It used to be our tradition around the end of the year to speculate on which MMORPG that hadn’t yet gone free-to-play would be next to capitulate to the trend. But folks, there’s almost nothing left in the world of subscription-only services. Most games with subs have long since hybridized to offer some form of free-to-play. Even Dark Age of Camelot went hybrid free-to-play this year. It’s a pretty restrictive version, but it’s there.
Do you think any of the remaining sub-only MMORPGs – that are actually launched and live, that is – will yet go free-to-play? Is World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy XIV next, or are they untouchable? Have we overlooked any other smaller games? What about unlaunched games that are still insisting on going pure sub – will they keep their word? What MMO will be the next to change up its business model dramatically?