Quote Originally Posted by Krausus View Post
The problem with that is that model is what games that are dieing off switch to, this game hasn't lived yet so I would hate for it to go that route unless absolutely necessary to keep server population up.
I don't think that's a fair statement to make. It can be argued that the timing of hybrid models gives opportunity to dying games to take advantage of, but those games have experienced a significant increase in subscribers after the hybrid model was put into place. I think it's less that games go hybrid when they die, and more of microtransactions have become the most profitable idea in the entire gaming industry (see DLC) and it has only recently been applied to MMORPGs.

I honestly feel hybrid models are probably the future of the MMORPG. Developers are in it for the money and microtransactions/DLC is where the money is at. In Square's press release detailing the state of the company that happened around the time of FFXIV release, they stated directly they want to focus more on DLC products and mobile games because it is their most profitable area. The hybrid model keeps both sides happy, and while some people may be disappointed that they will be playing with free players, I think that's their problem and the hybrid model is a great "in-between" option.