Why is there so much unlocked in the free version?

It's was refreshing to see that people were looking forward to more people to shoot. It means more regions open up; it means less wait for carnage, it means it's more likely that the particular Ork game you want to join is available, and up and running in your region.

Because we aren't going “F2P P2W”, we're providing a free version of the game, which has slower progression and class limitation, exactly so that free players are valuable to paying players, and vice versa. You still have to pay to get the full game.

Ork only, with only one class available would have messed up class, faction, and matchmaking balance on an epic scale. We now allow all classes except Air Assault; all progression is at 1/3 of the paying player, and you still need to pay either $20 or 20,000 RTC to unlock the full game.

This imbalance would mean that there is no value in the free player to the paying player. The free player is diminishing the experience, instead of becoming a vital part of it.

The free player won't stay around long enough either, as playing one class of Ork in Eternal Crusade, especially with that epic imbalance, would suck for them as much as it would suck for the paying player.

That's why we redesigned Free to Waaagh. To provide value to the paying player, and make the free player experience fun, without ruining the game.

That is a fundamental rule of a hybrid business model like this. If it adds no value to the experience of everyone adding a legion of free players, there is no reason to do it.

Now, “Free to Waagh” will increase the value and fun for everyone. Even us, the developer, as revenues means more investment in the game, to reach its ultimate potential. And with the love/hate relationship, we all have for the Eternal Crusade; I think this is what we all want.

That Eternal Crusade can become the ultimate playground, for your Warhammer 40,000 fantasies.