Bandai Namco has announced the release date for Bless Unleashed. The new MMORPG from the Bless universe will be released as a free-to-play game exclusively for Xbox One, but with expensive founder packs.
What is Bless Unleashed? Bless Unleashed is a free-to-play MMORPG from Studio 8, the same developers who previously produced Bless Online.
The new Bless Unleashed is set in the same universe as the failed PC MMORPG. There are expected to be similarities in gameplay and story, but also significant differences.
Overall, Bless Unleashed is intended to be a standalone game. This is also emphasized by the fact that it will initially only be available on Xbox One and will be published by a new publisher. Bless Unleashed received significant praise during the open beta.
When will Bless Unleashed be released? As the publisher Bandai Namco announced on February 12, Bless Unleashed will be released on March 12, 2020.
However, anyone who purchases one of the more expensive founder packs will get access much earlier. This does not please every fan of the new game.
Up to 15 Days Headstart for $80
What versions of Bless Unleashed are there? Currently, there are three packs available for purchase on the website. They range from $20 to $80, depending on the scope of the pack.
All packs come with a few days of headstart:
- 7 days in the cheapest pack for $19.99
- 10 days in the middle pack for $39.99
- 15 days in the most expensive pack for $79.99
The Ultimate Edition for $80 also includes:
- A Gilded Enforcer costume
- A rare rhinoceros mount
- 2,000 Lumena, the real money currency
- 2 additional character slots
- The Crimson weapon set
- A legendary “Trailblaze” mount
- The “Legendary Crimson Slayer” costume
Players Find the Packs Outrageous
How do players react to the packs? Many players react negatively to the founder packs. This is mainly due to the headstart and not to the other contents.
As early as July 2019, there were initial beta tests for Bless Unleashed, and a release was still planned for 2019. This timeline has since shifted considerably. Therefore, players were hoping for a quick release.
However, now having to pay so much money to experience Bless Unleashed in February has caused great anger on Reddit:
- toekneeg: “$80 WTF. [..] We are all waiting so much for this, but if we don’t pay $80, then we have to wait another two weeks?”
- Fat-Hesus: “It’s a slap in the face, especially since the game will be free-to-play at release. If I spend $80 on a new game, it better be a game like Cyberpunk, but nothing for which I have to wait 2 weeks to get it for free.”
- Yvrpointer: “Yeah, but who is crazy enough to pay $80 for a free game? Are you kidding me? $80 is what a new AAA title costs. You can’t seriously think 15 days early access is worth $80.”
Are there positive voices? Amid all the criticism, there are also voices that claim to have purchased the Ultimate Edition.
They justify it either by the early access or the “Legendary Crimson Slayer” costume, which many find visually appealing.
There is another offshoot of the MMORPG Bless. This is Bless Eternal, a mobile game:
