-to-play was something that had been discussed.<\/p>\n
“The MMO market is very dynamic and we need to be dynamic as well,” Lusinchi allegedly said.<\/p>\n
“Unless people are happy with what they have, they are constantly demanding updates, new modes and situations.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
The MMORPG market has proven very difficult to break into, particularly for subscription-based services, as juggernaut World of Warcraft has dominated the genre. In addition, The Old Republic is competing with the likes of Diablo 3 for gamers’ attention.<\/p>\n
Free-to-play models have proven to be quite profitable, particularly in the MOBA and RPG genres, so if The Old Republic\u2019s subscriber numbers continue to fall this may become a reality in the near future.<\/p>\n
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