Last week, this oft-quoted gamesindustry.biz editorial from Sony Online Entertainment President John Smedley claimed that The Old Republic will be the last subscription based game, while the future lies in games that are free to play up front.
Lots of games have gone free to play recently, and unless I’m mistaken, every one of them has turned in to a massive success. Increases in player base. Huge spikes in revenue. While this model undoubtedly works out for the developers when executed well, free to play makes just as much sense from the player side.
Of course free is awesome. But while millions of people will gladly pay $15 per month to access the World of Warcraft, it would benefit these players more to pay for something that directly affects their game experience. In World of Warcraft, I am paying $15 a month for access to the world, and that’s pretty much it. Of course, I can access new content added in by Blizzard as long as my account is active, but what if I don’t play those dungeons? I just wasted $15.
Lord of the Rings Online, on the other hand, offers “Quest Packs” that will unlock new areas to continue your adventure. This way, I can quest around on my character whenever I want without incurring any charge. When I run out of heroic tasks, if I am still enjoying the game, I will buy more. And so goes the cycle.
Smedley brought up this figure multiple times in his editorial: subscription fees are the reason that 40% of Everquest 2 players have quit the game. I wouldn’t be surprised if WoW’s recent hemorrhaging of players was due to the subscription fees as well. To all but the most hardcore who play everyday, or those who have an incredible amount of cash, subscription fees create obligation. In this model, you waste money by not playing. Then, when that $15 taunts you on your next credit card statement, the choice of whether or not to keep up with the virtual world gets a lot easier. The high cost of entry is already enough of a barrier to keep us from enjoying all the awesome games that come out during the holiday season. A monthly cost adds insult to injury.
A free to play business model averts all these problems if done right. With no cost up front, players can try any game with no obligation. When someone gets hooked on a game, they can pay for more content and be confident in spending their money. They are getting something that they know will be enjoyable, that is more inherently beneficial than just being able to access a game. Ultimately, a business model that benefits the developer and the player is something that has to be sought out, experimented with, and improved.
The OId Republic is going to be gigantic this winter. I’m sure I’ll throw at least $45 on top of the box price to venture around the galaxy with my friends. But after that, I am in agreement with SOE’s president. F2P is the way to be.