NCSoft and Paragon Studios have announced that their super-powered MMO, City of Heroes, will be going free-to-play with City of Heroes: Freedom. Existing subscription players will be converted to a VIP tier, gaining access to all the current City of Heroes content they’ve come to expect with additional new perks like free monthly Signature Story Arcs and 400 free Paragon Points per month. These points can be used on the Paragon Market, an in-game cash store co-developed by PlaySpan.
Free players will be able to level any of the right base Archetypes to 50 across 45 different game zones. Unlike paid players, free gamers will only be able to create 2 characters per account. Returning CoH players who don’t want to pay for a subscription will still retain any content they already purchased or unlocked, including expansions, Veteran Rewards, purchased character slots, or Super Boosters.
“Freedom is about getting more content into the hands of our players, whether they are subscribing or playing for free,” said Brian Clayton, Executive Producer for Paragon Studios. “To do this, we’ve looked at City of Heroes from the ground up and focused on three ways to enhance the experience by giving our players more choices, greater rewards and the best content we've ever produced. And for the first time ever, players can choose to enjoy more than seven years of content for free.”
Paragon will also be delivering its Issue 21 expansion, Convergence. Issue 21 will include a new Power Set, two full costume sets, the Underground Incarnate Trial, and the all-new First Ward co-op zone. The issue also adds an updated starting experience and character creator for new players.
“After an unforgettable seven years, the City of Heroes franchise remains the world’s most popular super-powered MMO, and we’re excited to continue that momentum with Freedom,” said Clayton. “Through City of Heroes Freedom, we will be delivering more content to players than ever before, while continuing to expand the ever-evolving City of Heroes storyline and legacy.”
More information on City of Heroes: Freedom can be found on the official site.
