Lineage II, sequel to one of the largest MMOs in history and pretty big in its own right, will be opening its doors as a free to play game soon. NCSoft, who manages the game, have announced that it will launch this new move along with the next official content update, Goddess of Destruction, on November 30th.
NCSoft is referring to this update as “Truly Free” because of the lack of membership levels. For example, in many F2P games such as Dungeons and Dragons Online, Lord of the Rings Online, DCUO, and others, players can obtain different membership tiers by spending money in item shops or even paying monthly fees. Unlike these options, Lineage II will have all of the game’s content open to players. This is a move that is not uncommon in eastern MMOs, so perhaps it isn’t too surprising, but most MMOs that have gone F2P after having subscriptions have favored the tiered membership plans.
Of course, despite rumors to the contrary, game developers need to eat. That means players may be able to experience the full game without paying a dime, there will be an item shop to make life a little easier in exchange for some real-life coin. Players will be able to purchase “Exploration Packs” that will accelerate leveling by providing some gear enhancements.
In addition to the item shop, players will also be able to access an online leveling guide. For new players, this could help to provide a welcome bit of help as to not get lost in the large world of Lineage 2.
Whether or not you decide to give it a spin, this is yet another big name MMO, if older, MMO that will be moving over to the Free to Play model. We’ve had quite a few articles in just the past few months about games making this very same transition, and that is a telling trend in the industry, and one we will likely continue to see play out.
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