Sony Online officially launched their free-to-play fantasy MMO Free Realms in April 2009 but today the publisher announced that in less than a year the game has hit the 8 million registered player mark. Since its launch the game has added a number of features including player housing as well as holding a number of live events such as the upcoming Valentine's Day themed Festival of Hearts.

While Free Realms has apparently been successful there's no word yet if Sony Online plan to extend the free-to-play model to upcoming games. Officially the publisher still has DC Universe Online and The Agency in development and the company has hinted about a major revamp of their Planetside game.