XL Games, the developers of ArcheAge, are currently working on a sequel to the game. ArcheAge 2 is set to be a huge MMORPG in Unreal Engine 5. The first images have now been shown, and a release window has even been mentioned.
What kind of game is this? ArcheAge 2 is intended to be a sequel set in a parallel universe of ArcheAge. The focus will be on freedom and the sandbox concept.
During G-Star 2020, the largest Korean gaming expo, new details about the game were revealed in an interview:
- ArcheAge 2 features an open world
- There will be new playable races that were not available in its predecessor
- There will be housing, vehicles, and naval battles
- The game is expected to offer a “new approach” to trading and social elements
- The MMORPG utilizes the new Unreal Engine 5
- ArcheAge 2 is being developed as a “cross-platform” game, with a focus on PC.
- The developers themselves describe ArcheAge 2 as “the epitome of a next-gen MMORPG”
In addition to the information, the first images were shown. However, these are initial insights into the production. They have not yet been created in UE5, which should be released to developers at the earliest in early 2021.
When will ArcheAge 2 be released? XL Games has also commented on a possible release date. The MMORPG, which is being developed in collaboration with publisher Kakao Games, is expected to be released in the second half of 2022 in Korea.
When a release will occur in the West has not yet been revealed. However, XL Games is proud of how successful ArcheAge has been “overseas.” This increases the chances of a timely release here.
Developers want to learn from the mistakes of ArcheAge
What more do we know about ArcheAge 2? In September, there was an interview with Jake Song, the head of XL Games. He spoke about the differences between ArcheAge and ArcheAge 2.
The developers want to place more value on core content rather than constantly adding new features. This is said to be one of the reasons why ArcheAge was so delayed and why the successor is supposed to appear so “quickly”.
How many people are working on ArcheAge 2? Currently, between 40 and 50 developers are working on the new game. The number of employees is expected to gradually increase, as mentioned during the first presentation of the game.
Although there was no gameplay shown for ArcheAge 2 at the expo, the relatively short timeframe until its release suggests that development has been ongoing for a long time. Typically, creating a new MMORPG takes 5 years or even longer.
What do you think about ArcheAge 2? Are you interested in the new MMORPG or are you more skeptical due to your experiences with ArcheAge 1? Let us know in the comments!
In addition to ArcheAge 2, several new MMORPGs are currently in development. You can find the most promising ones here:
