Lineage II going F2P

[Centaur]

NCSoft have just announced their plans to make Lineage II free to play as of the release of the next large content update. Clearly the F2P model is gaining popularity among their competitors...

New business model and massive content update reinvigorates Lineage II

Seattle, WA – November 1, 2011 – NCsoft®, the world’s premier publisher and developer of massively multiplayer online games (MMOs), today reveals the details behind Lineage® II’s new business model which enables anyone to play the game truly free later this year. Coupled with Goddess of Destruction, the largest update to the game in its history – more than 400 hours of new content – Lineage II will offer players an unprecedented value unmatched in the entertainment industry.

Unique among MMO offerings in the west, Lineage II will be available to players completely free – there will be no restricted zones, no limited class selection and no gear stuck behind a pay wall. Players will enjoy a superior Lineage II gaming experience that features a new shared starting area along with new and redesigned zones. New game guides are available at key milestones of a character’s career to provide advice along with free booster packs to enable rapid progression.

As players make their journey from level 1-99, they will have the opportunity to buy supplemental in-game items and premium item packs from the L2 Store™ that provide significant bonuses and improvements to accelerate their character’s progression. Upon reaching level 85, players will experience the game’s all new classes, skills, bosses and zones that amplify epic castle sieges, arena-style battles and more, all for free.

“Launching Lineage II as a Truly Free player experience is a reflection of our vision to provide players with the most accessible business model for each of our titles,” said Matt Turetzky, Executive Vice President, NCsoft West. “You’ve seen with the recent release of City of Heroes Freedom and through our successful portfolio of games that we are capable of supporting multiple business models. Not only does the Lineage II Truly Free concept introduce yet another unique business model to the industry, but it provides players with a very enticing entry point to experience the exciting new content coming with the Goddess of Destruction update.”

The new Lineage II business model and Goddess of Destruction will launch together later this year. More information can be found here www.lineage2.com/truly-free.

[ComplexNuber]

Interesting, heard about this MMO a few times but never really looked into it. Can anyone vouch for this game?

Only thing that bothers me:

While we will offer some gameplay acceleration or vanity items for purchase in the L2 Store that we hope you'll enjoy, buying them is completely optional.

I HATE it when games offer xp rate bonuses in shops. Hate, hate, hate!

[Nem]

Why? From what I've heard, without them Armageddon would come faster than max lvl in Lineage 2.

[Centaur]

Well, given that free players basically get access to everything:

there will be no restricted zones, no limited class selection and no gear stuck behind a pay wall.

They will definitely to need things to make life easier on paying players, otherwise everyone is going to cancel their subscription... and I doubt that's the intention. Most games that go F2P not only are set up in such a way that it takes free players ages to get to the next level, they also have restrictions on how far you can get. Not having those restrictions in the free model on Lineage II is already a big improvement.

As for vouching... sorry, never played the game. But apparently it's immensely popular in Asian countries.

[JohnnyV]

I played the game when it first came out, and I can definitely say I wouldn't even go back to it even for free. The grind in that game makes WoW, and other American MMO's truly look like Dora The Explorer: Adventure Island. Steer clear, unless you enjoy a massive grindfest.

[Centaur]

Well, that's good to know. Thanks for the warning... that saves me a bit of time

[stingwolf2000]

so....is there going to be a download right ?

[Amei]

Free to play and FFA gankfest, you know the hordes will thunder in......

For a week or two.

I loved L2, cept I spent way too much time in the noob area fending off ganekrs form our guildies.