Well, it looks like another game is joining the growing ranks of free-to-play MMORPGs. Tera, an MMO originating out of South Korea, will be changing its business model this February, when it will no longer require a subscription fee. Dubbed Tera Rising, the update is will give free players access to the complete game, while dolling out extra rewards to those who pay.
Basically, if you’ve previously bought Tera, you’ll net the following rewards,
- Founders title: new “Founder” title, marking your status as one of TERA’s first.
- Founder’s rights: eight character slots, four bank tabs, and more items simultaneously on the brokerage.
- Terminus mount: a founder-exclusive mount to commemorate your victory in the Argon War.
- Free En Masse Points: deposits $5 (standard) or $10 (collector’s edition) worth of EMPs to your e-wallet.
- Free account reactivation effective immediately.
Current subscribers will receive the same bonuses, but if their subscription time extends beyond the launch date of Rising, they’ll be given a full month of “Elite Status,” the MMO’s new payment model. Anyone willing to still drop the $14.99 every 30 days after the update will get a number of bonuses, outlined on the official site here.
With the current explanation, it seems like publisher En Masse is handling this change well. There will be no level caps or restricted dungeons. If you pay, you just get more stuff. The specific date when the update will take place has not been announced.
Will this transition to free-to-play get you to try Tera? Let us know in the comments below.