The MMORPG Neverwinter will release a new update on September 15, which we at MeinMMO are excited to exclusively present to you. To do this, we spoke with Lead Designer Randy Mosiondz and developer Asterdahl. They told us more about the contents as well as the development of the game.
What’s going on with Neverwinter? Released in 2013, this free-to-play MMORPG, based on the world of Dungeons & Dragons, has been continually expanded since then. We have extensively presented how the game has developed as part of Find Your Next Game.
In 2020, the expansion “Infernal Descent” was released, paving the way for the story that continues in the current expansion Avernus and now also with the second episode of the “Redeemed Citadel”. This episode brings:
- The character Soradiel, who will send you on new hunting adventures
- New challenging quests
- New heroic encounters where you will fight against the infernal legions
- A new trial with two difficulties
- A new artifact
- New weapon sets and mount upgrades
Although Neverwinter has been around for a while and the graphics no longer look fresh, there is currently a surge in this MMORPG. Besides the regular updates, improved communication is one reason for this. This was introduced in 2019 by a former Lead Designer from Guild Wars 2.
Upswing, not just due to Corona
How is the MMORPG doing? Neverwinter continues to enjoy great popularity 7 years after its release. On Steam, the game peaked in April 2020 with an average of 2,683 players and even peaked at 4,435 players (via Steamcharts). A similarly high value was last seen in 2018.
However, these high player numbers are not just a one-time peak caused by the coronavirus, as Randy Mosiondz told us:
Many people are stuck at home, and free-to-play multiplayer games are attractive because they have a low entry barrier and provide social contact.
We continue to see an upward trend, but that started even before the outbreak of the pandemic.
The reason for this is that we are working hard to provide a game that excites our players in many ways and that we are constantly expanding with new content that they enjoy.
Randy Mosiondz in conversation with MeinMMO
To find out what players like, the Community Development Program was established at the end of 2019. Based on player feedback, decisions were made, and even course corrections were decided:
The goal of this program is to give communication between developers and our community a solid form and thereby improve it. Every year we publish a series of development roadmaps, we hold discussions with our community about our development goals, and we work with well-known content creators.
We have definitely made some changes to our course based on community feedback.
Randy Mosiondz in conversation with MeinMMO
Chris Whiteside, who worked as Lead Producer at Guild Wars 2 from 2011 to 2015, was instrumental in the establishment of the program that was launched shortly after his hiring. The program and the open communication from Whiteside were well received in the community. There are several threads on reddit that highly appreciate his work.
But not only communication receives praise. The MMORPG itself has been regularly expanded over the past years. The latest update is now on the horizon.
Updates that require the whole server to work together
How is the new update structured? The current campaigns are set up in such a way that they are only available for a limited time. The focus is on playing together with others on the respective server. They must jointly reach milestones and overcome challenges.
This time, the task is to restore the citadel by defeating enemies, completing heroic encounters, finishing quests, or participating in hunts. And this is where Soradiel comes into play.
Soradiel is the main character in the new update. She is the leader of the Celestial Septem and is dedicated to hunting the most terrible creatures in the world. Accordingly, she provides you with new hunting tasks. Goals include:
- Caphriel the Red Lady
- Reothadh the Frosty
- The Living Hellfire
These hunts are said to be more powerful and harder than the previous monsters, according to developer Asterdahl. There are also supposed to be new gear to be obtained.
A highlight of the update is also that players can be supplied directly with Blessed Blade weapons from a merchant in the Redeemed Citadel. These powerful weapons were part of the previous update and can thus be obtained retroactively.
As rewards, this update offers:
- Teleport scrolls for the Redeemed Citadel
- A new companion: Holy Zariel
- Tears of the Redeemed (reagent for restoring Blessed Weapons)
- Box with Astral Diamonds
When is the update coming out? The update will be released on September 15 for PC and will also be released for PS4 and Xbox One at a later date.
What’s next for Neverwinter? Some new content is already planned to be released throughout the year and beyond:
- A revision of the mount system that will allow players to upgrade them in multiple ways.
- There will be another event at the end of 2020.
- After that, there will also be new expansions and chapters.
Is it still worth starting?
The action MMORPG is still fun. The new campaigns continuously tell your story in the game, and you are regularly delivered new content.
The current story is even so important for the entire game universe that you should really experience it, whether you’re a Neverwinter or D&D fan. Because it impacts the entire Forgotten Realms and represents the biggest event of recent times. Baldur’s Gate 3 also plays a role here, with Neverwinter chronologically preceding it.
According to Randy Mosiondz, entry into the MMORPG should always be possible:
We revise the entry experience every few years. We add new content every year, so there is always a lot to do. And we have a fantastic community that is helpful to newcomers.
Randy Mosiondz in conversation with MeinMMO
It is no wonder that the MMORPG Neverwinter is among the 13 best free-to-play MMORPGs. You can read a comparison of these games in the list.
