Today marks the launch of Global Agenda's Free Agent update, which officially makes the sci-fi shooter MMO free-to-play! The patch also introduces a new high-level Dome Defense raid, a Capture the Flag-style Mercenary PvP game-mode with pilotable robots, revised skill-trees across all four character classes and more.

This free-to-play switch removes the one-time purchase barrier that may have kept players from trying out the game. Players may also choose to make a one-time payment of $19.99 to upgrade to Elite Agent status, which will give them access to accelerated XP, loot and currency bonuses, as well as the auction house and in-game mail. Any player who has already purchased the game will automatically receive Elite Agent Status.

For more details on Global Agenda: Free Agent, check out our recent intereview with Hi-Rez Studios COO Todd Harris. You can also read the Free Agent FAQ or browse through the differences between the free-to-play and Elite versions of the game after the jump.

Below is a summary of the differences between Free and Elite versions of the game:

Free-to-Play

• No Level Restriction
• Ability to earn all of the game’s current items without spending real money.
• Access to all of the game’s current playable content, including:
  • Sonoran Desert Open Zone
  • Special Ops PvE (1- to 4-person Co-Op)
  • 10v10 Mercenary PvP
  • 4v4 Arena PvP
  • Double Agent PvPE
  • 10-person Defense Raids (including the new Dome Defense Mission coming in version 1.4).
  • Agency vs Agency Gameplay (AvA)

Elite Agent - One-time purchase of $19.99 (£13.99 GBP, €15.99 EUR)

• Earn End-of-Mission XP at twice the rate of a Free-to-Play user
• Earn End-of-Mission Credits and Tokens at twice the rate of a Free-Play user
• Earn End-of-Mission Elite Loot upon winning an instanced PvE or PvP match
• Choose which PvP game types you would like to play when queuing for Mercenary PvP.
• Access the Auction House
• Access In-Game Mail
• Less restrictive chat capabilities
• No ads for in-game voice
• Ability to create Agencies
• Higher Login priority