This fall will be an exciting time for
WildStar as we transition to Free-to-Play.
Since launch we’ve listened to all of your feedback and worked hard to improve your game experience. Part of that goal has always been to bring more players in to experience
WildStar, and that’s what Free-to-Play is all about. Below you will find the valuable information you need to continue to enjoy your time on Nexus. And if you’re new to
WildStar, this is a great place to start your adventure.
If you don’t see your question answered below, be sure to check out our detailed
Knowledge Base article or post your question in the forums.
What does “Free-to-Play” mean?
“Free-to-Play” means that anyone can download the game and play without spending any money to buy WildStar or committing to a required subscription fee.
Is the game really free?
Players can acquire the game, create an account, login and play through everything the game has to offer without spending any money, so yes, we do mean free.
That said, we will also offer completely optional in-game purchases that cover a wide range of player services, convenience options, and cosmetic offerings.
What will happen to my account if I have an active subscription or game time applied to my account through C.R.E.D.D., or a Game Time Card when WildStar goes Free-to-Play?
All accounts that have an active recurring payment method, C.R.E.D.D. redemption, or GTC (Game Time Card) redemption when the transition occurs will be considered active. These accounts will automatically convert to Signature service, which will persist until their current “active period” ends.
For example, if an account has 20 days of time remaining through one of the methods above, those 20 days will convert to Signature service since game access is now open to everyone.
Players with a recurring payment plan for subscription service will have that plan automatically converted into a recurring plan for Signature status.
Players with non-recurring payments, C.R.E.D.D., or GTC will need to apply another payment to their account to continue using Signature service should they choose to continue with Signature service.
Active accounts will receive an amount of Loyalty Points based on:
- The type of game box (Standard/Deluxe) added to the account.
- The number of months subscribed through recurring payment, C.R.E.D.D. or Game Time Cards prior to F2P Launch
Additionally, as a reward to those who were continuous subscribers from WildStar’s launch until the transition to Free-to-Play, we are giving away an exclusive Ikthian Crawler mount, an exclusive DJ Caretaker housing décor item, a Disco Snoglug companion pet, a new housing music track, four months of Signature service, and two new titles: “Living Legend” and “Nexus Loyalist” – these bonuses will be granted to such players on the first day of transition.
If you missed out on launch but you’re a current subscriber and maintain your subscription through transition to Free-to-Play, you will still receive the DJ Caretaker housing décor item, the Disco Snoglug companion pet, the new housing music track, four months of Signature service, and the “Nexus Loyalist” title.
If I have an inactive account when the game goes Free-to-Play and I return to the game, what should I expect for my account?
All existing accounts that do not have an active recurring payment method, C.R.E.D.D. redemption, or GTC (Game Time Card) redemption when the transition occurs will be considered inactive. These accounts will automatically convert to Free service, which will persist until the account holder chooses to sign-up for Signature service.
Active and inactive account holders will automatically have access to the game and can play again just as soon as it is downloaded and patched. Additionally, these accounts will receive some grandfathered benefits only available to box-purchasers, which will ensure that these accounts retain an experience that most closely matches that of the launch game. These benefits include:
| Item |
Free Players |
Box Purchasers |
| Character Slots |
2
|
12
|
| Costume Slots |
4
|
6
|
| Personal Bank |
2 Slots
|
5 Slots
|
| Decor |
1000 total decor items placed |
2000 total decor items placed |
Like active accounts, pre-existing inactive accounts will receive an amount of Loyalty Points based on:
- the type (Standard/Deluxe) of the box
- the number of months subscribed through recurring payment, C.R.E.D.D. or Game Time Cards prior to F2P launch
If you purchased WildStar but let your account lapse, we want you to come back and get these grandfathered box-purchaser benefits! Players who subscribe by June 15, 2015 and maintain a subscription through transition to Free-to-Play, you will still receive the DJ Caretaker housing décor item, the Disco Snoglug companion pet, the new housing music track, four months of Signature service, and the “Nexus Loyalist” title.
What are Loyalty Points?
All WildStar players will be part of our new Loyalty Program where they will accumulate Loyalty Points and achieve Loyalty Ranks to earn special items and perks. In fact, if you’ve ever subscribed you have already earned some! We’ll reveal more details on the Loyalty Program in the near future.
How much of the game is accessible to Free players?
We place no restrictions on any of the game’s content. Every zone, every dungeon, every raid, every battleground… they’re all available. All players will be able to create characters of every race, class, and path while choosing any tradeskills they like. Characters can achieve level 50 and path level 30, just as they can under the current system. There are some restrictions on services and social functions, however, as noted in the table below.
What access will Free players have to future game content?
All updates will be available to both Free and Signature players. However, we do plan to include optional purchases with all new content. We may also offer some new content and full expansion packs exclusively for purchase in the future.
What types of accounts will be offered when the game goes Free-to-Play?
There will two main types of account when the game transitions to Free-to-Play:
Free accounts get full access to the game. There is no recurring payment of any kind required.
Signature accounts get everything provided by the Free service, along with the unique bonuses and benefits detailed below. Signature accounts require a payment plan offered in 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month increments including C.R.E.D.D., Game Time Card, or recurring payments.
What’s the difference between a Free account and a Signature account?
There are several perks available as part of the Signature program.
| Feature |
Free |
Signature |
| Auction House |
Three (3) active buy bids
Three (3) active sell lots |
Thirty (30) active buy bids
Thirty (30) active sell lots |
| Circles |
Can join one (1) Circle
Cannot invite into or create Circles |
Can join five (5) Circles
Can invite into and create Circles |
| Circuit Board Crafting |
No bonuses |
-15% Overcharge Risk |
| Commodities Exchange |
Three (3) active buy orders
Three (3) active sell orders |
Thirty (30) active buy orders
Thirty (30) active sell orders |
| Coordinate Crafting |
No bonuses |
+10% Target Radius Size |
| CS Tickets |
No priority |
Priority Access |
| Currency |
Earn currency at normal rates |
Earn 25% extra currency |
| Gathering |
Normal rate |
10% bonus material proc chance |
| Guilds |
Cannot invite into or create a Guild |
Can invite into and create a Guild |
| Holiday Events |
Earn currency at normal rates |
Earn 25% extra currency |
| PTR Access |
No |
Yes |
| Queue Bypass |
No priority |
Priority access |
| Reputation |
Earn reputation at normal rates |
Earn 50% extra rep from combat
Earn 25% extra rep from quests |
| “Wake Here” Cooldown |
1 hour |
Cooldown time reduced by 50% |
| Rest XP |
1% every 12 hours, capped at 150% of the current level |
Earning rate doubled, capped at 200% of the current level |
| XP |
Earn XP at normal rates |
Earn 25% extra XP |
| Warparties |
Cannot invite into or create a Warparty |
Can invite into and create a Warparty |
Will Signature players play together on the same realms with Free players?
Yes.
Are there any perks a Free player can get without becoming Signature?
A number of perks can be acquired through the Loyalty Program, several of which stack with (or are replaced by) the perks from Signature. These perks include:
| Feature |
Loyalty Perks |
Stacks with Signature? |
| Auction House |
Ten (10) active buy bids
Ten (10) active sell lots |
Replaced by Signature |
| Circles |
Can join five (5) Circles
Can invite into and create Circles |
N/A |
| Circuit Board Crafting |
-10% Overcharge Risk |
Yes |
| Commodities Exchange |
Ten (10) active buy orders
Ten (10) active sell orders |
Replaced by Signature |
| Coordinate Crafting |
+10% target radius size |
Yes |
| CS Tickets |
No priority |
N/A |
| Currency |
Earn currency at normal rates |
N/A |
| Gathering |
10% bonus material proc chance |
Yes |
| Guilds |
Can invite into and create a Guild |
N/A |
| Holiday Events |
Earn currency at normal rates |
N/A |
| PTR Access |
Yes |
N/A |
| Queue Bypass |
No priority |
N/A |
| Reputation |
Earn 50% extra rep from combat |
Yes |
| “Wake Here” Cooldown |
Cooldown time reduced by 50% |
Yes |
| Rest XP |
Earning rate doubled, +50% to the cap |
Yes |
| XP |
Earn XP at normal rates |
N/A |
| Warparties |
Can invite into and create a Warparty |
N/A |
We will keep this FAQ continuously updated. If you have a question not covered here, check out our Knowledge Base or let us know on the Forums so we can add it to the list.
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