GamersFirst Acquires Fallen Earth LLC, Taking Game Free-To-Play

Free-to-play MMO publisher GamersFirst has acquired Fallen Earth LLC, absorbing the company's 12 employees into its Reloaded Productions studio and taking the Fallen Earth game free-to-play. The Fallen Earth team will be joined by GamersFirst executive director Tracy Spaight and associate game director Joseph Willmon as they continue work on the game's Alpha County expansion and integrate into the GamersFirst library, according to the announcement. "When talks began with GamersFirst, we were hoping to find a way to continue supporting our dystopian wastelanders who roam our truly unique MMO,” said Fallen Earth lead game designer Marie Croall. "By joining the Reloaded Productions team and becoming part of the GamersFirst family we can now continue delivering an uncompromising game experience for our die-hard fans." The game will transition from a paid membership system to free-to-play over the next five months or so, according to a statement. After the transition, free players will be able to access every zone and instance in the game, though some items and services will still be sold through an in-game store. Current players that maintain their subscriptions through the transition will receive "veteran rewards" as well as access to a premium tier subscription that includes monthly points usable in the store. Fallen Earth LLC and co-developer Icarus Studios have both seen significant staff reductions and restructuring over the past year. Last year, GamersFirst took over the license for the troubled MMO shooter All Points Bulletin, and recently launched the game's open beta.