https://clockwork-labs.medium.com/our-thoughts-on-game-monetization-909976b5287dThey made a small writeup about monetization. Looks like it will be "free" with microtransactions. And they do not yet tell what the microtransactions will contain, which just adds the suspicion. (Of course, practically no information about what their gameplay will even be like has been given out)
Pity. Wished it was monthly subscription. Maybe with a free "trial" (lock character progression).
They list as reasons of why monthly subscription is bad for example that people who do not want to pay don't get to play the game. I don't understand how that is a problem.
Why do not luxury car companies have worries about people like me not willing to pay for their cars and thus not getting to drive them? When will I get free tesla driving with optional cosmetics if I don't want to pay for the car?
Well yes they mention community. But with f2p your community will fill up with trolls, chinese RMT bots and 8-year olds. Is that a good community? I'd rather take a smaller, bit more mature and refined community over some horde of screaming children.
There are many good MMORPG games which are pay to play with great communities. Like WOW, EVE online, wurm, though these days I think all of them even contain a trial to get a bit familiar before paying the 5 or whatever dollars, which locks you to some stats/progression, which is fair I think.
Not making pay to play games sounds to me like they are not really committed to making the greatest, long lasting, mmo ever, but just to grab some quick profits.