Global Agenda Now Has No Subscription Fees

Single-Game Purchase Grants Access To All Current Content And Features Within Award-winning Shooter MMO

ATLANTA – June 25, 2010 – Hi-Rez Studios announced today that Global Agenda is now 100% subscription free. Purchasers of Global Agenda can enjoy the game's full current content, including all current Player-vs-Player combat, Player-vs-Environment solo and co-op content, and Agency-vs- Agency seasons, without a monthly subscription payment now or in the future. Future content updates will be delivered via optional paid expansions. The first major expansion, Sandstorm, will be included for free to the entire Global Agenda community.

To celebrate this change, the game is being offered for 33% off on Steam from now through July 5, as part of Steam's Summer Sale. To purchase, visit http://store.steampowered.com/app/17020/

“Hi-Rez Studios is committed to delivering the best value in PC gaming", said Todd Harris, Global Agenda Executive Producer. "In addition to all of the game's initial launch content, we are bundling nearly 6 months worth of post-release content and features and including that within the single-purchase game. One purchase of Global Agenda let's you experience this content forever with no subscription."

Global Agenda allows players to create and customize multiple agent characters, complementing FPS skills with accessable RPG-style progression. Players can co-op with friends online, compete in fast-paced multiplayer matches, and conquer persistent territory with player-formed groups called agencies. The large summer expansion, titled Sandstorm, adds weapon variation and loot, new epic weapons across every class and a brand new Open Zone area complete with quests and new missions. The first phase of Sandstorm was released in early June 2010, with the remaining phase to be released later this summer.

Try For Free – Players can download Global Agenda and play until level 15 with no payment or credit card required.
Buy Once - A single purchase enables you to play forever. Progress thru 50 character levels, access hundreds of weapons, and experience all current content and gametypes on our worldwide, hosted servers with no subscription required.
Play What Suits You - Global Agenda offers a wide range of content including solo and co-op PvE, Mercenary PvP, Agency-vs-Agency, Arena PvP and more.

Post with their general FAQ on the change. (copied below)

Subscription free Global Agenda FAQ
Why did you decide to make this change?
After receiving feedback from many existing and potential players, we believe that we will have the most thriving community by offering a non-subscription purchase model.

If I purchased the game, will I be charged for anything I’m currently playing?
No, there are no additional charges for the current content, including the Agency-vs-Agency gameplay and all currently available PvE modes. In the future, players may elect to purchase new expansions with additional content.

How much will expansion cost in the future?
We expect new expansions will be priced competitively when compared to expansions of other non-subscription games.

How often are expansions going to be released?
Expansions are expected to be released once or twice per year.

When is the next expansion expected to be released?
We currently anticipate that the next expansion will be released about 6 months from now (end 2010). The content within the Sandstorm expansion this Summer will be included in the initial game purchase price.

What will expansions include?
Expansions will include new content, usually centered around a new world region, with new maps, new weapons/devices, new PvE encounters, new achievements, new social areas, new open zones and new crafting.

What happens if an expansion raises the level cap?
All players will be able to continue to level their characters to the maximum level cap regardless of purchasing an expansion.

Is there a cost for patches between expansions?
There is no cost for updates between expansions.

Can I skip expansions or do I have to buy each of them in order?
You can skip expansions, although you will not be able to gain access to the content that the particular expansion provided until it’s purchased.

Will my game still work if I don't buy expansions?
Yes, you will still be able to play with other players and have access to all the content in the original purchase.

Are free trials going to change with this plan?
There are no changes to free trial at this time.

What happens to pre-subscribers?
Pre-subscribers will not be charged any subscription fees, but will keep all the extra bonuses received for the pre-subscription. Pre-subscribers can leave their payment information for future purchases. (Note: The daily token awards for pre-subscribers will end on June 25).

Is this plan for all countries/regions?
This new pricing plan is the same for all regions.

Are there other games using this kind of purchase model?
Guild Wars would be considered to have a very similar purchase model.

Are all of the current planned features for 1.3 (Sandstorm expansion) included in the current purchase?
All existing 1.3 features that are currently in the game are included. The first Open Zone will also be included (once released later this summer), in addition to Defense missions and Tournaments. 64-player War Zones are planned for a future expansion.

Is there going to be a cost to playing Agency-vs-Agency (AvA)?
No, all current AvA game-play is included in the single-purchase price. Once an expansion is available, it may be required to continue playing AvA to ensure that everyone is playing on the same maps.

What is the future of AvA in this model?
AvA will continue to be one of the game play modes available to all players.

Is there going to be an additional cost for playing the current high level Solo or Team Special-Ops missions?
No, all current content at all difficulty levels is included as part of the one-time game purchase.

If I don't have an expansion, does that mean I can't play with my friends?
You can still play with your friends on any content that each of you have purchased.

Will players with expansions be more powerful than I am?
Expansions will offer some new weapons/devices to give the player additional play styles for more variety. These will be designed to be different and not strictly ‘better’. However due to balancing, some may end up being a bit weaker or stronger.