Warhammer Online now on Steam in North America

by Tateru Nino Dec 20th 2008 at 11:00AM

Filed under: Warhammer Online, News items

As you may have already spotted on our sister blog, Big Download, the games publishing giant Electronic Arts are bringing a chunk of their software catalog to Steam, sans any third-party DRM or copy-protection (beyond their own, or that provided by the Steam service itself).

For Massively readers, particularly, that means that Warhammer Online is available right now for US$49.99 (including 30 days free) -- however, only if you are in North America (essentially the USA and Canada, we believe). As yet there is no announcement that the EA catalog will be made available via Steam to other regions in future (though we have our fingers crossed). This is kind of a bummer, yes. Steam seems to be a great way to handle MMO clients, and bulk installs.

This makes Warhammer Online the third MMO client available via Steam, as it joins Age of Conan or EVE Online. How many of you would try out Warhammer Online from Steam versus a purchase off the shelf or through the EA Store?

WAR has gone 1.1! Check out our full coverage of the 1.1a patch, along with our interviews exploring upcoming content and the open RvR changes. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

Tags: big-download, electronic-arts, north-america, steam, warhammer-online

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Abriael said on 11:22AM 12-20-2008

You guys missed one piece of news that I think is pretty important (was on the newsletter), expecially since it comes just before the holidays. Starting yesterday each warhammer Online player has been granted 3 friend codes to give out to activate a 7 days free trial. In addition to this, one more will be given each month, up to a max of 6.

Shadowlords said on 5:29PM 12-20-2008

Its so sad that this game had to die before they made all these great changes I read on here. Its so funny, you destroy Age of Conan when you release because AoC is slow to react and then lets the gem exploit continue rather than shut down gems. Now, Darkfall has done to you what you did to AoC. You force players to run Tor Anroc 1000+ times and wonder why 70% of your player base quits? Now your backtracking, server merging and offering the game to anyone and everyone to attempt to survive, when you could have just learned from Failcom's mistakes and reacted fast. Not to say that Darkfall will be any better, as these guys took what, 7 years or more to make this game? WTF. Sorry, your hype meter just ran out Mythic....

Abriael said on 7:42PM 12-20-2008

Sorry to disappoint you, but the game is alive and well. I see new players joining every day, so you might want to avoid the nonsense :D

Zaniac said on 1:32PM 12-20-2008

Would I try it out on Steam if I didn't already have it?

I don't know. Normally I'm a big fan of the user friendly game management that Steam offers, and I am known to suddenly give a game a try on a whim - seeing as it's just a few clicks, and it's installing.

But with mmog's, I kinda have a desire for something to put on my bookshelf. A game box. And not just a game box... It has to be a Collector's Edition game box.

I don't really know if it's the look of it, the added value, in-game bonus items, or just the fact that it helps add a little more relevance to my playing the game...

But for Warhammer Online, it was definately helpful in making me like the game. The artbook was phenomenal to dive into. The hardcover comicbook was helpful in drawing the background picture, and the box itself a beutiful representation of the big factor that artstyle plays in that particular universe (Warhammer). I guess you can call it an icon of the game, that I can display on the bookshelf.

For mmog's that I am only interested in trying out, I might go the Steam way. But for mmog's that I feel I will be playing seriously, I definately will not.

HexDSL said on 2:19PM 12-20-2008

steam is a great service, I am a massive fan. however i enjoy buying BOX versions of my MMO's because i enjoy the artwork and manuals, however if there was a great saving i would not hesitate to use Steam.

saying that i like in the UK, and already own WAR, so its not really an issue is it! lol