CCP Games today reveals its plans to introduce a degree of free-to-play access for EVE Online as part the sci-fi MMORPG's November expansion. Touted as "one of the biggest changes to the EVE universe ever", new players will be able a create an avatar as one of two account "states" that will determine their level of access to EVE Online's features.
The current subscription service that veteran players are familiar with will become "Omega" accounts, while "Alpha" accounts can be created free with no trial period strings attached. The catch is that Alpha level avatars will face some degree of limitation in training and using skills, weapons and ships, unlike Omega accounts. Alpha accounts are still expected to be able to enjoy many of EVE Online's hallmark features including piloting tech one level spacecraft in deep space battles and exploration, trading, resource gathering, etc, but any such restrictions will only be removed by "upgrading" to an Omega-level account.
The developer team explains in a blog post that they have confidence in the Omega/Alpha system they are planning to implement as a means of introducing free-to-play access to EVE Online:
"Part of our vision for the future of EVE has included more open access for some time, but with the interconnected nature of the game comes vulnerability. We knew that if the flood gates were opened in the wrong way, we could see anything from server meltdowns to the collapse of the EVE economy. Over time, our hardware has improved, code has been untangled (mostly!) and we've found a design we believe in. EVE is ready for this."
The updated player account system isn't the only thing coming with the major November content update, of course. For example, Industrial Arrays will added as a new class of structure for player-built Citadels, in addition to industrial capital ship improvements and an all-new ship. Players can hit the dev blog's Q&A for additional details on exactly what skills Alpha level accounts will be able to train and use.
Sad but necessity
