SOE drops games, announces All Access Pass

The Facts

Sony Online Entertainment has announced that they are dropping support for four of their minor MMORPGs. The games included are Free Reals, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, Wizardy Online, and Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures.

SOE has released the following statement: "At Sony Online Entertainment, we are always evaluating our portfolio to ensure we're providing players with the best gameplay experiences. At times, as part of the commitment, we have to make the difficult decision to sunset a game so we can refocus our resources on other areas in the best interest of our company and the player community."

The final decision has been made that Free Realms and Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures will shut down on March 31, 2014. Wizardy Online and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes will shut down on July 31.

To brighten up the news, SOE has also announced its new All Access Pass membership plan for all players. For only $14.99 a month, you can get premium acces to the entire Everquest series, DC Universe Online and Planetside 2. This new emebership plan will start on April 2. Oh, and did we mention that on this date the original Planetside will also be free to play?

The Opinion

None of us like seeing games shut down and cease to have support from the parents companies, but can you really blame SOE? They're making a good decision. They're trying to cater to an actual gaming community, not a bunch of children that play Free Realms. The decision to dissolve these games is in the best interest of the company and the gaming community as a whole.

The All Access Pass is also a bargain in my opinion, Its only $14.99 a month and you get premium access to all SOE games. The price of $14.99 is usually the fee of only one game. Not only that, but Planetside 2 players will receive 500 station cash a month, that $5 of in-game currency.