Funcom's MMORPG no longer requires monthly subscription; optional $15 monthly membership grants a range of bonuses.

Massively multiplayer online role-playing game The Secret World no longer requires a subscription fee, developer Funcom announced today. Those who purchase the game either online or in store (at $30) will not be required to subscribe.

Though Funcom has done away with a mandatory subscription fee for The Secret World, players can choose to pay via a new Membership option. This $15/month tier gives users a Time Accelerator item, $10 worth of Bonus Points, an item-of-the-month gift, and a 10 percent discount on all in-game store items.

In addition the Grandmaster pack (lifetime subscribers) will receive everything above, plus an additional 10 percent in-game store discount. Further, lifetime subscribers can apply their discount to future downloadable content packs.

Funcom also announced today that new DLC for The Secret World will be available beginning in January 2013. The unnamed content will be available as a free download for those with a full game account registered by the end of 2012, or $5 for everyone else.

The Secret World launched during July 2012 to a generally positive critical reception. It has sold over 200,000 copies as of August and is now a profitable enterprise for Funcom. For more on The Secret World, check out GameSpot's review.

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