Many people unfairly assume that adopting a free-to-play model is the sign that a game has failed, but in the instance of WildStar, it was definitely a series of failures on the developer’s part that led to this. While I’ll spare you a nerdy analysis on the highly-anticipated MMO’s flaws, just know that the developer’s recent decision to drop its subscription model in favor of a F2P model isn’t surprising. This is yet another sign that World of Warcraft is the only MMO that can maintain a subscription model nowadays. 

This fall will be an exciting time for WildStar as we transition to Free-to-Play. Since launch we’ve listened to all of your feedback and worked hard to improve your game experience. Part of that goal has always been to bring more players in to experience WildStar, and that’s what Free-to-Play is all about. Below you will find the valuable information you need to continue to enjoy your time on Nexus. And if you’re new to WildStar, this is a great place to start your adventure. If you don’t see your question answered below, be sure to check out our detailed Knowledge Base article or post your question in the forums. What does “Free-to-Play” mean? “Free-to-Play” means that anyone can download the game and play without spending any money to buy WildStar or committing to a required subscription fee. Is the game really free? Players can acquire the game, create an account, login and play through everything the game has to offer without spending any money, so yes, we do mean free. That said, we will also offer completely optional in-game purchases that cover a wide range of player services, convenience options, and cosmetic offerings.