Although I'm commonly very understanding of NQ decisions and often try to look at the big picture, I am just not able to grasp this. Not from any high level position, not even from space. Schematics, I understood the need to slow the game progression down. DU is designed/meant to be a long term game with long term goals. Fair. I understood the need to reduce cores amongst the community, my org was only at about 1000 total (3 of us) and we managed to bring that down to 300 and felt that was fair. (though we wished for a "remove all to container function". I understand the need for the screen/art changes. I understand the need for the voxel rebalance. I understand the need for pretty much everything NQ has done from a "Big Picture" perspective. (even if I don't like them all )
That said, you are pushing your subscription cost to play outside of many people's ability to pay it. Yes some people are rich and can afford the hike, but many of the most "cherished" DU players are literally on Twitch begging for money to support themselves and their families. There are many non streamers in DU that are part of this. We have several players who have become homeless throughout Covid and managed to scrape together enough to play DU from time to time to make their lives a little better. Because at the end of the day, DU wasn't mainstream, but its community could very easily turn a bad day IRL in to a fun happy day. (all the little happy builds)
I understand the need for money to keep your business going, and I understand the new cost projections you have for launching to a vast "spike" in players initially, with a gradual reduction over time due to normal projected forecasts of inactivity. (all games, literally every single one) That said, I urge you to highly reconsider this new price point.
We the DU community, those who took the time to post here, are telling you this a "bad" plan for launch. Many are sharing their own reasons but no matter the reason, we are telling you that this price is too high. Going to steam with a sub cost above $15 has never been accepted by the reviewers. We are also telling you to introduce "micro" transactions in the forms of skins that will supplement this increased cost. Its much easier for people to "consider" purchasing 2x $10 skins in a month than it is to justify paying a "flat" $5.00 more for nothing extra.
Please if you DU anything NQ....If you were to listen to anything... you are pricing yourself out of a larger audience by being the ONLY MMO game to have a sub higher than WoW ($16.97) in Canada. This isn't any sort of "smart" logic. DU this and watch the red reviews start on Sept 27th....
My orgmate's sub is till 2025, we plan to long term this and hope it survives more than anything. Lower price = Larger audience. Larger audience + (skins) = longer term players (invested)
