The new MMORPG Astellia offers a new form of payment. For $9.99 per month, interested players can test whether the game appeals to them. It’s an unusual tactic: this subscription model runs parallel to the Buy2Play model and is primarily aimed at those who want to test it out for a month first.
This is the payment model of Astellia: The new MMORPG Astellia is essentially “Buy-to-play”. Currently, players can purchase various founder packages, sold for prices of €39.99, €59.99, or €99.99; after the launch, a price of around €30 is targeted. So far, there are no subscription costs.
This is how the new subscription model works: Astellia has now announced that it will present a special subscription model after the launch. Players who are unsure about purchasing the MMORPG can try it for €9.99 per month.
This means for you: For this price, you will receive unlimited access to all content of Astellia for one month. After the subscription expires, you can decide whether you want to continue testing or purchase the full game.
But beware: The paid subscription costs will not be credited towards the price of the game. You will still have to pay €39.99 for the base package, even if you have already paid for the subscription for 2 or 3 months. Each additional month will cost €9.99 as usual.
This is how subscriptions are used in other MMORPGs: Normally, subscriptions are typically used as a fixed payment model for running MMORPGs. You can only play the games in full if you pay a subscription, like in WoW and Final Fantasy XIV.
These games offer their trial versions for free – but only very limited and not at release. At first glance, the subscription method of Astellia seems quite strange.
But for the uncertain player, it’s an advantage: Even though Astellia does not actually charge monthly fees, the price of around 40 euros for the base game might deter some players.
That’s why the publisher has reconfigured the common subscription model for a trial version.
Those who missed the beta and want to minimize the risk of a bad purchase at release are ultimately getting a fair alternative. Something many would have wished for with the failed Bless.
When will Astellia be released? The new MMORPG will officially launch on September 27; until then, the developer wants to change quite a bit about the game. However, pre-order customers of the founder packages can already play earlier:
- Gold Package: 1 day earlier
- Platinum Package: 4 days earlier
- Legendary Package: 7 days earlier
The MMORPG is definitely not going to be “pay-2-win”.
You can find impressions from the last closed beta of Astellia here:
