Get Your Jedi On: Star Wars: The Old Republic To Go Free-To-Play

If you're not battling your way through the subscription-based Star Wars: The Old Republic right now, Electronic Arts wants to change that - and it's willing to offer a ton of free content to get you on board. Starting this fall, EA's BioWare label is providing a Free-To-Play option that lets you play a character to level 50. If you aren't hooked enough to buy a subscription by then, EA seems to be reasoning, it ain't gonna happen.

There will be some restrictions. Although all of the eight character class storylines are open in the Free-To-Play version, (Bounty Hunter, Imperial Agent, Jedi Consular, Jedi Knight, Sith Inquisitor, Sith Warrior, Smuggler, Trooper), certain content won't be available to Free-To-Play players unless they switch the traditional subscription model or make certain purchases. By the sound of it, though, a player isn't likely to encounter many restrictions until approaching higher levels of the game - at which point, presumably, he or she will likely be about ready to subscribe to the full version for a monthly fee. (Or via a Game Time card.)

What with all the effort to reel in new users, a current player might feel a tad ignored. Thus, EA is also throwing a bone to long-time and former players. Current subscribers are expected to receive Cartel Coin grants, and in-game items will also be distributed in certain situations. Former subscribers will also be offered some incentives.

As we mentioned earlier, all of this is expected to happen in the fall. To build up excitement ahead of the changes, EA is offering the game for $14.99 (with a free one-month subscription) for the month of August. Sounds like it's about time to figure out which side of the Force you're on.