Bioware announced today that The Old Republic has gained over 2 million new players since the MMORPG went free-to-play last November.
The Old Republic originally launched in December 2011 to strong sales, but suffered a sharp decline in subscriptions in the months following its launch. Like a lot of MMORPG’s released in the last few years, the move over to the free-to-play model seems to have saved the game.
To celebrate (or cash in on) the influx of new players, Bioware will be adding new customization options to The Old Republic that will give users the option of changing their characters’ build, hair style, and even species. In order to access these options, free players will need to trade in an unspecified amount of Cartel Coins, which have to be purchased with real-world money.
Jeff Hickman, the game’s executive producer, also promised that more highly requested features and fixes are on the way in the coming weeks as well, including higher capacity servers and the ability to toggle your hood on and off (apparently this is a big deal for Jedi players.)
Bioware is hoping to maintain The Old Republic’s new found momentum with the game’s first expansion, Rise of the Hutt Cartel, which is still due to launch sometime this Spring. The expansion will cost “free” players $20, but subscribers to The Old Republic will be able to get it at half-price.
Source: Bioware
