We had the opportunity to talk with the developer Neowiz about the MMORPG Bless Online and also about the release of the new update Ruins of Shaqqara. The Bless developers say that Bless has been doing better since the MMORPG became free-to-play. Here are the plans for the future.
The studio team answered our questions together. The focus was mainly on the new update, but also on how Bless is to be further improved.
Bless is to be continuously improved
Mein-MMO: What measures do you want to take to keep the number of players in Bless Online stable, even after the release of the F2P version?
Neowiz: Since the transition to Free2Play, the servers are full of life. To maintain this status, we are preparing improvements and content updates.
We are working on both large and small updates, including of course the update from November 7. Later, we will add “Rift of Space and Time” Stage 3, which will be released on Steam for the first time.
Mein-MMO: Even after the release of Bless, people are complaining about performance issues. Is there still room for improvement, or have the capabilities of the game engine been exhausted?
Neowiz: We take optimization and stability issues very seriously. That is why we are constantly working on improvements.
The passion project attracts many new players
Mein-MMO: Bless has cost about 61 million dollars. You have already stated that Bless is a passion project. However, Neowiz also needs to make money. Is Bless profitable?
Neowiz: Thank you for reminding us that Bless is a passion project. To continue our passion, I think we ultimately have to maintain a certain level of service and development.
To generate stable revenues, we plan to release various attractive sales products that can be purchased by our players. However, there will be no pay-to-win items.
Mein-MMO: Did the F2P release bring in more new players or did more former players return to Bless?
Neowiz: Since the switch to Free2Play, many users have joined Bless Online and revitalized the atmosphere. We consider it important to maintain this interest, and we are grateful for it.
New content and improvements are balanced
Mein-MMO: Are there plans on when the remaining two classes, Mystic and Wizard, will make their way to Bless?
Neowiz: Regarding the Mystic, we will announce more detailed plans for the release later. We want to ensure that it has been sufficiently redesigned to fit into the combat system we introduced with the Steam release in Bless.
Mein-MMO: What content can fans expect from the new update?
Neowiz: In the level-50 update, which will be released today, November 7, players can explore new areas and experience additional quests. They will fight new monsters and discover hidden stories.
This includes new quests in the main story, improved royal quests, and a new dungeon, the Zeeto Laboratory.
Mein-MMO: How will the balance between adding new content and fixing/improving things in Bless be handled in the upcoming updates?
Neowiz: The new update will bring more content such as raising the level cap to 50 and a new dungeon, along with substantial and minor improvements to the current content.
These include the Royal Quests, the guild system, dungeon points, balance adjustments of rewards from the Siege of Castra, and the enhancement system. This update and future updates will contain both new content as well as improvements to existing content.
There are even more plans for Bless updates
Mein-MMO: What new adventures, enemies, and items can players expect in the new adventure zone?
Neowiz: Players will have access to a new dungeon called “Zeeto’s Laboratory,” where they can acquire new heroic gear. Players will also encounter mechanical monsters and basilisks, as well as embark on quests to seek help for their factions.
But there’s even more in the level-50 expansion. There are a lot of new features in this update, and players must explore everything themselves!
Mein-MMO: How often do you want to release new content for Bless?
Neowiz: Since the official release, we have been addressing player trends and planning updates accordingly, creating detailed plans.
After the update on November 7, we plan to add a new dungeon and a new stage for “Rift of Space and Time” before the end of the year.
The new Phase 3 for “Rift of Space and Time” will be released on Steam for the first time, as it has never been published before. Not even in Korea, Japan, or Russia.
Mein-MMO: Thank you for the interview!
Do you play Bless? Then there’s something to win here!
