The Korean MMORPG Blade and Soul finally has a clear release window for the West after years of waiting: It is set to launch in winter.
As several international sites report, Blade and Soul is indeed coming to the West. There have already been numerous hints, but skepticism among fans remained. Now the release is officially planned for winter. A beta is supposed to take place in autumn, although its nature is still disputed. While some sites talk about an open beta, most others mention a closed beta.
PCGamesN had the opportunity to test the game. It is said to have a “minimalistic” approach: Blade & Soul is extremely accessible due to the combat system that rotates between the individual components of a combo. NCSoft seems to see this accessibility as the strength of the game.
Additionally, the item system is interesting. It is possible to “feed” a weapon continuously, making it stronger. You form a bond, creating a personal relationship with the weapon. The cutscenes are also highlighted as a strength of the game, as well as the way stories are told. A community manager from Blade and Soul is quoted as still digesting his experiences when something happened to his character’s mentor.
The Western version of Blade and Soul is set to be strongly localized, being sensitive to the grind problem
For the tester, a word hangs over the release of the Wuxia MMO like a sword of Damocles: “grind.” Asian MMORPGs are known for pushing players into repetitive activities that may seem mindless to Westerners but are customary in Asia.
At NCSoft, they promise this won’t be the case. They have spent a lot of time on localization. In Korea, they are aware of the delicate question about grinding. In the West, they have control over the difficulty level and will ensure it is neither too high nor too low. They will use the beta phase to calibrate everything.
As Gamerrevolution reports, Blade & Soul will launch as a free-to-play MMO in the West. This was announced at a “private event” where alpha material was already shown. Polygon states that during the main story, players should reach up to level 50. It will currently take about two to three weeks to reach the maximum level.
Furthermore, there will be instances for 2, 4, or 6 players and a 24-player raid at the end. While the game will launch in the West with all comfort, it will not have every content available. Additional game content is expected to find its way into the game later, as Polygon reports.
There was some trouble regarding the Western port of Blade and Soul. The game was released in Korea in 2012, and the Western port was soon canceled. NCSoft then cut off communication, leaving players in the dark for a long time. Announcements that Blade&Soul would still be released in 2015 faced skepticism.
But now, it is clear. The increasingly loud rumor mill has been proven right. The game is coming. Whether it will be in time or too late will be shown in the future.
