'Star Wars: The Old Republic' is still pulling in well over $7.5m per month. Photo: AFP
To that end, a subscription option will be kept on the table, offering the full range of character creation choices and weekly bonus missions, as well as priority access to and faster navigation around the gameworld in exchange for $14.99 a month.
The move will have been made with an eye on the August 28 launch of Guild Wars 2, made by ArenaNet of Washington State and published by NCSoft of South Korea, and a title which requires one up-front payment (roughly the same price as a standard retail game) with no monthly fees and a focus on socially motivated adventuring.