Star Trek Online free-to-play details

By Fred Dutton Published 6 September, 2011

Subscription option remains open.

Star Trek Online will go free-to-play before the end of 2011, developer Cryptic Studios has announced.

Confirming reports that surfaced last week, the MMO will still offer a standard subscription model but players will now be able to jump in without opening their wallets.

While free-to-play users enjoy the same level cap as subscribers and can access all of the game's sectors and missions, they'll have two character slots rather than three, a smaller inventory and credit storage limit.

Access to Create a Fleet is limited and the Foundry Creator is locked off entirely. Free-to-play users will also see restrictions on in-game chat, forums, mail and customer service, and will have to put up with advertisements in In-Game Vivox Voice Chat.

Take a look at the lengthy FAQ over on the game's official site for more details.

"In addition to seeking out new life and exploring strange new civilizations, part of our continuing mission for Star Trek Online is to expand and improve," commented Cryptic CEO Jack Emmert.

"Transitioning to a free-to-play model is a natural way to share all we've built with a broader community of players and we couldn't be more excited."

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About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (14) Latest comment 9 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • ZuluHero #1 9 months ago

    Might have to take another look when this happens. See what's changed since launch. Used to love the ship combat, was really original for an MMO.

  • Kano-11 #2 9 months ago

    Tea, Earl Grey, Hot.

  • Kanjin #3 9 months ago

    Adverts on top of limited access makes sense, but grates a bit.

  • DFawkes #4 9 months ago

    I was really hoping this would come around to get people back in - the Eurogamer Star Alliance fleet has been a tad empty of late and I'd love to see people back playing :)

    Nice to see how little they plan on limiting content-wise - all the games missions and game world are totally open for all without paying. That should give plenty to see and do without having to pay a single penny. You can play as any class too. Lifetime subscribers will get a monthly stipend too to spend in the C-Store.

    I do hope people that played at launch give it another go, a lot of the weaker elements have been overhauled meaning it is a stronger game than it was. It's not perfect of course, but it'll be well worth a look when it's free if you're interested in Star Trek.

  • dagas #5 9 months ago

    Free to play, going where many MMO's have gone before. The restrictions seem pretty lenient. I'll most likely be activating my character again and at least play around for a while.

  • dsmx #6 9 months ago

    Tea is already in the game.

  • El_Armonista #7 9 months ago

    This sounds like it could be pretty good. I will most certainly be giving it a go.

    Hooray for tea and Dreadnoughts!

  • Faramis #8 9 months ago

    Instead of restricting those that want to try game for free, they should encourage those people to pay for the game by offering something more than forum and chat access and so on. Some people are able to live without thsese features and some will be completely put off by this restrictions, and leave the game without giving it a much of a try and potentionally buying some stuff. Devs should get used to that when you want money from your customers, you have to give them something really extra so they will pay, it is how any other business except game industry works. Most of developers unfortunately try to sell Fiat at the price of Ferrari and except customers to blindly buy their product. That is also why many companies are still in red numbers...
    Edited by Faramis at 06/09/11 @ 21:14

  • gott_sei_dank #9 9 months ago

    Shame they deleted my demo account characters because I had already experienced this f2p model when Season 4 launched.

  • Marshall2008 #10 9 months ago

    Meh, read as "another failed mmo circles the drain."

  • arcam #11 9 months ago

    Advertisements over voice chat? That's... interesting. Any other games done that?

  • Ranger_Ryu #12 9 months ago

    sounds fair, can't wait till I get to try it.

  • Bluetooth #13 9 months ago

    I have no idea how this passed me by, I love Star Trek (watched ALL the series and movies), yet somehow life has got in the way and I never got round to playing this. WIll give it a go

  • Ahskay #14 9 months ago

    How do those advertisements in voice chat work?

    Will George Clooney pop up and say;
    When travelling at warp speed, the best way to relax is a cup of nespresso.