D&D Online goes free-to-play

By Oli Welsh Published 10 June, 2009

But not in Europe, for now.

Turbine has announced that it is making its fantasy MMO Dungeons & Dragons Online available as a free-to-play game this summer, renaming it Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited, or DDO Unlimited for short.

However, DDO's European operator Codemasters is currently unable to confirm plans to follow suit, and says DDO will remain a subscription-only game in Europe "for the time being".

"This is a very exciting time for DDO and in the coming months, Turbine will unveil their plans to roll out DDO Unlimited to players around the world," said Codemasters in a statement on the game's European forum.

"To clarify, for the time being, DDO Europe will not be assuming this new business model and the European DDO game service will remain a monthly subscription-based game with all new content created available to all subscribers, as has been the model up until now. As the beta progresses we will release more information regarding the future plans for EU players."

That's hardly slamming the door, so expect DDO Unlimited to cross the Atlantic some time after the American launch if it's successful.

DDO Unlimited goes into beta testing in North America immediately, with Lord of the Rings Online developer Turbine expecting to launch the free-to-play service with the "Module 9" update to the game in summer.

Players will have the option of playing the game for free - without time or level restrictions - and using micro-transactions at the new DDO Store to buy items and content, including dungeons, zone access, character classes, races and customisations, and character slots. Free content will be widely available at low levels and become sparser as you approach the increased level cap of 20.

Alternatively, the current subscription model will continue to be available as a "VIP program", allowing players unlimited access to all content, priority server access, and a monthly allowance of credits ("Turbine Points") for the DDO Store for the standard cost of USD 14.99 a month.

Free players will have limited access to chat, mail, auctions and storage, and will have to make do with self-service customer support. All this will be unlimited for for VIP players, who will also receive full customer service from Turbine.

The update will also introduce a brand new character class and more than a dozen new dungeons to the game, as well as increasing the level cap to 20.

You can find more information in IGN's preview and on the Turbine forums, FAQ, and VIP page.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (8) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Dizzy #1 3 years ago

    Why not combine LOTRO and DDO subs then?

  • iokthemonkey #2 3 years ago

    I'd give it a try for free and - if any good - probably buy a few items.

    I picked up The Sims 3 last week and I've found myself looking at their microtransactions Store in a new light now I can see how it would work, ditto with Free Realms, so I think it could be a good moneyspinner for Turbine/Codemasters.

  • Rubarack #3 3 years ago

    This could be great, DDO has always been a brilliant game, just one that was somewhat questionable as to whether there was really enough content to justify a monthly fee. It could do with a little revamping as the current model requires more grinding than is best for the game (but obviously works very well with a monthly fee) but this could potentially be the best free to play multiplayer RPG ever.

  • Eraysor #4 3 years ago

    Paying just to access zones and dungeons sounds painful; it's difficult enough to find an instance team on WoW without factoring in that some people don't even have access. I don't know if DDO has a better system of dealing with that.
    Edited by 1 at 10/06/09 @ 12:38

  • EmiliasHorse #5 3 years ago

    Free to play but not play the meat of the game is not free at all. I would much rather pay a fixed fee and get everything I am expecting to play the game.

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #6 3 years ago

    @Eray - you can also 'earn' the Turbine points somehow via the game itself depending how it works and how much the unlocks cost potentally the game can be played without even spending a penny over time, the VIP and cashshop from that angle looks more like 'instant access'.

    I'm pritty impress that Turbine have actally worked out a system where no pricing system overshadows the other in which the player 'wins' but at the same time allow the subbers/VIP players now feel like it's value for money. As someone just said DDO is pritty much underratted as a subcription based MMO but as a free to play MMO it could poptentally be one of the biggest out there.
    Edited by 1 at 10/06/09 @ 13:26

  • SG #7 3 years ago

    /sigh

    When the internet was new it kinda broke down international borders. These days it's all about location - another example is free to watch stuff.

    /grumble

  • Olemak #8 3 years ago

    Any DD 4e games in development? Preferably turn-based? Anybody heard anything?