You could play the MMORPG ArcheAge either as a Buy2Play version (ArcheAge Unchained) or the Free2Play version with a much more aggressive in-game shop. One of the two versions has now won.
The MMORPG ArcheAge has a moving past, at least in terms of monetization.
- First, there was only ArcheAge – a Free2Play MMORPG with a lot of Pay2Win elements.
- Then, they developed ArcheAge Unchained for Western players and relied on Buy2Play – buy once and play forever, the Pay2Win shop was toned down.
- Then, ArcheAge Unchained switched to a subscription model at the end of 2021, fans were understandably angry.
Subscription, Free2Play, Buy2Play – ArcheAge has been through it all. Now it is clear: ArcheAge Unchained was not successful enough and is disappearing completely. The European and American servers of ArcheAge and ArcheAge Unchained will be merged, subscribers will be compensated in-game.
You can find the details about the “Server Merge” here on MeinMMO. If you are not familiar with the game, take a look at the trailer:
In a blog post, the responsible parties explain how the server merging will take place (via archeageuc.playkakaogames.com). “Unchained” will be completely removed: “Due to the current server population, we unfortunately cannot continue to operate ArcheAge: Unchained alone.”
The Pay2Win version of ArcheAge has thus won the battle of versions. Out of a total of 12 servers in the EU and NA, only 2 servers will remain:
The transition is scheduled for November 30, with more information about the server merge coming on September 7. Colleague Alexander Leitsch explains in the meantime what is going wrong with ArcheAge.
Remaining subscription durations in Unchained will be partially converted into “Patron”. Also a subscription, but with advantages in-game over other players, such as shorter queue times when logging in and bonuses on labor points.
If you are affected by the merging, you should take a close look at the details. Only items in the bag, warehouse, and storage will be transferred, but dropped items in the house or on the farm/garden will disappear.
You can view the complete details in the spoiler box in English:
2. Account Info
- Patron
- The remaining time for Patron players will be retained upon merge.
- Subscription
- The remaining subscription time for ArcheAge: Unchained will be transferred to Patron time after the merge.
- The remaining subscription time will be transferred to Patron time at a 1:1 ratio.
- Depending on the amount of the remaining subscription time, you will receive bonus time that equals 20–30% of this time as Patron time.
- If your remaining subscription time is 180 days or more on November 30 (Thurs), at 09:00 UTC, you will receive bonus time that equals 30% of this time as Patron time.
- If your remaining subscription time is less than 180 days on November 30 (Thurs), at 09:00 UTC, you will receive bonus time that equals 20% of this time as Patron time.
- Credits
- The remaining credits in your ArcheAge and ArcheAge: Unchained accounts will be added up upon merge.
- Credits won’t be added up per region.
- Account Buffs
- The remaining duration of the buffs bound to your ArcheAge and ArcheAge: Unchained accounts (e.g. ArcheBlessing) will be added up upon merge.
- Login Records
- If you have login records for both ArcheAge and ArcheAge: Unchained, the one with more logins will be counted for merge.
- Loyalty Token
- The Loyalty Tokens in your ArcheAge and ArcheAge: Unchained accounts will be added up upon merge.
- Farmhand
- When there are different Farmhands in your ArcheAge and ArcheAge: Unchained accounts, only one of them will be retained and the determining factors will be as follows:
- No. 1 factor: Farmhand’s XP
- No. 2 factor: Farmhand’s registration date
- The below Farmhand data will be retained upon merge:
- XP
- Proficiency (stats, points)
- Proficiency Reset Count
- Last Proficiency Reset Date
- Free Vigor Transfers
- Transferred Vigor Points
- Last Weekly Reset Date
- Expanded Production Slots
- Expanded Trade Slots
- The below Farmhand data will be lost upon merge:
- Current Labor
- The Farmhand’s Labor cannot be merged. Please make sure to use it before the merge.
- Bound Housing
- Ownership
- Remaining Vigor Points
- Items in possession
- Active Productions
- Active Trades
- Current Labor
- When there are different Farmhands in your ArcheAge and ArcheAge: Unchained accounts, only one of them will be retained and the determining factors will be as follows:
3. Character Info
- Bag
- All items in your bag will be retained upon merge.
- The sorting data and the UI data from the Category tab will be lost upon merge.
- Only items in your Bag/Warehouse/Storage will be merged. Those you have dropped in your house or farm/garden will disappear if you don’t collect them and cannot be restored.
- Mail
- Mailbox and Storage data will be retained upon merge.
- Deleted mails will be lost upon merge.
- Friend
- The data from Community > Friend > List, Block tabs will be retained upon merge.
- The data from Community > Friend > Request tab will be lost upon merge.
- Teleport Scrolls
- The data from Teleport Scrolls’ Default Site, Favorites, and Dungeon tabs will be retained upon merge.
- The data from Teleport Scrolls’ Recorded Site tab will be lost upon merge.
- ArchePass
- The progress of your ArchePasses and all their data will be retained upon merge.
- ArcheAge: Unchained ArchePasses cannot be used upon merge.
- We will help you complete your active ArchePasses before the merge through an event. Details about the event will be announced through a separate notice.
- Dungeon
- The below dungeon-related data will be lost upon merge:
- Recent Entries
- Daily Entries
- Entry Reset Count
- Open Dungeons
- The below dungeon-related data will be lost upon merge:
- Reputation
- The below Reputation-related data will be lost upon merge:
- Voting History
- Reputation
- Daily Likes/Dislikes Received
- The below Reputation-related data will be lost upon merge:
- UI
- UI location and size data will be lost upon merge.
- Reopen Box
- Reopen Boxes that are opened before the merge will be lost upon merge.
4. Community
- Family
- The below Family-related data will be retained upon merge:
- Name
- Name Change Date
- Level
- XP
- Capacity Increase
- Alert
- Role
- Name of the Role
- Role Change Date
- Join Date
- Family Quest
- The below Family-related data will be retained upon merge:
- Guild
- The below Guild-related data will be retained upon merge:
- Level
- XP
- Individual Guild Mission
- Group Guild Mission
- Prestige
- Protection Period
- Role/Permission
- Automatic Guild Leader Resign
- New Guild Buff
- Guild Shop History
- Guild Portal Base
- Guild Residence
- Guild Buff
- Guild Management History
- Guild Dungeon Participation History (last 50 per season)
- Guild Dungeon Participant Info
- Guild Arena Record
- The below Guild-related data will be lost upon merge:
- Alert
- Applicant
- Recruiting Notice
- Dominion History
- Dominion Fee
- Daily XP Gained
- Interests
- Combat History
- Guild Residence
- Prestige used on a Guild Residence will be automatically returned upon merge.
- The below Guild-related data will be retained upon merge:
- Faction
- The below Faction-related data will be lost upon merge:
- Exile Restrictions
- Siege Activity Points
- Faction Competition Points
- Faction Competition Points per region
- Quest Points
- Exile Points
- Raid Points per monster
- Alliance
- Faction Statue
- Red Dragon
- Red Dragon raising restrictions will be applied before the merge.
- Players who are raising a Dragon mount will be compensated depending on its rank.
- The below Faction-related data will be lost upon merge:
5. System
- Housing
- Housing
- Installed houses will be redistributed as Full Kits upon merge.
- Furniture
- Any furniture installed in a private house will be sent to the owner via mail.
- Expanded Decor Limit
- Expanded Decor Limit data will be lost upon merge.
- Rewards for any used Decor Limit Increases will be distributed.
- UCC
- Custom Image Design data will be lost upon merge.
- Custom Image-related rewards will be distributed after the merge.
- Plant
- Any growing plants (including paid plant products) will be lost upon merge.
- Disclaimer
- Only items in your Bag/Warehouse/Storage will be merged. Those you have dropped in your house or farm/garden will disappear if you don’t collect them and cannot be restored.
- Housing
- Community Contribution
- The below Community Contribution content data will be lost upon merge:
- Development Level
- Resident Info
- Prestige
- Housing Sales
- Housing Region Fee
- The below Community Contribution content data will be lost upon merge:
- Auction House
- The below Auction House data will be lost upon merge:
- Listings
- Bids
- Special Bids
- The use of Auction House will be restricted for 50 hours before the merge.
- The below Auction House data will be lost upon merge:
- Crafting Requests
- The below Crafting Request-related data will be retained upon merge:
- Crafting Requests
- Listed Requests
- The below Crafting Request-related data will be retained upon merge:
- Rankings
- All ranking data will be retained upon merge.
To streamline our discussions around the upcoming merge, we’ve initiated a designated discussion channel in our Discord Forums. We invite you to join the dialogue, share your insights, and help us tailor the best experience possible.
We will share the details about the merge schedule and additional merge specs on September 7 (Thurs) again.
Although the recent past of ArcheAge has been very turbulent, the franchise is definitely moving forward. ArcheAge War, a mobile offshoot, is likely bringing in a lot of money, and ArcheAge 2 could be released in 2024.
However, an ArcheAge without Pay2Win seems to have a hard time. Some fans have even opened their own private server and wanted to take different paths in monetization to create the game they envisioned.
But even that went wrong: Players build private servers for an MMORPG, want to do everything better – but make many mistakes
