Gamers can now access a free trial of massively multiplayer online role playing game Star Wars: The Old Republic at any time, allowing them to reach level 15 without purchasing a subscription.

This means players can get a taste of the starting world, experience a bit of their chosen faction's capital planet and jump into the player versus player Warzones and Flashpoints to test out their light sabre prowess.

There is no charge or time limit on the trial at all, meaning it is very easy to join thousands of other Star Wars fans in the online world.

"Players who have previously participated in one of the Weekend Pass Free Trials or the Friends of Star Wars: The Old Republic Trial are also eligible to join this new free trial," said a statement on the game's website.

Could this be a hint that the title could move towards a completely free-to-play model in the future as the game fails to capitalise on its subscription-based form.

"Ultimately some day we can move in and embrace that model. It’s all a matter of timing and thinking things through," EA head Frank Gibeau said regarding the idea.

However, game director of Star Wars: The Old Republic asserted that making the switch will be far from easy.

The free-to-play model is very common among Asian massively multiplayer online role playing games, yet it has failed to be utilised as much in the West. In the likes of Korea and China, anyone can start playing many games at no cost, but then to really succeed they have to spend money on micro-transactions to better their character with new equipment and weapons.

Upon the release of Star Wars: The Old Republic, many commentators noted that it could be the swan song of the subscription-based model, particularly for big budget titles.

Although it managed to gain the accolade of the fastest growing massively multiplayer online role playing game of all time, it also has the biggest budget of any video game ever, reaching up to $200 million (£130 million).ADNFCR-1220-ID-801407159-ADNFCR
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