TERA to get free-to-play relaunch in February; “You’re getting the real TERA, not some watered-down trial version”

With its crosshair-based dynamic combat system, TERA was different to the others. But like a massively multiplayer head in a jar, its North American operation shrank down to three servers in the second half of 2012. Now developers Bluehole Studio and En Masse have decided to make a change. TERA’s subscription option will go on, but the entire game will become free-to-play when the game is relaunched as TERA: Rising next month.

TERA will be free,” reads the announcement statement. “No level, time, or content restrictions. Our philosophy is to add to what we already offer instead of restricting existing content. We’ve added an in-game shop where players can choose to buy costumes, mounts, and consumables, but the core of the game will be 100% free.”

Ongoing subscribers will pay $14.99 a month for ‘elite status’. That will bring more dungeon rewards, 10 bonus quests a day, store discounts, extra items and boosts.

Here’s En Masse exec producer Brian Knox, ready with explanations and snide comments about SWTOR’s hotbar restrictions:

En Masse are promising that the new TERA will require “only your skill, not your wallet”. Sorry, leathery old friend. Back into the dark with you. Do you think the action MMO’s developers will manage to dodge the failings they not-so-subtly observe in SWTOR?

Thanks, Gamasutra.