It's a year from now. Contrary to popular current option, Dust isn't dead. In fact, there's still a decent number of people playing what is a quite improved game. Newbies don't stick around much though, on account of being constantly stomped by vets. It's no fun going 0/10 every match you play, and there are newer 'fairer' and less grindy games out there.

For those that stuck with Dust, they've maxed out all their core skills and can fit at least one protosuit and protoweapon. Some can fit several different types of proto stuff. They have vehicle alts they created at almost the same time as their mains that can do the same with dropships and HAV's on account of passive sp. They also have eleventy billion isk and no fear of economic loss, so they run Advanced fits all the time in public matches, protofits in corp matches, and they still turn a small profit at the end of the day.

These players don't buy AUR to pay for boosters anymore. Why would they? Their core and favourite dropsuit and weapon skills are maxed. Anything else they want to try out they're content to wait a little longer for by not opening their wallets. They don't care for Standard suit and weapon BPO's because they never run Standard.

CCP release new Merc packs still, of course, but the overwhelming player response is "Go **** yourself, CCP"

Sales are naturally very light because by now the playerbase has wised up to the fact that 'Flubalub' Assault Rifle, 'Jubalub' Assault Rifle, and 'Pubalub' Assault Rifle have exactly the same stats as the dozen Assault Rifle BPO's before them, they will always have the same stats, and it's just not worth the money for simply a different name and skin.

Even now, you could probably afford the Elite pack, but the BPO's bore you and some are actually Militia posing as Standards. Why do you care for a Swarm Launcher BPO that has Militia stats when 1500 isk will get you something better? So you decided against purchasing it; if you bought, Veteran packs were chosen instead for the Standard LAV, and you'll never need a LAV BPO again.

One year from now Dust still costs money to run, however. Those servers fees and staff salaries bear heavy and CCP management are not willing to subsidise this game via EVE forever. It's just not good business. So they ask themselves, "What is it that our players will open their wallets for if not boosters and Standard suit, weapon, and LAV BPO's?"

The answer is clear. They will open their wallets for initially Militia dropships and HAV's (Standard later), Standard equipment BPO's (Advanced later), and Advanced dropsuit and weapon BPO's.