Dungeons & Dragons Online has seen growth doubling internal expectations and a 40% increase in subscribers since moving to a free-to-play model supported by premium subscriptions and microtransactions, developer Turbine told Ars Technica.

"[Free players] get to try the game, not be constrained by a one-week trial, and then decide when they've made the commitment that they're engaged enough that they're ready to spend money," executive producer Fernando Paiz told the site.

Free accounts are limited in available classes, races, and quests, which can be brought individually with microtransactions or are included with the $15 monthly VIP subscription. Various items, equipment, buffs and cosmetic options are on sale to all.

"We have a good chunk of the population that is spending more than $15 a month," said Paiz. "The traditional subscription model can only make X dollars off a player. This kind of removes that cap."

In celebration of today's free-to-play relaunch of Dungeons & Dragons Online, which now carries the moniker "Eberron Unlimited," developer Turbine has issued an extremely metal trailer for the PC MMO that really takes it to the limit, and that's no joke.

Seriously. The music is rather loud. You might want to turn your sound down.

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In what is bound to be an ongoing case of "he said-she said," publisher Atari has fired back against the $30 million lawsuit from Dungeons & Dragons Online maker Turbine.

Atari labeled the lawsuit, in which Turbine accuses Atari of fraud and extortion, as "frivolous" and filed a motion to dismiss the suit, along with another complaint to "recover monies owed to Atari resulting from an independent third party audit of Turbine."

In last week's suit, Turbine said Atari's claim of being owed more money was "unfounded." The entire affair centers around the Dungeons & Dragons license, which Turbine sublicensed from Atari so that it could create D&D Online... Read more

Dungeons & Dragons Online developer Turbine is pursuing legal action against Atari, alleging the publisher of fraud, unjust enrichment, and breach of contract.

The bulk of Turbine's suit seems to revolve around the new D&D: Neverwinter Nights MMO Atari is said to be prepping in conjunction with Champions Online developer Cryptic. Turbine initially licensed the D&D MMO rights from Atari back in 2003.

In short, Turbine says that Atari lied about its "enthusiastic support" for the upcoming free-to-play relaunch of DDO, and then "trumped up" false charges against Turbine "in an effort to extort more money from Turbine, or, alternately, to free itself from its obligations under the contracts in order to clear the way for the launch of its own competing MMO service based on the D&D and Advanced D&D intellectual properties... Read more

Turbine's free-to-play relaunch of its MMO Dungeons & Dragons Online, subtitled 'Eberron Unlimited,' has been delayed until September 9, the studio announced today.

"We are committed to delivering a high-quality experience, said DDO executive producer Fernando Paiz. "We feel that more time is needed to deliver on this commitment."

Originally scheduled to arrive on August 4, Eberron Unlimited will make the fantasy MMO free to play, raise the level cap, introduce a new class, and add gobs of new content.

Eberron Unlimited will be supported by optional micropayments for items, services and content, as well as 'VIP' subscriptions with access to all premium content.

Turbine today announced that the free version of Dungeons & Dragons Online, Eberron Unlimited, will go live on August 4.

The plan to make the 2006 MMO free-to-play was announced in June. The game will now be supported through sales on its DDO store, which will offer dungeon packs, potions, helper NPCs, character slots and character customization.

A new monthly subscription service called "DDO VIP" will provide all premium content and several account bonuses for a monthly price.

The launch of Eberron Unlimited will also be accompanied by the introduction of a new player class, raid zone, and a raising of the level cap.

Turbine today announced that it will relaunch its MMO Dungeons & Dragons Online this summer as Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited, a free-to-play version of the massive online game.

Players will be able to download and play the game at no cost, with a new DDO Store providing revenue in the form of content and item sales. Dungeon packs, character slots, potions, character customization, and hired goons will all be available for purchase with Turbine Points.

Turbine will also launch a "DDO VIP" program that will grant access to all premium content for a monthly price. Benefits include priority server access, 10 character slots, a shared bank, and a monthly pack of 500 Turbine Points to spent at the DDO Store.

Dungeons & Dragons Online was launched in February 2006. Turbine has since updated the title with eight modules.