author: Tom Borys
Paradox Launches Subscription for Crusader Kings 2
Paradox has just announced that they are introducing a subscription option to Crusader Kings II, offering all existing content. The decision has divided the fans.
The problem many gamers had with Crusader Kings II from Paradox was that, although its basic version was made available for free some time ago, it didn't offer much content without the expansions, which - although they expand the game in many aspects - add up to hundreds of dollars in total. At the time of writing this news, the most expensive package called Imperial Collection, containing 66 DLC, is priced on Steam at $263.29 (and that's with a 17% discount).
However, this economic model has just gained an alternative. Paradox Interactive, the game's publisher, announced today on its forums that Crusader Kings 2 is moving to a subscription model. It will include all existing content for the game - expansion packs, portraits, clothing and music. The cost? Just $4.99 per month. Simple math reveals that the current cost of the Imperial Collection translates into almost 4.5 years of subscription.
You can purchase the subscription to Crusader Kings II on Steam here.
Paradox emphasizes that the introduction of the subscription model does not mean the withdrawal of DLCs for Crusader Kings II from traditional distribution. It will still be possible to buy add-on packs "forever". In a short FAQ attached to the announcement, the company also admits that it is currently considering a similar solution for its other games. This could mean that subscriptions will soon be available for CK-like Europa Universalis or Hearts of Iron.
We reported a while back that the new model was being tested in Europa Universalis 4, and Paradox's Community Manager Björn Blomberg reminded us of this when announcing the introduction of subscriptions to CKII:
"We've been running this for EU4 to a select group of players for quite some time now and the response has been positive. Obviously this is not something for people that already own all or most of the content. But for someone that just started and only have the free base game it might be a more attractive deal (...)"
Player opinions, as seen on Paradox Interactive forums, are divided. Some point out that it's actually a reasonable alternative, because hardly anyone is ready to spend hundreds of dollars on expansions for a single (and by no means the newest) game. However, there is no shortage of voices like the following (by Herr B.):
"Let me explain, why it is bad: With a subscription, the devs have no incentive anymore to produce good looking games. After a cursed DLC like Golden Century, the communities reaction would have been completly ignored with this kind of approach. Gladly, the subscription service was not launched yet and the devs have changed for the good (quite significantly).
A second reason: Sometimes, you want to come back to an old game."
There's no denying that the more popular the subscription model becomes, the fewer opportunities for such nostalgic returns will remain. Because, what is now becoming a noticeable problem, you can not subscribe to everything at once.
And how do you think Paradox's decision should be evaluated? A step in the right direction? Or should something else be done with the content for Crusader Kings 2? Let us know in the comments.
