‘STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC’ goes free-to-play. All shall bow.

Star Wars: The Old Republic cost $33 zillion dollars to make. It didn’t make that back. Now it is going free-to-play up until level 50, and Blizzard is once again sucking the marrow out of the bones of a fallen competition.

Kotaku:

BioWare’s massively multiplayer online RPGStar Wars: The Old Republic will go free-to-play this fall, publisher Electronic Arts said today.

EA later said in a press release that The Old Republic will go free-to-play this November. The game will be available for $15 starting August 7, a price that also includes a month of free play.

Earlier this year, the game became free-to-play until level 15. This fall, players will be able to play any storyline up to level 50 for free. To access higher-level game content and other new features that the company plans to implement, you’ll have to either pay for a subscription or buy things individually.

“Players want flexibility and choice. The subscription-only model presented a major barrier for a lot of people who wanted to become part of The Old Republic universe,” BioWare Austin GM Matthew Bromberg said in a press release.

Here are the two options BioWare has to offer, according to their press release:

Subscription – A service designed for players who want unrestricted access to all the game features via ongoing subscription or by redeeming a Game Time Card. In addition to gaining access to all game content as our current subscribers do now, subscribers will receive ongoing monthly grants of Cartel Coins, the new virtual currency that will be introduced later this fall. Cartel Coins can be used to purchase valuable in-game items including customizable gear and convenience features that will enhance the game play experience.

Free-To-Play – The first 50 levels will be Free-to-Play, with restrictions on access to new content and advanced player features. Some restrictions can be “unlocked” with Cartel Coins.

Is this going to lure you back into playing, departed Jedi?