EVE Online: Ascension Gets New Price Model, Allow New Players to Check It Out for Free

There are very few games that are as addictive as space warfare online multiplayer game EVE Online. As the company realises the addictive nature of its game, it has now come up with a new pricing model with its latest expansion - Ascension - that allows new players to check out the entire EVE universe for free.

The new pricing model, called Clone States, has removed the free trial accounts and now allows any user to play the game for free 'forever', as per the company. However, it is important to note that this free access does come with certain limitations. The new players will be Alpha Clones by default and will have access to limited number of spaceships, including Tech 1 frigates, destroyers, and cruisers as well as specific skill sets.

On the other hand, Omega Clones will act similarly to currently active members and will have unlimited access to skill progression and rapid skill training. In order to upgrade from Alpha to Omega, users will have to pay monthly subscription fee of $10 (roughly Rs. 700) or GBP 7 (roughly Rs. 600).

Ascension expansion further includes new sandbox gameplay features including the addition of Engineering Complexes, a new class of player-built structures allowing comprehensive research and manufacturing support and furthering the progress of Citadel structures.

Another new mode in the game - Inception - comes with fully voice-acted mentors, well-designed UI help, and a grand, unfolding storyline, CCP pointed out in its press release.

"EVE Online is a very special game. Our single shard server means that every player truly affects every other, whether through economics, resource gathering, direct combat or social interaction," game's Executive Producer Andie Nordgren was quoted as saying in release.

"This in turn means that our universe is more interesting, more exciting and more dangerous with each additional citizen," Nordgren added.

It will be interesting to see if this new move by the company leads to something like the $500,000 online battle in 2014 that brought the game into attention worldwide.