SWTOR Announces Plans to go Free-to-Play

By now, I'm sure you've heard that SWTOR is going free-to-play. In my mind, this is a step in the right direction. The other part of the announcement is what I find encouraging…

Over the coming months there will be more frequent Game Updates, including group content like Flashpoints, Warzones, Operations, dynamic in-game events and more included with your subscription.

Hopefully, BioWare and EA will provide these as solid reasons for paying a subscription.

For me personally, I am concerned about the limitations they plan on implementing for free players. According to their chart, the main character story lines will be available for free gamers, but Operations will be off limits, and PvP will be limited. My gaming time is limited so I tend to have very little time to raid, therefore I don't have a much of a problem with the limitations of Operations, but the space missions are also going to be limited and I really want to experience those. This could be a scenario where leveling to 50 may be a free experience and once there, a few months of paid subscription could scratch the space mission, warzone, and flashpoint itch.

I've kinda put my time in SWTOR on the back burner for now as other games have caught my attention. Maybe with the free-to-play model, it will be more feasible for me to maintain my characters and come back whenever I get the desire for some hack and slash with a lightsaber or a force choke.

I wonder how many out there will be looking to level to 50 for free and then think about paying?