The decision to close the MMO was not ”approached lightly or without very serious thought”, and a possible free-to-play model was ”part of our research”.
”The decision to shut down SWG is first and foremost a business decision mutually agreed upon between SOE and LucasArts, and is not a decision that we approached lightly or without very serious thought and examination,” said an SOE spokesperson.
”The free-to-play scenario was included as part of our research into alternative business models for the game; however, it could not be implemented.”
”We’ve grown with the players throughout the years and shutting down the game is certainly not an ideal situation for us, but necessary regardless.”
There’s little doubt that the arrival of Star Wars: The Old Republic is a huge part of the decision by Sony Online and LucasArts to pull the plug. ”It was time to turn it off. We have a contractual relationship that’s ending in 2012, The Old Republic launching, a bunch of other business things with LucasArts,” said SOE CEO John Smedley.
Are sad to see Star Wars Galaxies come to an end?
