As promised, Funcom's barbaric MMORPG Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures has switched to the increasingly popular free-to-play model. Age of Conan: Unchained, as it's now called, is available now.

As is standard for the model, Age of Conan will be supported both by microtransactions and an optional premium subscriptions. Non-paying players will have access to fewer character classes, areas, dungeons, raids, character slots, bank space, and other assorted disadvantages. Premuium subscriptions cost the same $15 monthly fee they always have. Read more »

Mere days after the third birthday of Age of Conan, developer Funcom has announced that the MMORPG based upon Robert E. Howard's fantasy stories will be relaunched under a free-to-play model this summer. On top of that, it's planning a burst of good, old-fashioned sex and violence for all to enjoy.

With the launch of Age of Conan: Unrated, as it'll be called, all and sundry will be able to download and play the MMO completely free. Age of Conan will become funded by an in-game item store, selling "exclusive content such as weaponry and mounts" for real money, and optional "premium" subscriptions. Funcom says these subscriptions are the same as the current regular subs, which cost--now, at least--$14.99 per month. Read more »

Age of Conan developer Funcom has opened up the PC fantasy MMORPG's oriental expansion pack Rise of the Godslayer to all players past and present until July 15.

Current players can hop straight on over to the land of Khitai while those with inactive accounts will receive ten days of free play in both the expansion and original content. Read more »

Age of Conan's oriental expansion pack 'Rise of the Godslayer' will be released on May 11, developer Funcom announced today, and will be available both digitally by itself and in a retail bundle with the base game plus a selection of in-game virtual goodies.

Rise of the Godslayer brings the MMORPG to the exotic Asian-themed Empire of Khitai, "where an ancient traditional culture clashes with dark forces." Sounds like bad news. Read more »

It's been a while coming but we've got some new screenshots and a trailer for 'Rise of the Godslayer,' the first expansion for Funcom's low-fantasy MMORPG Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures.

Set in the eastern empire of Khitai and including a new playable race - the Khitan - 'Rise of the Godslayer' includes a new story and missions, player mounts (like a Tiger), in addition to new grassland, desert, and jungle locations. The expansion also includes content appropriate to, "several level ranges," including a, "wide variety of new low-level content" for fresh characters. Read more »

Age of Conan and The Longest Journey developer Funcom has announced that it intends to to reduce its workforce by 20% as part of a cost-cutting program.

The cuts will chiefly strike Funcom's Norwegian branch. Funcom employs over 300 people worldwide with studios in the USA, Canada, Norway, Switzerland and China. The US division was struck by a number of layoffs in November 2008. Read more »