Subscription model

Game time is currently purchasable in Pre-order packs.

Ashes of Creation (the MMORPG) is a subscription based game.

• The monthly subscription fee is USD $15.
• Lifetime subscriptions were granted to crowdfunding backers at the Braver of worlds level or higher.
  • Users may change servers within their chosen publisher without losing their lifetime subscription.

This allows us to avoid the pay to win mentality many free-to-play games employ, as well as maintain a steady flow of new content for all our players.

Ashes of Creation Apocalypse is free-to-play.

• These are stand-alone modes that will be open to everyone, not just a backers.

There is no P2W in Apocalypse or the MMORPG!

Subscription payment

Intrepid Bucks earned through the Referral program can be used to reduce subscription costs (to zero).

• In-game currency will not be able to be used to purchase subscription time. This may change in the future.

We want to make sure that there's no "interactability" between any type of pay-to-win scenario where our players can exchange those in-game types of currencies to pay for subscriptions. – Steven Sharif

Referral program

Players who refer and invite new players can receive 15% of their account purchases back as Intrepid Bucks.

Intrepid Bucks

Intrepid Bucks earned through the Referral program can be used to:

• Purchase Embers.
  • Purchase in-game items from the Cosmetic store.
• Reduce subscription costs (to zero).
• Obtain cash rewards on a quarterly basis after Ashes of Creation has launched.

Expansions

DLC expansions (post-launch releases) are planned on a quarterly basis.

• DLC will not cost anything more than the normal subscription.

Because of the modularity of a lot of the systems that we're working on, it's not too hard to iterate and implement new things... We're planning on going on a quarterly/ monthly cycle to continue to push out new content. – Jeffrey Bard

The quarterly cycle for the big content is good for us and then, as you said, those modular components to our mechanisms in the game allow for us to introduce smaller content patches that can be seen in real time in the world. – Steven Sharif

We don't intend to a wordsmith around future charge for DLC content. As a subscription model, that's part of the agreement between us as a Studio and you guys: That there will be regularly scheduled updates and chapters; and that subscription is what allows you to access that content. – Steven Sharif

Box cost

There is no upfront box cost associated with Ashes of Creation.

Pay to win

Ashes of Creation will not be pay to win.

"Ashes of Creation will not be pay to win, that is our pledge to the community. One of the core principles we set forth with Ashes of Creation is a very strong desire to maintain the game's even playing field."

Q: Will there be RNG boxes?

A: I dislike RNG. Archeage made me loath rng monetization gimmicks. – Steven Sharif

Inventory slots and XP potions are considered pay to win.

My definition of pay to win is really anything that affects the in-game economy, the in-game action pool, your abilities and/or skills... In my opinion the inventory slots and the XP potions would be considered pay to win. – Steven Sharif

Player housing grace period

If a player's subscription runs out, there will be a grace period before player housing is lost.

See also

• Payment model
• Release schedule
• Ashes of Creation