In a video update from the developers of ArcheAge Chronicles, you can learn more about the vision behind the ambitious successor to the popular sandbox MMORPG from 2013. One detail particularly delights fans.
What is that detail? During the official presentation of ArcheAge Chronicles in September 2024, there was a feeling that the decision-makers wanted to avoid the term MMORPG as much as possible – similar to what can be observed with New World Aeternum – but the developers repeatedly spoke in a new video about creating an open-world MMORPG.
At the same time, they reiterated that they want to expand many of the MMO elements known from ArcheAge with new PvE challenges and a significantly greater focus on the (story) adventure of the individual, to appeal to a significantly larger target audience.
Here you can watch the video update on ArcheAge Chronicles:
Anticipation Grows
What else does the video reveal? Here are some further insights from the nearly five minutes:
- The developers place a very high focus on making the action combat system feel direct, effective, and good on all platforms despite the MMO framework. They want to compete with the best action combat systems from single-player games.
- Achieving this is very challenging. There have reportedly been long discussions within the team about the areas of “hit zones” and “AI of NPCs” to reach a quality that is not typically achievable in an MMORPG.
- The developers chose against the title ArcheAge 2 to emphasize that this is not just a successor building on the first ArcheAge and providing a comparable player experience. With Chronicles, they want to create an MMORPG for PC and consoles that speaks to the current generation of players, and therefore it will feel much more like a theme park with cooperative content and a story campaign.
- The open game world is intended to create incentives for joint exploration and cooperation.
- Elements known from ArcheAge such as PvP, trading, housing, and farming are to be improved in Chronicles and be more enjoyable.
How does the community react to the video? Many commentators rate what is shown positively.
- Monnolith_1 writes on YouTube: “I can’t wait, I played ArcheAge until the last second. I’m so happy to see this.”
- jayshockin2305 is excited (via YouTube): “My anticipation is growing. Thank you for sharing even more.”
- VastoBoi wishes for something (via YouTube): “Please don’t make the same mistakes and offer either a subscription, skins, or pretty much any other non-pay-to-win model for the Western market.”
- The Aerial explains on Reddit: “The term MMORPG is repeatedly emphasized and embraced in the video. It’s great to see, and I’m glad they’re putting more effort into this aspect. […] I must say, if this game looks even remotely like it does in these clips, it will be the best-looking MMO I have ever seen.”
What else is known about ArcheAge Chronicles? The MMORPG from Kakao Games and XLGAMES is set to be released sometime in 2025 for PC (Steam and Epic Games), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series, and due to its ambitions (alongside Chrono Odyssey), it is expected to be among the most exciting genre new releases of the coming year.
At the end of 2023, the developers stated that, in addition to the aforementioned content, there will also be battles for caravans and guild battles for fortresses. More about this can be found here: The new MMORPG ArcheAge 2 aims to please Western players better, eliminating PvP content
