We present to you 6 MMORPGs that were supposed to be released in 2020, or that we had previously assumed would be released, but we, MeinMMO, have doubts about their release this year.
How did the list come about? This list is based on what happened in the games in 2019 and how often updates from the developers regarding the status were received, as well as on the plans that were already announced for 2020. Not all games were explicitly announced for 2020, but in some cases, it was just assumed from the development and statements from the team that they would be released this year.
Ashes of Creation
Genre: Sandbox-MMORPG | Developer: Intrepid Studios | Platform: PC | Release Date: Originally 2020 | Model: Buy2Play with Subscription
What is Ashes of Creation? The MMORPG from Intrepid Studios is essentially a sandbox where you can change the world through your actions. If, for example, you build a city by the sea together with other players and fish like crazy, it might awaken a sea monster that attacks your settlement.
In Ashes of Creation, you also improve your hero, explore dungeons, discover the world, and can establish a trading empire or become the ruler of your own kingdom.
What is the current status of the game? Ashes of Creation is making progress, but is moving forward a bit slower than fans would like. The alpha is supposed to start in 2020.
How has it gone so far? In August 2018, Steve Sharif announced at Gamescom that Ashes of Creation would be released in 2019. However, this promise was retracted in March 2019: the release date was then set for 2020.
Why is a release in 2020 questionable? If the alpha starts in 2020, then we might at best only expect the beginning of the beta. The developers are taking their time with the release because they want to deliver a really good game. And such an extensive MMORPG like Ashes of Creation simply requires a lot of development time.
A release in 2020 therefore seems unlikely.
Camelot Unchained
Genre: PvP-MMORPG | Developer: City State Entertainment | Platform: PC | Release Date: 2020 (State where it could be released) | Model: Buy2Play with Subscription
What is Camelot Unchained? The MMORPG is a successor to the classic Dark Age of Camelot and follows a similar gameplay principle. In Camelot Unchained, it’s mainly about PvP battles. Three factions are at war. You belong to one of them and participate in large battles.
In the sieges of castles, it is even possible to bring down walls and towers. However, PvE elements are also present. You fight creatures in the wilderness to improve your hero.
What is the current status of the game? There have been several beta events over the past year, and the team announced something big for January 2020. Perhaps the open beta for Camelot Unchained will start.
How has it gone so far? In January 2018, the head of the game, Marc Jacobs, planned the release for 2019 but already added restrictedly, “Without Warranty.”
In November 2019, it was said that it would not come out in 2019, but in 2020, Camelot Unchained should reach a state where it could “be released.”
Why is a release in 2020 questionable? The developers are taking their time. They are not under time pressure, as they have secured funding for the MMORPG. If the open beta starts in the coming months, then a release in 2020 would still be possible, but the team likely wants to gather a lot of feedback.
Therefore, the start in 2021 appears more realistic. There is not a fixed release date for 2020 anymore, only a “soft” one.
Chronicles of Elyria
Genre: Sandbox-MMORPG | Developer: Soulbound Studios | Platform: PC | Release Date: Originally 2019, now none | Model: Buy2Play with Subscription
What is Chronicles of Elyria? The sandbox MMORPG features a very special aspect: your guaranteed death. This means your hero ages and eventually dies. It is part of your task to ensure a successor to whom you will inherit your belongings and your trading empire, so you can continue playing.
In addition, Chronicles of Elyria aims to offer classic MMORPG elements such as exploring a large world, crafting, battles, dungeons, character development, and group play.
What is the current status of the game? The development is dragging on. Besides videos without final graphics, little has been seen of the MMORPG. However, there are always events taking place outside the game, in which lands are awarded to the players.
How has it gone so far? In a 2017 released roadmap, it was stated that Chronicles of Elyria would be released at the end of 2019. But nothing came of it. In 2019, the team asserted that the storm would break with the release of the pre-alpha in the same year. This indicated that development had made good progress. However, nothing happened in 2019. Since then, the developers have been holding back statements regarding the release.
Why is a release in 2020 questionable? The roadmap released in 2017 indicated the release of Chronicles of Elyria for 2019. But so far, there is nothing playable. The development continues to delay.
Therefore, it is to be assumed that there will be no release of the MMORPG in 2020. Perhaps we will see the alpha; that would probably be a success.
Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen
Genre: Sandbox-Themepark-MMORPG | Developer: Visionary Realms | Platform: PC | Release Date: None| Model: Buy2Play with Subscription
What is Pantheon? Pantheon is a classic MMORPG that orients itself towards the early days of the genre, particularly the first Everquest from 1999. Group play and PvE are at the forefront. You explore a vast fantasy world together with friends and experience numerous adventures there.
Fighting, quests, and the development of characters are important in the MMORPG. Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen aims to show how the genre could have developed if it had continued to follow Everquest 1.
What is the current status of the game? The alpha for Project Faerthale is supposed to begin still in 2020, showing how Pantheon looks as a whole. Recently, the team suffered a major setback when studio founder Brad McQuaid unexpectedly passed away.
How has it gone so far? The developers have not announced a specific release date yet, as they want to take the necessary time for development, but we had been assumed that a release in 2020 was expected. After all, the game has been in development since 2014 and has made good progress. For 2020, the release of the alpha was recently announced.
Why is a release in 2020 questionable? The team behind Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen is relatively small. However, they have set themselves very high goals. This year, the alpha is supposed to start, which will certainly run for a while. With some luck, we might see the start of the closed beta towards the end of the year. A release in 2020 seems very unlikely.
Project TL
Genre: Action-MMORPG | Developer: NC Soft | Platform: PC | Release Date: 2020 | Model: Unknown
What is Project TL? The MMORPG evolved from Lineage Eternal and aims to combine hack ‘n slash with MMORPG. You experience the action from an isometric perspective similar to Diablo and also fight a lot of enemies in action-packed battles, but you also explore a large world together with many players where numerous quests await you.
Project TL looks stunning based on the first trailer. It could be exactly what fans of Diablo are waiting for, who want a bit more than just hack ‘n slash action.
What is the current status of the game? NC Soft has not revealed much about Project TL. It has been very quiet about the MMORPG for a long time.
However, it was said that a beta phase is supposed to start in 2020 – but in Korea.
How has it gone so far? NC Soft stated in 2018 that Project TL would definitely be released in 2019. Since this did not happen, it was assumed that it would finally be ready in 2020.
Why is a release in 2020 questionable? Since the 2019 release was delayed with no explanation of what happened, a launch in 2020 also seems doubtful. It is now said that a beta will begin in the first half of 2020 for Korea.
Given how slowly development is progressing, one might reasonably doubt that Project TL will be released this year.
Special Case: Lost Ark
Genre: Action-MMORPG | Developer: Smilegate | Platform: PC | Release Date: In the West: Still open| Model: Free2Play with Item Shop
What is Lost Ark: Lost Ark places you in a fantasy world that you explore similarly to a hack ‘n slash from an isometric perspective. Together with friends, you experience quests, explore dungeons, and fight against many enemies, including gigantic boss monsters.
Lost Ark skillfully mixes action RPG and MMORPG elements, making the online game a very interesting gaming experience.
What is the current status of the game? The developer studio Smilegate has started a beta in Russia. The next step is the release in Japan. Meanwhile, the MMORPG continues to receive more updates and expansions in Korea.
How has it gone so far? The developers of Lost Ark stated in 2019 that they would continue their offensive abroad, i.e., the release of the game in more countries, as soon as the MMORPG is released in Japan. This is expected to happen in early 2020. Although no official announcement was made regarding a release of the game here at home for 2020, job postings suggested that it could happen.
Why is a release in 2020 questionable? There has been no word from the developers regarding a release in Europe and the USA. Although it was long said that a “global” release was planned, it then went quiet.
This raises doubts about whether Lost Ark will really be released in Europe and the USA in 2020. If a release occurs in the West in 2020, it will likely only be for one of the areas, USA or Europe.
Why is Lost Ark a special case? Lost Ark is the only MMORPG on the list that has already been released, just not in the West.
Mein-MMO author Alexander Leitsch predicted that in his opinion Lost Ark would make an impact in 2020. And if only in an open beta. This might very well be true, but at the moment a release seems rather questionable. Opinions on Lost Ark’s west release in 2020, therefore, differ.
