The retail subscription based model has been profitable for years, but that may be changing soon with the transition of Dungeons and Dragons Stormreach from the subscription based model to a free-to-play model. Free to play MMORPGs aren’t new, they’ve been around a long time now, since the days of text based MUDS and MUSHs, but today’s gaming market has been dominated by big retail productions that demand a monthly fee from users in order to put their favorite characters through further adventures.
Turbine’s Dungeons and Dragons Online has followed a subscription based business model since its launch in February of 2006. Players purchase the game client, and then pay the monthly fee of $14.99 to enjoy a gaming experience with other players around the world. It’s a model that’s tried and true, having existed since the release of the first modern MMORPG Ultima Online. But Dungeons and Dragons Online is scrapping the model in favor of a new item shop gaming model, which brings question to the free in free to play.
While the game has increased its soloable game material, Dungeons and Dragons online was always intended to be a party-centric game, and low population levels have tended to make quick creation of balanced parties difficult. With the free to play model Dungeons and Dragons online is looking to increase its player population, which is the key to profitability for the company through its item shop. The more people playing, the more business expected for the new shop to cover the losses from subscription users.
