With Legends of Aria the developer Citadel Studios aimed to create a kind of successor to Ultima Online. There were many parallels. However, the MMORPG flopped on Steam. In the meantime, the company was sold and the new owner is planning an unusual comeback. A new Legends of Aria is set to be released in 2022 – with fresh content and Play2Earn.
What kind of game is this?
- Legends of Aria is a sandbox MMORPG that we have been reporting on here at MeinMMO since 2015. It originally raised over $100,000 on Kickstarter as “Shards Online” and attracted mainly old-school players.
- The developers promised them a feeling similar to what Ultima Online conveyed. Therefore, there should be no levels, and characters would instead improve through skills. There were also many similar features, including housing and the isometric perspective.
- However, the MMORPG did not receive much attention. At launch in August 2019, 1,150 people played Legends of Aria simultaneously – the current record (via SteamCharts).
- A switch to Free2Play in 2020 also did not bring about a turnaround. Since September 2021, the number of simultaneous players has consistently been in the double digits. On average, less than 20 players are online. The last major update occurred in the summer of 2020.
In December 2021, the company Blue Money Games bought the entire studio, including Legends of Aria and the engine. This studio now wants to help the game shine again with a new version.
You can get a first glimpse of the game in this video from YouTuber Fischturd:
New content and cryptocurrency are set to save Legends of Aria
What is happening with Legends of Aria? The revised version of the MMORPG will feature cryptocurrency, as well as some new features. A statement on the website reads:
We will relaunch the game with a focus on implementing the founding version of Legends of Aria, which will be realized with new content, a new playable world, and new sandbox content such as boats, player housing, improved PvP systems, prison systems, and more.
Via Legends of Aria
Among the new features is a third-person view. Players will be able to choose whether to play in the old isometric perspective or the new view.
This new version is set to launch its Closed Alpha on May 11. Anyone who has a optional subscription for Legends of Aria can participate. An open beta is scheduled for June/July.
What does the cryptocurrency entail? It will also be a part of Legends of Aria. New players starting with the MMORPG should be able to earn money right away. This will be possible through collecting, hatching pets, general trading, and loot.
You will be able to buy and sell items, but also complete characters, through an NFT shop. Additionally, ARIA tokens should be able to be earned in the game. According to the roadmap, the NFT marketplace is set to go live in August.
When will the new version be released? The official release is set for October. Until then, new content related to NFTs and a creator program will be implemented, as the roadmap reveals. However, the new version will always require a subscription.
For November 2022, an in-game poker game and a pet system are planned, while in Q1 2023, a revamp of the housing system and a new map will be introduced. Other revisions, such as a new PvP mode, will arrive only in the new year.
Additionally, a VR version of the game is planned for Q3 2023.
The old version will be called Legends of Aria Classic
What if I don’t want NFTs? The developers have also thought about that. The existing Legends of Aria will be referred to as “Classic” and will be released in a new client. In this version, players can continue to run their community servers, but they will also not receive any major content updates anymore.
What do you think of the changes to Legends of Aria? Are the new features and Play2Earn enticing for you, or will you ignore the new version of the MMORPG?
I myself predicted the death of Legends of Aria in a column in early 2021. However, I retracted that statement in 2022 due to the acquisition by Blue Money Games. However, there are still 6 other games that I believe will die this year:
