Bioware has poured quite a bit of time and money into the development of The Old Republic, which is slated to become the studio's first ever foray into the Massively Multiplayer Online field, currently dominated by World of Warcraft.
The Old Republic has been dated for a December 20 release in North America and December 22 in Europe. The game will not be available in Asia or Australia, except through import.
"This is an incredible moment for everyone at Bioware and our partners at LucasArts who have dedicated their lives to build this extraordinary game," said Ray Muzyka at the recent Eurogamer Expo, where the game was shown off in front of a live audience. "We appreciate the patience from the millions of fans who have been waiting for the game's release."
It remains to be seen whether the game will be able to hold its own against World of Warcraft, especially in a field where every other would-be contender—Rift, Vanguard, Star Trek Online and EA's own Warhammer Online—have failed to.
The game's pricing has also been revealed, with 3- and 6-month subscriptions receiving discounts.
1 Month Subscription: $14.99 (£8.99/€12.99)
3 Month Subscription: $13.99 per month (one-time charge of $41.97/£25.17/€35.97)
6 Month Subscription: $12.99 per month (one-time charge of $77.94/£46.14/€65.94)
