Next time EA announces number of subs...

No, they will not. It is an unlimited free trial, which means that no credit card is required. There will be no auto billing until they chose to progress beyond level 15, at which time they would have to submit a valid game key and a credit card or some other form of billing information.

So cute! Even if Bioware doesn't bill the card automatically they most likely will require one to set up a free trial account and I guarantee you that there official sub numbers will be worded in such a way that these free trials can be included with the rest of those players. Irrationally devoted fanbois are clearly already beginning their spin by suggesting that free trials will be ON TOP OF the Bioware figures, but they won't.

Those free trials will definitely be included because those free trial players will have to put a credit card on file to be auto-charged as soon as the trial ends and this technicality will allow them to spin those players as subscribers who just haven't been billed yet. Hence, Bioware is allowed to "count" them and most definitely will. This will likely represent a couple of hundred thousand people and will mask their paid subscriber hemorrhage. You don't actually think it's a coincidence that the free trial is starting exactly when it is, do you?

Doesn't Blizzard do that too?

Doesn't Blizzard do that too?

aaand you would be wrong. It is an endless trial, one can play as much and as long as they like up to level 15. If they want to go further, they have to buy the game and subscribe to it. The Endless trial will not be counted as subscribers, since they have not paid any money to be playing the game.

I think more likely when the numbers are announced 3 things will happen
1- Hater Drones will blow it out of proportion and spin it to their favour
2- Fanbois will defend anything and everything blindly even, and spin in their favour
3- Most people will log on and continue playing the game oblivious to any number, some will check the forums and not care either way and get back to playing the game while everyone else clashes over what it means exactly while adding Computer Chair Developer Insight, and waiting for the next round of numbers to come up so they can battle again.

Best Buy has TOR on sale for 19.99. I would not bet any money on the subs having increased over the last report.