The MMORPG Crowfall has finally announced its release date after 6 years in development. We at MeinMMO reveal what this new game is about and who it might be interesting for.
When is Crowfall releasing? Crowfall will be released on July 6, 2021. It was first announced in early 2015 as a kind of “Holy Grail” for fans of PvP and economy. Since 2020, the MMORPG has been in beta, which everyone can participate in for free.
Is there a reset after the beta? Yes, on July 1 the beta will close and all characters, items, and contents will be deleted. At release, every player will start from scratch (via Crowfall).
What kind of MMORPG is this anyway? Crowfall differs from other games in the genre because it takes a unique and fresh approach:
- Instead of a large, open world, Crowfall focuses on different scenarios where you can explore.
- These campaigns have, except for the Eternal Kingdoms, an expiration date. At the end, the Hunger, which devours the world, ends the scenario. Therefore, campaigns can be “won,” and the developers have the opportunity to change the rules and structure of campaigns at any time.
- The focus of the MMORPG is on PvP, even though there are PvE and social worlds. Anyone who isn’t into PvP will find it difficult in Crowfall.
The game’s system sounds quite complicated at first glance, but becomes easier to understand once you try it yourself and engage with the campaigns:
- The Eternal Kingdoms are a social world that you can create according to your wishes. You can customize it in size, appearance, and also in contents like your own fortress and merchants. You can set your Eternal Kingdoms to public so everyone can visit them or keep them private for yourself and invited friends.
- You start in a PvE scenario. There you learn the basics of the game and level up your first character.
- In God’s Reach, you fight in a 3-faction PvP against each other.
- In the Dregs, you fight in GvG in massive battles for castles.
- The HungerDome introduced a battle royale for 60 players.
A glimpse into the game world and the systems of Crowfall is offered in this YouTube video by the developers:
An MMORPG focused on PvP and a challenging position in 2021
Who is Crowfall interesting for? Crowfall is a PvP MMORPG. Those who enjoy engaging in large battles for castles or wandering through a world where you can constantly be attacked might find a home in Crowfall. Especially in a solid guild, there is a lot of fun in battles against other players.
To obtain the best equipment, crafting plays an important role. However, it can be challenging to obtain those resources in PvP. Therefore, Crowfall is less suitable for solo players.
However, the MMORPG impresses especially with its wide variety of races and the 11 classes, each offering 3 sub-classes. This provides a lot of variety and replay value. In addition, Crowfall relies on a timeless yet colorful comic style.
I myself tested the game in 2020 and wrote a report about it:
How is Crowfall doing in 2021? Currently, the MMORPG is under criticism despite its innovative ideas, and for several reasons:
- The game has been poorly optimized for long stretches
- The interface and the map are difficult to get used to and cannot compete with modern MMORPGs
- The tutorial does not explain the system with the different campaigns well
- Those who really want to play PvP must first grind PvE. Meanwhile, there is no endgame content for PvE players
The criticism is repeatedly found in the forum, in comments on reddit and on our site MeinMMO, and coincides with my own experience. These points and the long time in alpha and beta have led some players and backers, who previously invested money, to turn away from Crowfall.
Currently, the player population is rather low despite the open beta. This ultimately also diminishes the enjoyment of PvP.
Is there hope for Crowfall? It is hard to say. The release could bring a new influx of players, but the MMORPG is buy-to-play, which presents a hurdle. Furthermore, optimization should be worked on before launch, as players might be quickly deterred otherwise.
Adding to the challenge, there are:
- Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis – Release in June
- Swords of Legends – Release expected late June / early July
- New World – Beta start in July
three major competitors waiting for Crowfall. It is quite possible that this PvP MMORPG will sink before it can even prove itself.
What do you think about Crowfall? Have you tried it yet? And will you play the MMORPG after the release or rather ignore it?
2021 is generally a strong year for MMORPG fans. You can find all the highlights here: 13 reasons why MMORPG fans can look forward to 2021.
