BioWare and EA expect 2+ million subs, potential pricing model 'twists'

As if the idea of 100% voiced dialogue trees wasn't ambitious enough in an MMO property, word has now come out that EA and BioWare are expecting to have two million subscriptions for Star Wars: The Old Republic. In a genre where only one game has ever exceeded two million subscribers at $15 per month, that's a very high standard to put yourself up against. There again, we are talking about Star Wars, beloved by geeks the world over. We're also talking about BioWare, who have blown many gamers away with the awesomeness of Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age: Origins.

The other thing that gives us pause is the recent discussion in regards to some "potential pricing twists" that Dr. Ray Muzyka of BioWare mentioned while talking to the folks at Kotaku. While subscriptions are being mentioned, others have noticed some indications for microtransactions as well. Whether we're looking at a blended model like Champions Online, more the traditional sub with less-often used macrotransactions like World of Warcraft, or something else altogether remains to be seen. In any event, it's certainly going to be interesting to watch whether or not Star Wars: The Old Republic will be able to retain the subscriber numbers they hope to.

Reader Comments (64)

How about someone copying the ArenaNet Guild Wars model for a change?

Yup. In Guild Wars you pay for new content, the "chapters". This is an awesome and very fair business model. For the customer and also for the developer.

The problem is probably that some big bosses might not be so wrong when they think "If people play our game for several months and pay every month for it, we make more cash."

This is probably the only reason GW's model has not been copied yet.

No offense Ray but your not going to have 2 million subscribers out the gate just because it is star wars or BioWare. Once you announce the micro transaction store your going to be flame broiled by the North American MMORPG consumer.

Not for this game, Arnie. EA is throwing some very large bags of cash at this one, and a GW model would cause EA to implode.

If the Champions Online model starts to become the norm in the MMO industry then i'll say goodbye to MMOs altogether.

Aion has 3.5-4 million subs world wide and Lineage had 3 mil subs in its prime get your facts straight. This game won't do well in the asian market so 2 mil subs is laughable. Look at AOC even with the amount of hype it had it in the west it never breached 1 mil subs. Once people run through the story line once whats to keep people paying a subscription? This article is nothing more than undeserved hype for an ugly over bloated game.

Their will be a quarter of a million subs from the Asian market the first day and it will be all gold farmers. :)

That's why I said "subscribers at $15 per month." The model for all games changes when you hit the Eastern market, and most of the Aion and Lineage players are in that market.

Let me be the first to call you full of shit.

Ha ha, MT AND a sub... Another sensible recipe for an outstanding long term success...

I hope it just turns out to be a blizzard style pet store though, discreetly shoved away where no one will give a monkeys behind, or better still a pay by the hour kind of thing, why does no one ever do anything like that in the west anyway? Or would that be too sensible

My bet is modules like the DLC system in Dragon Age, but who knows what madness comes next

I'd rather they not even do something like Blizzard's Pet Store. No need for a double-standard where it's okay to nickle-and-dime the pet fiends but not the gear heads. Just stay out of the microtransaction market entirely.

I totally agree with you and I'll be happy to be wrong of course and will buy at least a sub if I am so as punishment :)

But given the way they slipped those extra quests into Dragon Age as DLC they may well give it a go. Sigh.

And DA wasn't that great anyway, a bit better than average at best, but this is not the place for that one :)

/facepalm

Don't these development bigwigs know anything about Jinxes?!

Or history for that matter? When has an MMO dev ever, EVER, EVVVAAARRR met their expected subscription numbers?!
EEEEEEEEEEVVVVVVVVVVVVVAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRR?

Never.

Would be totally sweet if they did get (and *maintain*) 2 mil subs thoz

Uh, STO actually exceeded Cryptics expectations, hence people waiting to log in in the the early days of launch.

Cryptic also set and planned for an extremely modest goal of 100,000 subscriptions for STO. Not too difficult to meet for a game that has pretty good graphics and one of the largest and most beloved IPs in the world of science fiction.

It really all depends on how good the game is. IF the game is really really good. 2mil+ will be np. Microtransactions or otherwise. I for one however remain skeptical.

Can't help but wonder what this pricing structure "twist" is... honestly if it's not a guildwars model I doubt anyone will be shocked by it's "innovative" nature.

anywho.. Subs are expected, and I figure they'll toss in a "fluff" MT store too. At least it better be fluff.. if I'm shelling out a monthly fee AND they have the game set that you really need to use the MT Store to be viable they won't last long.

regardless of this, 2 mil is a bit.. optimistic.. at launch.

Those numbers sound pretty reasonable to me. I just hope they don't adopt the Champions model. Sub or free to play with micro transactions. You can't have it both ways and they'll lose a lot of good will (but not subs) if they do.

I have news for you. Just about every major MMOG these days does have both a subscription fee and micro-transactions. EverQuest II, City of Heroes, Champions Online, Star Trek Online, and even the giant World of Warcraft. A subscription fee alone just isn't cutting it anymore.

"There again, we are talking about Star Wars, beloved by geeks the world over. We're also talking about BioWare, who have blown many gamers away with the awesomeness of Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age: Origins."

Big IP doesn't cover for horrible gameplay and content, recent lesson hopefully learned from Star Trek Online. Also, this is Bioware's first MMO attempt.

The genre needs innovation badly and I'm expecting to see some since Bioware is a quality producer in my books. Voice acting and the dialogue system, however, is not a new thing to MMOs. No, I'm waiting for details on the class mechanics and their ideas on RPGish quests.

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BioWare and EA expect 2+ million subs, potential pricing model 'twists'

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