When a new MMORPG is announced, players are excited to find out which payment model will be used. For Astellia, the developers are opting for Buy2Play for the release in the “West”.
Astellia producer Wes Conner also has a very interesting opinion on this. He was not pleased with the releases of many MMORPGs in recent years.
Buy2Play instead of Pay2Win
What did Wes Conner mean about the payment model? According to the producer, Astellia will have a Buy2Play model in this country, while in Korea it will be Free2Play. The items that players can buy for money in Korea can be earned in various ways:
- Dungeon drops provide special rewards
- You unlock items through achievements
- There are rewards for daily logins
Why does Astellia rely on a Buy2Play model? Wes Conner explains that he is not very pleased with how the releases of many MMORPGs have gone in recent years. Some developers simply released their games in the West to make a profit and then did not support the game further.
This way, fans could not build any emotional connection to the title. The studios then moved on to the next title, treating it the same way. In principle, the games were disposable.
That will be different with Astellia. The game sees itself as part of a larger change. There is a desire to engage players more and offer them a product that does not take their money. The game is meant to be supported in the long term. Therefore, there are no Pay2Win elements in Astellia.
Astellia needs two versions
How difficult is it to run two versions? The Korean developers of Astellia essentially have to manage two versions. It is evident that such a thing is not easy, as seen with ArcheAge. However, the team shows great commitment and is very passionate about it.
The developers want as many players as possible to enjoy Astellia. Therefore, they are happy to take care of two versions.
When is Astellia coming? The MMORPG will be released in summer, making it one of several online role-playing games to look forward to in 2019. A specific date has not yet been provided. Before that, two closed beta phases will take place.
How do players react to Astellia? There is some skepticism. There have simply been too many Asian online role-playing games released that rely on Pay2Win elements, seem too generic, and could not keep players engaged for long. However, one can also read some hope in the comments on Reddit. The fact that Astellia will be Buy2Play appeals to many.
The beta phases will be particularly important for Astellia, as they will show how the MMORPG plays and whether it can excite players.
