With the upcoming online role-playing game A:IR (Ascent: Infinite Realm), the PUBG developer Bluehole intends to revive the MMORPG genre. A:IR is supposed to target the West and be played comfortably alongside other MMOs.
Since the massive success of the battle royale shooter PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds), the Korean developer Bluehole has been on everyone’s lips. However, many PUBG fans may not know that Bluehole has been around for over 10 years and was an MMORPG developer before PUBG.
The last major online role-playing game from the company, which was especially successful in the West, was TERA. However, global success came only with PUBG. Therefore, Bluehole dared to return to the large trade fair G-Star in Korea in 2017 for the first time in six years, where they had a huge appearance.
An MMORPG for people with little time
MMORPGs are Bluehole’s specialty. Studio head Hyo-Seob Kim explains this to Gamesindustry.biz.
Therefore, after the success of PUBG, they want to return to this genre with the upcoming game A:IR. However, they are aware that the market has changed.
In MMORPGs, there is usually only one game that gamers actively play. So, if someone is deeply engaged in WoW, they will think carefully before starting a new game. Playing two major MMORPGs simultaneously is hardly possible. But this is where A:IR wants to make its mark. The game is designed for time-efficient gameplay, as time has become the most important resource in modern MMOs, according to Kim.
A:IR – An MMORPG to go
Kim is aware that the MMORPG market is currently stagnating. There has been hardly anything new in recent years. However, he also believes that players will turn to a new game out of curiosity if it offers attractive new features. And A:IR aims to be such a game:
- There is little grind
- Instead, you will find cool, meaningful quests that guide you through the game
- Many of the game contents will be available after just a few hours of gameplay
- There will be PvP content for quick skirmishes
A:IR will be a game for the West, Koreans find it not “pretty” enough
PUBG and partly TERA were aimed at a Western audience. This is also intended to be the case with A:IR. The game features steampunk and medieval landscapes. According to Kim, it is less something for Korean tastes. They would find it “not pretty enough”.
Nonetheless, they hope that all MMO fans worldwide will enjoy A:IR. They may want to establish regional differences in graphic style or character creation. Kim did not name specific examples, but perhaps the Asian version will be a bit more colorful and allow more revealing female characters. This has often been the major difference between the Asian and Western versions of an MMO in the past.
Not a game for PUBG fans
Regarding the payment model, they want to offer different systems for each region. However, there will definitely not be a subscription model.
Kim is aware that Bluehole is now firmly associated with PUBG for most of its audience. This increased attention is welcomed by the CEO, but he also makes it clear: “PUBG and A:IR will be completely different games”.
While he is pleased about PUBG players turning to A:IR, he does not expect massive interest from battle royale fans in the upcoming MMORPG.
A:IR is set to enter closed beta in early 2018. The release is planned for the end of the year.
