SW: TOR - Galactic Starfighter Expansion

[Couchpotato]

Bioware announces the next digital expansion Galactic Starfighter for Star Wars: The Old Republic.

AUSTIN, Texas – Oct. 8, 2013 – Join the battle and customize the ultimate starship to become a legendary Starfighter pilot in the Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ universe! Today, BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA), and LucasArts announced that Star Wars: The Old Republic is adding Player-vs-Player (PvP) combat in the Free-to-Play Digital Expansion: Galactic Starfighter. With a variety of unique starships, a wide set of customization and upgrade options, multiple battle zones and gameplay modes, Galactic Starfighter brings the thrill of epic 12v12 space battles to Star Wars: The Old Republic for the first time.

Active Star Wars: The Old Republic subscribers will be offered Early Access starting December 3 and Preferred Status Players* on January 14. Galactic Starfighter will be offered as a Free-to-Play Digital Expansion available to the public beginning on February 4. Each group will also receive special in-game items as part of this Early Access opportunity (detailed below). As a special benefit, active subscribers as of November 1 will receive an exclusive Galactic Starfighter early Gunship unlock and custom Gunship paint jobs.**

“Our goal with Star Wars: The Old Republic has always been to immerse players into their own Star Wars adventure and huge space battles are a vital part of fulfilling that fantasy,” said Jeff Hickman, General Manager of BioWare Austin. “Galactic Starfighter will be a deep experience that will continue to grow over time. We can’t wait for both our current and new players to get their hands on it soon.”

Players who subscribe to Star Wars: The Old Republic by November 1 will receive an exclusive Galactic Starfighter early Gunship unlock and custom Gunship paint jobs. Starting December 3, subscribers are eligible to receive special reward items along with the Early Access opportunity.

Subscriber Early Access Rewards (Subscriber Early Access opens December 3, 2013)

• Early Access to Galactic Starfighter on December 3
• Exclusive Paint Jobs***
• Two Pilot Suits
• Two Titles (“Test Pilot” and “First Galactic Starfighter”)
• Subscribers get the maximum leveling and progression benefit (a Starfighter Pass will also be available for purchase in the Cartel Market beginning January 14)

Preferred Status players will receive:

• Early Access to Galactic Starfighter on January 14
• Two Pilot Suits
• Exclusive Title (“Test Pilot”)

More information.

 

[Soulbane]

This should have been in the original release, and many people would have been content, including me.

 

[DArtagnan]

Unfortunately, this sounds a little limited. PvP only - and no freeform space exploration/flight as many were hoping for.

It's definitely something - and it might even be good, but without PvE - I don't think it's quite enough to keep people interested.

 

[wolfing]

PvP only means might as well not be there for me.

 

[Alrik Fassbauer]

I'm a bit disappointed by this being PvP only as well.

But now we know why the Cartel Market pilot armor is being withdrawn around the 15th ...

 

[Soulbane]

Well yea, compared to the space combat thing (the railroad shooting) they had and expanded upon it is a great step ahead. I mean, here at least you can fly wherever you want, that's what space is about, isn't it?

But I agree with all of you, PvP only sounds boring, and a proper Star Wars MMO should have a proper space exploration mode.

 

[guenthar]

Hopefully they will add pve in the future since I don't pvp in all but a couple of mmorpgs and this isn't one of them.