When Free Isn't Enough - Games That Went Free-to-Play and Died Anyway
It would seem that making your game available for free is a measure of last resort that always works. It turns out, however, that some productions weren't saved even by this change.
Table of Contents
- When Free Isn't Enough - Games That Went Free-to-Play and Died Anyway
- Battlerite
- Bless Online
- Zombies: Aion, Rift, Tera
Zombies: Aion, Rift, Tera
- Released: November 25, 2008; March 1 2011; May 1, 2012
- Went F2P: 28 February 2012; 12 June 2013; 5 February 2013
Lastly, we have three titles that have gone virtually down the same path. This is because they started out as a paid and successful MMORPG. Aion was a kind of Lineage 2.5, Rift was a pleasant alternative to World of Warcraft, and Tera offered a unique combat system. What do these games have in common?
Over time, they went off-course, and couldn't keep enough players with them. That's why they moved to a free-to-play model. This change turned out to be only a temporary remedy to the problems, because lack of gameplay novelties paired with aggressive in-game shop expansion is never a way to success. Today, these games are but a shadow of their former selves, and while they are not yet dead, they're definitely agonal.
They're also proof that simply going free-to-play when our game needs second life isn't enough. For a game to remain viable, it needs regular updates and a clear idea for development. Otherwise, some new production will come along doing the same thing, only better – and that will be it.
