Trion Worlds' upcoming massively multiplayer online real time strategy game End of Nations will be released using the increasingly popular free to play business model.
Trion Worlds' End of Nations, developed by the team behind the original Command & Conquer, is looking like excellent fun -- Jason had a blast (literally) with it in our recent preview. Today, Trion Worlds has dropped the bombshell that the game will be free to play, lending further weight to the theory that the business model is maturing nicely -- and that "free to play" doesn't have to mean "substandard in quality."
"Being able to offer a premium game such as End of Nations for free sets us apart in this industry," said Dave Luehmann, vice president of third party development at Trion Worlds. "At Trion, we strive to innovate online gaming while emphasizing the delivery of the best core gameplay experience available. Our decision to release End of Nations as a AAA free to play title is guided by these principles."
All players will have access to the full game, including its single player/co-op campaign, for free. Trion hasn't yet revealed specific plans for premium items in the game, but there will be retail and digital-only Collector's Editions available. There will also be a monthly subscription program, apparently offering "extra value and convenience." Trion notes in its official FAQ that the game will not be "pay to win" -- the premium subscription and items are "about value, but not about gameplay advantage," apparently.
End of Nations doesn't yet have a specific release date, but you can find out more about it on the official website.
