The SF-MMORPG EVE Online has been a kind of substitute for life for many of its regular players since its release in June 2003. Starting May 17, 2022, a price increase is set to happen: The cost of the in-game currency “PLEX” and the “OMEGA” subscription will rise by about 10-20 %. Fans are rejecting this. The traditional pain threshold of $15 per month in an MMORPG will be exceeded.
How are the prices changing? EVE Online is increasing the prices for the “Premium” Omega status by up to 25 %:
- From $14.95 it goes up to $19.99 (1 month)
- $38.85 will soon cost $47.98 (3 months)
- Instead of €71.71, from May on it will be $86.95 (6 months)
- Instead of $131.40, the full year of EVE will soon cost $149.90 (12 months)
There is a “new” 2-year subscription for $270.00: Those who get it will pay slightly more than the “old price” for the one-year subscription.
With the purchase currency “PLEX” it will be such that players will receive less Plex for the same price as before:
- Instead of 110 Plex in the $5 bundle, there are now only 100.
- Instead of 15,400 Plex for $500 (3.2 cents per Plex), you can now buy 20,000 Plex for $650 (3.2 cents per Plex). Players are therefore making a higher “commitment” by buying larger packages.
How is this for Europeans? The conversion formula for euros is 1:1. This is an unfriendly way of converting from a European perspective. Because actually, one euro is worth $1.07. But the 7 cents are not considered by the Icelanders from CCP.
European players are therefore paying more on average. This was already the case before the price adjustment.
After 18 years, a price increase is necessary to continue developing EVE
This is how CCP justifies the price increase: The developers say that in order to maintain the further development and growth of EVE, a price adjustment is needed. It is the first one since 2004.
The idea is that players can save a lot of money if they buy large amounts of PLEX or Omega time.
The prices count from May 17.
What is the reaction? The reaction is predominantly negative:
- Players consider the price increase from $15 to $20 as “too steep” – one suggests raising the price in smaller increments
- Another user says: A subscription for $20 – which MMORPG still does that? The $15 is the “industry standard”
- It is mainly criticized that the price increase comes at a time when it is unclear how exactly EVE Online will be developed further. Although it is said that there is an investment in the development of EVE – you cannot see it at the moment
- A player advises: It would have been better to hype the players with a new announcement at the Gamefest and only then exceed the pain threshold for the subscription price
- One user says that instead of “EVE Online”, he will now play “LEAVE Online”, meaning he will stop playing the game – others are also threatening to withdraw their booked tickets for the fan festival
The player council at EVE states that they opposed the price increase. But CCP did not want to negotiate.
A council member says: A price increase without additional content is very hard to justify. He demanded at least a discount for players with multiple accounts:
MMORPG standard of $15 per month breached for the first time
What is this price limit? Since “ancient times”, the limit of $14.99 for a month of subscription in paid MMORPGs has been in place:
- This is the price that both World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV charge for 30 days.
- Games like The Elder Scrolls Online also charge $15 per month for premium membership.
In contrast, German players in Final Fantasy XIV, The Elder Scrolls Online, and WoW only pay about €13 for the monthly subscription. For European players, EVE has always been a bit more expensive as a monthly subscription than other MMORPGs.
EVE Online is now the first of the major Western MMORPGs to exceed the $15 limit. Also RuneScape is raising subscription prices this year, but both games together will remain below $15.
After 18 years, this seems like a small step for EVE that is probably needed due to rampant inflation. Nevertheless, it is an unusual occurrence for MMORPGs that is causing excitement.
He will probably be able to afford the €5 per month:
Evil space tyrant survives “3 million dollar” world war in EVE Online, vows revenge
