With the impending demise of Star Wars Galaxies and perhaps the dawning realization that the best games it has to offer are free-to-play, Sony Online Entertainment ditches the Station Pass in favor of SOE All Access, allowing players to access nine online games starting at $19.99 a month.
Sony Online Entertainment's Station Pass used to run around $30 a month, allowing players to tap into games like Everquest, Everquest II, DC Universe Online, Star Wars Galaxies, and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes for monthly fee. Considering each of those games cost upwards of $14.99 per month to play by themselves, it wasn't a bad deal.
But now Star Wars Galaxies is dying, Vanguard continues to be a steaming pile of shit, and Sony Online Entertainment's most popular titles are the family-friendly and free-to-play Free Realms and Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures. It's time for a price drop.
For $19.99 a month (or as low as $14.99 a month yearly), players can now access Everquest, Everquest II, Pirates of the Burning Sea, Planetside, DC Universe Online, Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures, Free Realms, Vanguard, and the free-to-play Everquest II Extended. Subscribers will gain access to free downloadable versions of all games with the exception of the latest EQ and EQII expansions, Vanguard, and DC Universe Online.
If you ask me, this is all an elaborate scheme to trick people into buying Vanguard. Remain vigilant!
You can fully explore Sony Online Entertainment's revised pricing schemes at its game pass plan website.