EverQuest free-to-play launch dated for March 15

The free-to-play launch of EverQuest will come almost exactly 13 years after the pioneering MMORPG's original release. Having launched on March 16, 1999 with a $10 monthly subscription (raised to $15 over time), it'll be going F2P on March 15, 2012.

6

The free-to-play launch of EverQuest will come almost exactly 13 years after the pioneering MMORPG's original release, SOE has revealed. It first arrived on March 16, 1999 with a $10 monthly subscription (gradually raised to $15), and will go F2P on March 15, 2012. How time flies!

As is customary for MMOs switching from subscriptions to free-to-play, there'll be tiered membership with optional monthly subs. And, naturally, there'll be an in-game microtransaction store, selling mounts, clothing, items, mounts, clothing, experience gain boosts and other for real money via Sony's Station Cash virtual currency.

"With no up-front costs or required membership, we might see a new player or two along the way, and more people is always a good thing!" producer Thom Terrazas said last month.

EverQuest II actually went free-to-play first, with a separate F2P service in August 2010, which was joined with the subscription servers in December 2011. EQ2 had a huge spike in players, but Sony avoided revealing exactly what impact these freeloaders had upon actual profits.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    February 24, 2012 6:00 AM

    Alice O'Connor posted a new article, EverQuest free-to-play launch dated for March 15.

    The free-to-play launch of EverQuest will come almost exactly 13 years after the pioneering MMORPG's original release. Having launched on March 16, 1999 with a $10 monthly subscription (raised to $15 over time), it'll be going F2P on March 15, 2012.

    • reply
      February 24, 2012 6:43 AM

      A part of me wonders whether WoW will follow suit at some point. Given Blizzard are apparently working of a F2P title too, not so sure. It's one hell of a revenue stream to lose.

      • reply
        February 24, 2012 7:04 AM

        I think with around 10 mil subs still, they'll be doing the paid sub thing a little longer.

        • reply
          February 24, 2012 7:06 AM

          He said "at some point," which I think could happen. Probably sometime after they release their new MMO.

      • reply
        February 24, 2012 7:05 AM

        It will likely happen eventually, but not until they've moved the majority of it's revenue stream to a different MMO.

      • reply
        February 24, 2012 7:13 AM

        In 5 years maybe.

      • reply
        February 24, 2012 7:27 AM

        I think it would be crazy to assume they wouldn't. It might be a while... but it will happen eventually. F2P is the limbo where MMO's go to grow old and eventually and slowly die.

      • reply
        February 24, 2012 8:00 AM

        it's funny, this thread triggered a bunch of ads for me about how WoW is free to play for the first 20 levels.

    • reply
      February 24, 2012 7:02 AM

      Trolls still not fat, preorder cancelled

    • reply
      February 24, 2012 7:09 AM

      It is funny they don't let free players log into progression servers, you'd think they'd target that nostalgia market properly

      • reply
        February 24, 2012 7:51 AM

        SOE haven't done anything properly in over 3 year ever.

    • reply
      February 24, 2012 7:34 AM

      it was never 10 fucking dollars it was $9.89/month

    • reply
      February 24, 2012 3:43 PM

      Need ATM @ Treants pst

Hello, Meet Lola