



Sony Online Entertainment announced yesterday a new free-to-play business model for DC Universe Online. This model will start in October with three new access levels to the game: Free, Premium and Legendary.







What does Free to Play mean and why are you moving to this model? Free to Play means anyone can enjoy the exciting world of DC Universe Online at no cost. Alternatively, you can purchase the items or features you want, or even get premium access to game content by purchasing a subscription. It’s up to you and how you want to play the game. There is no software purchase or subscription fee required for basic game content and features. Using this model, players will have the option to customize their game experience by purchasing services, items and more that best fit their style of play. When added to an already robust world, you will be able to play the game in different ways.

What is the Free Access Level and how much does it cost? With the Free Access level you can enjoy all of the level 1 – 30 missions, Alerts, Duos, Arenas, and the Batcave and Fortress of Solitude Raids. There are limitations in terms of character slots, inventory, and other features. Be sure to see the complete access comparison matrix for full details. Best of all, this access level is completely free, just download the software and play. There will be three access levels offered in DCUO: Legendary, Premium, and Free.

What is the Premium Access Level and how much does it cost? Premium Access is the next level up from Free Access. It contains everything from the Free Access level plus more slots, capabilities, and options. Be sure to see the complete access comparison matrix for full details. To achieve this access level you only need to spend 500 Station Cash on the PC or U.S. $5.00 (or the foreign equivalent) on the PS3 Marketplace. Best of all, Premium Access does not expire.

What is the Legendary Game Access Level and how much does it cost? The Legendary Level is the “I want it all” way to play. It includes 16 character slots, a greatly expanded inventory (an even more inventory slots are available for purchase), free access to all current and future DLC Packs, and much more. This level of access gives you the most features and options, including unlimited cash balances. We have many game pass plans available to Legendary players so be sure to check the in-game Marketplace, PlayStation®3 Store or dcuniverseonline.com to choose the one best for you.

Can I use SOE Station Cash to purchase my Legendary Access? Yes, you can. Legendary level access will be available for purchase for PC players in game with SOE Station Cash.

As a current subscriber what does going to the Free-to-Play model mean for me? As a current subscriber of DC Universe Online, you will automatically convert to our Legendary Access plan with all its benefits and privileges as long as your subscription remains active. For you, the change to Free-to-Play opens up additional benefits including increased numbers of inventory and character slots, priority access to servers and the inclusion of all DLC Packs in your access level at no additional charge!

I’m a former subscriber but want to try the game again. What features will be available to me? Anyone who has subscribed to DC Universe Online before the free-to-play transition will be converted to a Premium account at no cost. This provides you additional benefits you would not receive with a Free Access account such as access to the Broker, greater inventory space, and much more!

I’m a Lifetime Subscriber. Will I need to purchase anything additional? No. As a Lifetime Subscriber you will be kept at Legendary Access status for the life of your account.

Are you still adding free content to the game for everyone? During the transition to free-to-play, we will continue to add brand new game play missions/zones that everyone can enjoy, including two more Fortress of Solitude raids! Players can also expect continued enhancements to existing content and mechanics.

What happens to my characters if I change from Legendary to Premium? If you have more than six characters you will need to deactivate enough characters to get down to the six character limit. Those characters can be reactivated later by purchasing additional character slots or by upgrading to Legendary Access again. If you have more than 42 inventory items and/or more than 24 bank items you will also need to either purchase additional inventory and/or bank slots or choose which items within those limits you want to carry over to your Premium Access account. Items that are not carried over cannot be recovered later. Finally, any cash you have in excess of the Premium Access limit will be transferred to escrow (see Question 12).

What happens if I play with players that are of different Access Levels? Does it affect my personal gameplay experience? In most cases, you can still play with anyone you choose anywhere in the game. Generally, your access level will not affect your ability to join with others on missions, raids and alerts. However, a player who does not have access to a particular DLC Pack will not be able to join other players in those zones.

Why is my cash being limited if I’m Premium Access? While we do offer a higher cash limit at the Premium Access level, there are still restrictions compared to the Legendary level. Rest assured that the money you earn in excess of the Premium Access in-game currency limit will be kept in escrow for you and you can always buy a Cash Boost from the Marketplace to access your escrow cash for big purchases. Or, you can upgrade to Legendary Access to eliminate the inconvenience of in-game currency limits.

Why are Broker slots being limited? Selling items in the Broker interface is a Legendary and Premium Access service. You can upgrade to Premium Access to get five auction slots and the ability to buy even more slots, or upgrade to Legendary Access to get unlimited slots to sell your items.