Changing Perspectives: My Evolving View on Subscription MMORPGs

For years, I have adhered to a particular philosophy regarding the monetization of MMORPGs. You may have heard me mention it on various podcasts: “Everyone wants MMORPGs to be free-to-play… until they find one they truly enjoy, and then they wish it had a subscription model.”

This saying has held true for a long time. Nowadays, however, I’m not certain if it’s still applicable, or even how I personally feel about it. It originated mainly from the frustrating monetization strategies some free-to-play MMORPGs employ. If you are a frequent player of Neverwinter, would you consider paying a subscription if they eliminated intrusive messages about loot box mounts? Would you subscribe to DECA monthly to dodge some pay-to-win annoyances while playing Neverwinter? I certainly would.

It wasn’t just the irritation of these “advertisements” or annoying pop-ups at login that I wished to avoid. For some games, not having a subscription almost makes playing not worthwhile. Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR) fits this mold for me. The restrictions on free-to-play accounts were so frustrating that whenever I wanted to indulge in SWTOR, I would pay for a month’s subscription just to escape the limitations designed solely to urge me to spend money. It seems to have worked…

While The Elder Scrolls Online isn’t free-to-play per se, as you must purchase the game, the subscription is entirely optional…or is it? The “ESO Plus” subscription offers enticing benefits, such as access to all DLC without additional purchases and a monthly allotment of Crowns for the cash shop, which can be used to buy desired DLCs if you ever stop subscribing. That’s pretty neat.

However, the “Crafting Bag” is one asinine element that essentially makes the subscription a necessity for anyone serious about crafting in the MMO. Sure, you can always hire others to craft for you, but crafting is crucial for customizing gear without depending on friends.

Simply put, the “Crafting Bag” keeps your crafting materials separate from your main inventory. Your inventory fills up quickly without considering crafting materials, leading you to constantly manage your items or visit vendors every 30 minutes. Indeed, it feels mandatory.

This is where things get interesting. In earlier times, subscription MMORPGs did not have their own cash shops. You would pay a subscription, and that was all that was expected. However, times have changed, and World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV, and other subscription-based MMOs have incorporated additional revenue streams. The subscription alone is no longer sufficient. While some games handle this more gracefully than others, the trend persists. FFXIV, for instance, requires you to view the shop outside the game on their website. WoW, on the other hand, actively prompts you to click the in-game shop button.

Although one option may be seen as more preferable, both are trying to sell you something in addition to your ongoing subscription.

This evolution renders my old saying somewhat outdated. A mandatory subscription used to exempt you from extra monetization efforts; now, it’s merely one facet of most monetization strategies. This is unlikely to change anytime soon. Once companies find profitable methods, it generally requires legislation to provoke change, and there isn’t much to legislate unless we’re discussing loot boxes. Sure, some transparency in pricing and curbing “Fear of Missing Out” strategies might call for regulation, but that’s another discussion entirely.

Honestly, perhaps it’s time to abolish the required subscription… but is there truly a distinction between a “required” subscription and an “optional” one if the latter is necessary for the best experience?

Indeed, it feels like we’re all heading toward an inevitable conclusion, so why not transition everything to free-to-play at this juncture? You know they are going to introduce some form of a separate battle pass anyway.