The subscription server Rift Prime has struck a chord with players of the MMORPG. Opinions are largely positive, although there is also some criticism.
The recently launched first Prime server of Rift aims to provide a classic experience. Those who want to experience it must subscribe and then can gradually experience the story, without being distracted by annoying free-to-play elements like loot boxes or an intrusive in-game shop.
Prime server delights fans
And this is largely well received by the fans. At launch, the server was full and there were queues of up to about 45 minutes. Fans enjoy the relaxed play. You can take your time playing the content.
The high player count allows for plenty of group content, guilds are very popular, and in general, Rift has the impression of a freshly launched MMORPG, just as it was back when subscription models were still the standard and the market was not yet flooded with MMOs.
However, there is also some criticism:
- It is not the “Vanilla” version of Rift that many players had hoped for
- Some innovations that have been developed over many years of operation are included, and many find this annoying
- Some changes are intended for players above level 50, but the server’s level cap is set at 50, which makes many changes seem pointless
- The server is only partially suitable for players outside the USA, as players from Europe, Asia, or Australia struggle with sometimes high ping values
In our comments, there was also criticism stating that the server has an expiration date. Trion Worlds guarantees this only for “at least a year.” Users had wished that it would be “endless.”
Further prime servers could follow
The developers have stated that this first Prime server of Rift is a kind of experiment. If there is enough interest, then more may follow, which could also be set up in Europe, for example, to provide better ping.
The overall sentiment towards the Prime server of Rift is that it offers a very positive player experience, which other MMORPG operators should adhere to.
