The busy season of gaming is almost upon us, and that means spending lots of money to keep up with your gaming habit. If you've been looking at the release calendar and calculating how many pints of blood you have to sell (answer: 30), good news! Publisher Trion Worlds announced today that the massively multiplayer RTS End of Nations will be free-to-play. (New answer: 29).

The announcement promises full access to the MMORTS for free, including 50-player battles, a persistent world, and customization options, and the ability to play the game to the end. If you have some cash to burn, you can shell out for the limited Collector's Edition in retail stores, or the digital-only Collector's Edition online. Plus, Trion will be offering a monthly subscription for "extra value and convenience." The announcement didn't specify what bonuses would come with the CE or subscription.

"Being able to offer a premium game such as End of Nations for free sets us apart in this industry," said producer Dave Luehmann. "At Trion, we strive to innovate online gaming while emphasizing the delivery of the best core gameplay experience available. Our decision to release End of Nations as a AAA free–to-play title is guided by these principles."

The game has gotten attention for its pedigree, coming from Petroglyph Games. The studio has a long history with the strategy genre, as founding members worked on the original Command & Conquer. The game is due later this year.