Q: What is Star Trek Online?

Star Trek Online is a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG) set in the Star Trek universe and includes customizable ships and characters from the Klingon Empire and United Federation of Planets, as well as ground and space gameplay. Players can also design and create their own content to share with their friends and the entire Star Trek Online community using The Foundry toolset.

Q: What is Free-to-Play?

Simply, anyone can play Star Trek Online at no cost. No subscription is required. You don't even have to buy the game. You can download and play for free!

In the Free-to-Play model, players have the option to purchase services, items and content to customize their gameplay. These purchases expand upon an already complete experience and allow you to further customize your characters and enjoy the game in new ways. You can access this new material in the C-Store and use Cryptic Points to make your purchases.

Q: Will I need a credit card to play?

No. However, should you wish to purchase items from the C-Store, you’ll need a valid credit card, PayPal account, direct debit or other supported payment method.

Q: What is the C-Store?

The C-Store is an in-game and web-based virtual goods shop from which you can purchase items to enhance your Star Trek Online experience. For example, you can buy Retrain Tokens (which allow you to reorganize your character advancement choices), new costume pieces, Captain Rename tokens, premium ships, and much more! You can view a catalog of items currently available for purchase online here or inside the Star Trek Online game.

To access the C-Store in-game, simply click on the inverted triangle in the lower right-hand corner of your mini-map interface. Then select "Visit the C-Store" to begin browsing.

Q: What are Cryptic Points?

Cryptic Points are the currency you use to purchase goods and services from the C-Store. You can purchase Cryptic Points online via one of several payment methods. You do not need to purchase Cryptic Points to play Star Trek Online. Cryptic Points can be purchased from this page.

Q: What is Dilithium? How do I earn it?

Dilithium replaces the old "Marks" and "Emblems" of Star Trek Online. Your current Marks, Badges, and Emblems will be converted into this new single currency. All standard ships that previously cost energy credits will now cost Dilithium. In-game stores which currently take Marks and Emblems will now take Dilithium as well. Instead of receiving free ship tokens, players will now receive Dilithium through natural play which can be used to purchase ships and gear. Ships purchased with Dilithium will be character unlocks, while ships which are purchased using Cryptic Points will be account unlocks, similar to the way things unlock with energy credits, marks or emblems today.

Q: I would still like to subscribe. Can I?

Absolutely. We offer an entirely optional subscription for players who prefer it. Players who are currently subscribed will remain subscribed until they choose to unsubscribe. We call all subscribers Gold Members. All Gold Members receive special access to content and services that may not be freely available for Silver Players. Please see our Features Matrix for more details.

Q: What are the differences between Silver Players and Gold Members?

Silver Players are the Star Trek Online players who have opted to play the game without subscribing. They have full access to the game, but prefer the free-to-play model. Gold Members are players who have elected to subscribe or continue subscribing to Star Trek Online. The Features Matrix describes these differences in more detail.

Q: How do I become a Gold Member?

If you choose to subscribe or continue subscribing to Star Trek Online, you automatically become a Gold Member. If you're a Lifetime Subscriber, you're also considered a Gold Member. If you are not a Gold Member but would like to become one, you may subscribe via your account management pages on this official website. Learn more about various subscription options here.

Q: I'm currently a regular or Lifetime subscriber to Star Trek Online. Where do I fit in?

Regular subscribers become Gold Members automatically. Subscribers are charged a regular fee based on one of the several subscription options they have chosen. Lifetime subscribers, also Gold Members, are those players who have opted to pay a single one-time fee for Gold Membership.

If you stop subscribing, you become a Silver Player. Not all of the features that characters on a Gold account have may be available to Silver Players.

Lifetime subscribers also become Gold Members automatically and will not be charged a continuing subscription fee. Basically, nothing changes for Lifetime subscribers: They continue to have complete access to the same content, items and episodes the way they always have.

Q: I’m a loyal subscriber. What will happen to my Veteran Rewards?

Veteran Rewards will remain in place for subscribers. Those who have earned these rewards will be able to keep them. These rewards are only available to players who choose to subscribe to Star Trek Online. For more information regarding Veteran Rewards, please see our Veteran Rewards page.

Q: I used to have an active subscription to Star Trek Online. Can I play my existing characters as a Silver Player?

Your characters are still available, but they may not be able to use all features that are available if you were to be a Gold Player.

Q: I canceled my Star Trek Online subscription, but I'm interested in becoming a Silver Player. Will I have the same access to the game as I did previously?

Your characters are still available, but they may not be able to use all features that are available if you were to be a Gold Player. Additionally, Gold Members and Silver Players differ in Star Trek Online. A player who previously subscribed to Star Trek Online and then returned to game as a Silver Player will not have the same exact features provided to Gold Members. The Features Matrix describes these differences in more detail.

Q: If I decide to downgrade from Gold to Silver, what happens to all my stuff?

Characters will remain when switching from Gold to Silver. However, not all features that character had during Gold membership may be available to Silver players. Please note that we never delete character data. If a Gold Member cancels his or her subscription and decides to restart it at a later date, all of that Member's characters and associated items will be intact.

Q: What type of in-game mail and chat restrictions do Silver Players have?

Silver Player chat and e-mail is rate-limited (though you would likely never see the limit if you chat or e-mail normally). They cannot use broadcast chat and may only send private messages ("tells") to players who are their friends. These restrictions are in place to curtail spammers. More information can be found in the Features Matrix.

Q: Will there be any changes to the C-Store now that STO is going free-to-play?

Yes. We'll be reviewing the content and prices of goods on offer in the C-store. This includes prices for ships at all tiers. For now, we know that some previously purchasable playable species will soon be free (Ferengi, Rigelian, Pakled, Tellarite), and others (Liberated Borg, Joined Trill, Federation Klingons) will be earned through other means. If you have already unlocked access to any C-store items, including playable species, you will retain that access in the free-to-play transition.

Q: Why are Klingons not unlocked until level 25 now?

We understand that the Klingon Faction is currently under developed. Due to this, we've decided that beginning with the free-to-play conversion, Klingon play will be unlocked at level 25, rather than the low level it is now.

This allows us to provide a better experience for Klingon play while we continue to work on improving the faction. A more complete, full-fledged Klingon Faction that we've always wanted to be able to provide will be launched in a future update. Our new owners and publishers at Perfect World are just as committed to having a fully developed Klingon Faction as we are and as our players are. We're incredibly excited about this opportunity!

Q: Will I lose access to my Klingon if I don't have a level 25 Federation Character?

No, if you have already unlocked Klingon play, and created a Klingon Character, your character will still be available to you. If your Klingon character has not reached the new starting level for Klingons once the conversion is completed, we will adjust your Klingon character so that he is still viable in the new empire.

Q: What effect will the Klingon Changes have on PvP?

Low level Klingon vs. Federation PvP queues will be temporarily removed. However, Federation vs. Federation PvP will still be possible. Klingon vs. Federation PvP will become available at the same rank that Klingons begin.

In case you haven't yet played Picard, yes, you can just explore the Galaxy.

A lot of people comment on the "pew pew pew" of my Defiant though. She might be fragile, but she packs a hell of a punch. So I might go down, but i'm taking you with me!