The MMO shooter Defiance is transitioning from a Buy2Play to a Free2Play game. Tips can be obtained from the colleagues at Rift, who work under the same roof.
Defiance is not only an MMO shooter, but also a TV series on the American Syfy channel, from which we owe several Stargate spin-offs, Battlestar Galactica, or Warehouse 13. With the launch of the second season of Defiance, they want to bring the related shooter to peak performance. Hence, a switch to a Free2Play system was a logical choice.
Free2Play transition aims to attract players
In an interview with the English-speaking gaming site mmorpg.com, the reasons behind the transition were discussed. The shift to a Free2Play system is expected to bring an influx of new players.
This will also enhance the gaming experience: Defiance is a game that thrives on the hustle and bustle of a lively map and only reaches peak performance when many players are in close proximity.
Bill Fisher from Rift and his team have drawn inspiration for switching from a pay model to a Free2Play model. This is fitting, as both titles operate under the umbrella of Trion Worlds, who have another hot MMO title in ArcheAge.
A common difficulty during a transition is always how to handle players who have already purchased and paid for the game. For them, nothing changes at first. They can keep all the items they bought from the shop and receive one month under special conditions, as if they had paid for a premium status for one month. Instead of continuing to release DLCs, they also want to follow the example of Rift regarding content supply and release larger content patches at regular intervals.
The transition to Free2Play will take place on June 4 for PC, on July 15 for PS3, and at yet unknown date for Xbox 360. A release of the game for PS4 and Xbox One is currently not planned, but also not ruled out.
