Look like another MMORPG is making the switch to free-to-play, this time being NCsoft’s Lineage 2. Today it was announced that the next expansion Goddess of Destruction, which will not only be the largest expansion to the game yet, but will also be including an in-game item store.
Lineage 2 won’t be a freemium game as everything will be available for free, meaning there’s no restricted content or separate membership levels. The game will be powered entirely by the item-shop.
The L2 Store, as it is called, will supply players with XP/SP boosts, potions, buffs, and other consumable supplies, as well as cosmetic items and hunting helpers. In addition, players can also purchase packs that accelerate character leveling and contain exclusive items not available for individual purchase.
Items purchase from the L2 Store can be traded between characters within a player’s account, however some items will be tradeable to everyone.
It sounds like Lineage II is going the way of Pay2Win as it looks like there’s going to be a lot of non-cosmetic items available in the shop.
A switch that’s long overdue!
Hope they get it right and don’t make the L2 Store too strong. I’m certainly going to give it a try as soon as it turns F2P.
Close down in 6 months.