Another MMO goes free-to-play -- this time Bluehole's TERA

Another subscription-based MMO has made the switch to free-to-play. This time it's last year's TERA -- although subscriptions will still be offered to those players who want to pay monthly. Developed by South Korean company Bluehole Studio, the game launched in Korea at the start of 2011, and found its way to the U.S. and Europe in May last year, thanks to publishing deals from En Masse Entertainment and Gameforge. However, from February TERA players will be able to choose whether the subscription solution suits their needs or not, as a free-to-play alternative called TERA: Rising will launch. Rising provides an in-game store and options for customizing play characters, and there's no level cap or content restrictions. Those players who choose to pay $14.99 a month for "elite status" will receive extra dungeon rewards, 10 bonus quests every day, extra items and boosts, store discounts and numerous other additions. TERA isn't the first subscription MMO to go free-to-play, and it doesn't look like it'll be the last either. Most recently, Electronic Arts' Star Wars: The Old Republic fell on hard times, and was forced to go free-to-play.