World of Warcraft, Guild Wars 2 or Destiny – everyone knows about these MMOs and what is currently happening in them. However, somewhat off the beaten track, there are also role-playing games that hardly anyone has on their radar – like Eternal Crusade, an upcoming game from Games Workshop.
Eternal…what?
If the name Games Workshop triggers any role-playing instincts, one is not entirely wrong. The game manufacturer owns the Warhammer license and produced one of the many supposed WoW killers with Warhammer: Age of Reckoning back in the day. And as it usually is with WoW killers, they throw their subscription model overboard and go Free-to-Play, as seen with Aion, or go bankrupt and are shut down, as was the case with Warhammer: Age of Reckoning. It seems the general consensus at Games Workshop was that the Warhammer license must be worth something in the MMO market, as the development of Eternal Crusade began.
Shooter with MMO elements
The story of Eternal Crusade is thus drawn from the Warhammer universe. Among others, Graham McNeill was brought on as a writer. So the story seems to be in good hands. However, looking at the first gameplay footage raises the question of what exactly Eternal Crusade actually is: an EVE Online/Dust 514 clone, a turn-based Destiny, or a less fun version of Wildstar with housing elements? According to Games Workshop, Eternal Crusade is a “Massive Combat RPG”. Players choose a faction and then wage war on the battlefield to gain influence. Planetside greets.
Free-to-Waagh
Players can also prove themselves in PvE. Here, the unique lore of Warhammer 40k will likely take center stage. With Nathan Richardsson, Games Workshop has also hired an experienced man regarding the connection between PvP and PvE. Richardsson was long a Senior Producer at CCP and thus responsible for EVE Online and the cooperative shooter Dust 514. Unlike EVE, Eternal Crusade will be Free-to-Play – sorry – Free-to-Waagh. It’s a mix of buy and Free-to-Play-trial-something elements, under the code name Free-to-Waagh. It will be interesting to see what happens.
When exactly Warhammer 40k: Eternal Crusade (official website) will be released is still up in the air. However, according to Games Workshop, founders will be able to take a look at the new Warhammer game as early as Fall 2015.
