Guild Wars 2 Core game goes free to play

Communities Gaming
1

So they just announced and immediately put in effect (you can actually play now) that with the new expansion coming out soon the core game becomes free to play. The account types can be seen here:

https://help.guildwars2.com/entries/95982157?_ga=1.240955781.78332403.1436571105

Looking at the restrictions, the only restrictions that are not removed by higher level are the ones that are in effect to counter bottling and spammers. You can basically enjoy the whole CORE game without much issues even with the free account.

The moment you buy the expansion the core game restrictions are also lifted. Best time to try the game out. So their model is b2p expansion f2p core game.

2

I'm probably going to give it a try

3

I havent played in a little while, I like guildwars. There model also seems to work. Ive got a lot out of the game and dont have to worry about monthly payments. id much rather have this kind of model for other games as well like ffxiv

4

WildStar is also going F2P. That seems to be the very predictable trend.

5

GW2 isn't going free to play. They just didn't think it was right to charge for the base game and then charge for the expansion as well. So it's still B2P like it always has been just slightly different. Wildstar went F2P cause no one played it.

6

Well that is still going F2P. It just that the reason was not population but a business decision. They made all the money they think they could with the core game so they made it free to sustain low level population and motivate ppl to buy the expansion.

7

Yeah indeed. This business model I think is the best compromise between user experience/cost and developer profit.

8

In a move that surprised no one.

9

Some ppl did not expect it actually...Although it should be evident from the expansion pre-purchase strategy...You could never be asbolutely sure though...

10

I for one did not expect it. I've played GW2 since May of last year. What does Anet make money off of? The gemstore and, to a lesser extent, up front game sales. Those are basically the two ONLY revenues. So any kind of F2P is a little unexpected. But only a little. I imagine they did this because their main revenue is, of course, the gemstore. Over time, they'd make more money by having more players playing and buying gems than they would a one time $40 purchase.

11

Pretty sure thye did this cause they didnt feel it was right to charge for the base game and the same for the expansion. Its not like their game is failing and they have to give it out for free jsut to stay afloat like most mmos. GW2 is extremely popular.