Trion Worlds’ Rift going free-to-play in June
It is official. After years of speculation and request from players, Trion Worlds have announced that Rift would be going free-to-play this June.
According to Creative Director Bill Fisher, free-to-play gamers will be able to experience the entire game and will not will impose any content restrictions. Free-to-play gamers will also receive full access to any future content updates.
“Our free-to-play model is built on a simple idea: everyone can download, log in, and play all of RIFT, free. Starting June 12, new players will have access to all game content – from dungeons and Warfronts to the latest raids – with no level restrictions.”
When Rift goes free-to-play next month with content patch 2.3, new players will start off with 2 character slots and 3 bag slots while players who have previously bought Rift or the expansion Storm Legion will be able to keep everything they have earned to date. Any player who continues to subscribe to Rift after patch 2.3, dubbed Patron, will get additional benefits such as faster mount speed, extra currency, bonus experience and much more.
This content patch, called Empyreal Assault, will not only see Rift going free-to-play, but will relaunch Rift with additional content update, . This update will open up a new zone, a 10-man Chronicle, new Rift challenges called “Strongholds” as well as open-world bosses.
Rift is the latest MMORPG to adopt a free-to-play business model after launch, following games such as Tera, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Lord of the Rings Online and Everquest II .