Proposal for Introducing a Subscription Model

Dear Grinding Gear Games Team,

First off, I’d like to thank you for continuously delivering an exceptional gaming experience through Path of Exile. As an avid fan of the game and someone who appreciates your commitment to keeping the core of PoE free-to-play, I wanted to propose a new monetization model that could complement your existing cash shop system while fostering deeper player engagement and enhancing the in-game economy.

Proposal: Subscription Model to Coexist with the Cash Shop

The free-to-play model and cash shop system are integral to PoE’s accessibility and appeal. However, I believe introducing an optional subscription model that exists in tandem with the cash shop could offer benefits to both players and GGG. Below, I’ve outlined how this system could work and the potential value it would bring:

The Subscription Model: "Trade-Driven Subscription"

Overview:
This subscription service would offer players an additional layer of engagement, providing opportunities to earn cosmetic items organically through gameplay while still preserving the integrity of the cash shop.

Key Features of the Subscription:

1.Chance to Earn Skinned Items:

Subscribers would have a small chance for in-game item drops to come pre-applied with random skins or visual effects.
These skinned items would be tradable, introducing new value and excitement into the trading community.

2.Exclusive Cosmetic Progression:

Subscription could include access to a “loot-themed cosmetic pass” that rewards players for reaching milestones with additional exclusive skins and effects.

3.Cash Shop Coexistence:

Free-to-play (F2P) players continue to rely on the cash shop for cosmetics.
Skinned items from subscribers could also enter the trade market, making these rare items accessible to all players while still rewarding subscribers for their participation.

4.Optional Add-Ons:

Monthly quality-of-life perks (e.g., slight stash tab expansions, character slots).
A small percentage discount on purchases from the cash shop for active subscribers.

Benefits for the Community

1. Strengthened Trading Economy:
By allowing skinned items to drop and be tradable, this model would breathe new life into PoE’s trading economy. Rare skinned items could become collectibles, trophies, or even investments, sparking new interest in trading and creating an additional layer of value for long-term players.

2. Inclusive for Free-to-Play Players:
F2P players retain full access to gameplay and cash shop content, but they can also acquire skinned items through trading with subscribers. This keeps the game accessible while encouraging more interactions between players.

3. Deeper Player Engagement:
Subscribers feel rewarded for their loyalty, while F2P players remain incentivized to engage with trading or consider subscribing themselves.

Benefits for GGG
1. Diversified Revenue Streams:
This subscription model introduces a new, recurring income stream while preserving the cash shop’s revenue.

2. Enhanced Player Retention:
A subscription model rewards consistent engagement, giving players more reasons to log in and play regularly.

3. Community Growth:
By fostering a thriving in-game economy and making cosmetics more meaningful, PoE could attract new players and sustain its existing player base more effectively.

Potential Challenges and Solutions
Perceived Exclusivity:
Careful balance must be maintained to ensure F2P players don’t feel excluded. Skinned item drop rates for subscribers should be rare enough to maintain their value but frequent enough to justify the subscription.

Trade Balancing:
Introducing skinned items into the economy requires monitoring to avoid oversaturation. Keeping them rare ensures their long-term desirability.

Preserving Cash Shop Revenue:
By making skinned items tied to a chance-based system, the subscription model does not undercut the cash shop but enhances it by introducing new tradable collectibles.

modern existence is already plagued by far too many subscriptions.
please, no more.

ggg's current system is already so good that my gamer friends who ALWAYS PIRATE WHENEVER POSSIBLE drop serious loads of cash onto this game.

subscriptions in POE already exist via temp league supporter packs and kirac passes.

1. chance to earn skinned equipment with mtx, is an unfair advantage as it will automatically be more valuable than the "non mtx" version.

this is in an essence p2w. hard no

2.exclusive cosmetics based on progression. kirac pass says hi

3. as mentioned skinned items command higher trade value. p2w. NO

4. working in additional perks such as extra character slots/stash etc, could be simplified by making supporter packs with those bundled in. negating the need for it to be tied behind a monthly sub.



temp leagues are 3-4 months long and we have 2 supporter pack variants with 3 price points. assuming players purchase the cheapest pack, its more or less the same as buying a monthly sub at 10 usd/month.

if you pay more you get more mtx in return. players could buy a supporter every league and its essentially the same as a montly sub WITHOUT forcing them to pay a monthly sub.

i would also highlight that skinned drops are p2w. you ever see a shitty echoforge that has -200 life with -16% attack speed and shitty damage rolls priced at over 10-50 divines? normally no one in their right mind would buy it but people WOULD if its a shiny variant.

if you talk about benefit for ggg/players, i think you got that dead wrong. players would get upset at ggg for unnecessarily SPLITTING the userbase with this decision. GGG would get a lot of flak for it, and people would be saying POE is more P2W now.

if u really love ggg a lot. you dont need to suggest a subscription model. give ggg your money directly.

"

Gromiz#4578 wrote:

Subscribers would have a small chance for in-game item drops to come pre-applied with random skins or visual effects.
These skinned items would be tradable, introducing new value and excitement into the trading community.

thats pay to win, you are paying for an in game advantage, its essentially letting people buy currency for real money.