CCP Games to Stop Trial Accounts for EVE Online in November, Replace With Two Tier System

For many years now, new players to the world of EVE Online have been able to take advantage of a free trial. Despite these trials having notable limitations and time restrictions, they did provide many opportunities for gamers to get a taste of what the often complex world of New Eden is like. While I have been an on-and-off player for years, without a free trial I quite possibly would have never even checked it out or been enticed by it in the first place. After many years, CCP Games have confirmed that their free trial system will be ending in November 2016.

But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. CCP Games have confirmed that a new Clone States feature will be added to their “big” November 2016 expansion which is freely available to all players. This feature will do away with trial accounts completely, and allow players past, present and future to come together and play at no charge. But as it does cost money to run an MMORPG, the current subscription system will be replaced by a two-tier system of character clones.

First of all, there are Omega Clones, characters whose players still subscribe via either a monthly fee or PLEX. These characters will act like current active EVE characters. There are also Alpha Clones, which are the new base state for all characters and available to any player at any time. Limited to some degree, these characters will be able to use a specific set of skills and fly some of the most often-used ships into battle, including Tech 1 Frigates, Destroyers and Cruisers. The limitations will supposedly not remove access to trading, industry and exploration skills – although that is not the say that higher-tier skills will still be available to players.

Time will tell how stifling these limitations will be, and if the only way to make a mark on New Eden is to pay money and purchase an Omega Clone.

The November Update for EVE Online also includes a number of new additions, including the introduction of Industrial Arrays, a new class of player-built structures, further progress on the Citadel Structures, tactical adjustments to warfare links, a new ship and more.

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