The creators of Lost Ark have introduced their new MMORPG Eclipse: The Awakening, which is set to launch in the West as early as 2027.
What kind of MMORPG is this? Eclipse: The Awakening is a new, ambitious MMORPG from South Korea. It is being developed by NPixel, known for Gran Saga, but published by Smilegate, the company behind Lost Ark. The first trailer immediately brings thoughts of a true Lost Ark successor.
The isometric perspective and the fast, dynamic combat system strongly resemble Lost Ark, while the dark, grounded visuals are more akin to Diablo 4. Gritty, realistic character designs meet hectic battles with vibrant, colorful effects that continually break through the dark atmosphere.
Eclipse: The Awakening is set to be released not only on PC but also for mobile devices on Android and iOS.
Here you can watch the trailer for the game:
A new MMORPG for the West
When is the game coming out? In South Korea, the pre-registration for Eclipse: The Awakening has just begun, and the launch there is expected to follow within the next two months. The release for the West has also been officially confirmed, aiming for the first half of 2027.
This suggests that Eclipse will follow a well-known principle of many Korean MMORPGs. First, the title launches in Korea, where the developers refine it based on player feedback and enrich it with additional content before the improved version reaches the often more critical player base in the West.
Is this an MMORPG Lite? How significant the massively-multiplayer aspect is won’t be fully known until later. However, the previous trailer shows large raids with around 10 players simultaneously, which leans more towards a classic MMORPG than a purely solo-lite experience.
The currently known four classes also suggest this direction. Fighter, Ranger, Sorceress, and Assassin each come with two different weapon types, and at least one specialization clearly leans towards Tank while another clearly leans towards Healer.
The Fighter can thus hold the front line and control the flow of battle with a one-handed sword and shield, while the Sorceress heals allies and boosts their morale with an orb. This strongly resembles the classic Holy Trinity division of Tank, Healer, and DPS that is familiar from many established MMORPGs.
Do you think Smilegate can score another hit with Eclipse: The Awakening like they did with Lost Ark, or has the spiritual predecessor burned too many bridges with its high time commitment? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments! Recently, there have also been problems with Lost Ark: Amazon advises gamers not to log into the MMORPG Lost Ark – A problem wipes entire accounts
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