The introduction of the Free2Play mode in the space MMO EVE Online pays off for CCP Games.
On the day the patch goes live, the number of concurrently active players increased to over 50,000. This surpasses the peak number of concurrent players from 2015, when at the height 45,637 players were online at the same time. However, EVE Online still does not return to the all-time high of over 65,000 players in 2013 with this number. Nevertheless, the change in the payment model has paid off for the development studio.
Are all of these really new players?
Nevertheless, this number does not indicate whether they are new or returning players. It is also possible that among the new accounts, there are second accounts from subscribers creating an additional character. Furthermore, it remains to be seen how these numbers will stabilize over time. As the past has shown, MMORPGs that switch from a subscription to a Free2Play model experience a significant influx of players in the first weeks and months. However, this does not last long. The excitement of trying something new fades relatively quickly. Some may not enjoy the game and stop playing.
Only time will tell how successful the transition really is
Only the coming weeks will show how the introduction of Alpha clones will impact the population of EVE Online in the medium and long term. It will also be interesting to see how many of the Alpha clone players switch to Omega status and subscribe. Companies hope that new players will become paying players, either by purchasing in-game currency or by signing up for a subscription.
Are you among the players who are now trying EVE Online through the Free2Play model? If so, what have your gaming experiences been so far? Let us know in the comments.
