well, originally it is meant as a free content update since it doesn't add new characters and a new storyline and those things, but codemasters eventually started speaking of a free expansion themself.
but, i was supposed to be against archlord when i played the beta. but now since i got the game, gives me a little time to see things more in depth, and 'francly' i find archlord to have quite good features. now i am not sure what exactly is killing this game, besides the grind (it should be worked up i think) and the fact that you level 10 levels from 2 to 12 to have new armor and when you hit 12 you notice the armor has the same stats, with only the cuiras has 1 def more. other than that, the weapons are underpowered (very little diffirence in new weapons, even after 9 levels). this is to bad, but i suppose codemasters can actually make this work if they would just do something about it, and fast.