For almost 7 years, Camelot Unchained has been in development and eagerly awaited by fans. In 2020, the company behind it wants to finally release a game. However, this is not the MMORPG.
What happened? The studio City State Entertainment has been working on the new MMORPG Camelot Unchained since 2013. The founder of the studio is Marc Jacobs, the creator of the legendary Dark Age of Camelot. Accordingly, there is a strong focus on PvP content.
Many players seem to like the approach of the new MMORPG. Through Kickstarter, Camelot Unchained was able to raise more than 2 million dollars. Also, money has continued to come from external backers and investors.
A major announcement from the studio was planned for January 2020, in which they wanted to showcase the content they have been working on since July 2019. This announcement took place on January 31 and contained a surprise. A game from City State Entertainment is supposed to be released in 2020, but it is not Camelot Unchained.
New PvE Coop Game Planned
What kind of game is this? In a livestream, the new game Colussus was presented. It is a multiplayer coop title, designed only for PvE players and therefore actually not aimed at the target group of Camelot Unchained.
In Colussus, the aim is to defeat huge hordes of enemies while playing as a large and powerful hero. There are supposed to be various scenarios, settings, and difficulties.
The idea arose from tests in Camelot Unchained when Jacobs sent hordes of NPCs against the players during a fortress siege and the engine held up to this challenge.
Colossus thus uses the engine developed specifically for Camelot Unchained. Therefore, different sized groups of players are supposed to be able to fight against the hordes, with up to 1,000 players at once.
Why is Colossus being developed? In an interview with MassivelyOP, Marc Jacobs revealed some background about Colossus. The new game is supposed to ensure that City State Entertainment receives further support from investors. This is apparently necessary to complete Camelot Unchained.
According to Jacobs, Colossus was developed only with his own money and that of the investors. The support from players has so far only flowed into the development of Camelot Unchained.
How is the new game financed? Colossus is supposed to be Buy2Play. Additionally, battle passes and possible expansions are planned.
What do the backers of Camelot Unchained get from it? All backers of the MMORPG will receive a free version of Colossus. Additionally, there are the following bonuses:
- All backers receive credits for Colossus adjusted to their reward tier.
- A percentage of the money from Colossus will flow into the development of Camelot Unchained.
- If Colossus is extremely successful, part of the profits will flow back to the backers, in the form of credits for additional playtime in Camelot Unchained. The MMORPG requires a monthly subscription.
- Backers can also request a refund if they are dissatisfied with the development.
Fans Show Disappointment Towards Developers
How are players reacting to the announcement? On Reddit for Camelot Unchained, there is currently no other topic than the new game Colossus. Many, however, are not pleased:
- rattlesnake107: “Use your right to a refund. Camelot Unchained will already be irrelevant by the time it is finally released and God knows how much that will still cost.”
- Sandman-Slim: “So they used all the backers’ money to create and sell an engine. They showcase the software with smaller games like Colossus. I bet a battle royale or survival game is next.
- VmanGman21: “I thought Ashes of Creation Apocalypse was a bad PR move, but this game has surpassed it.”
Only a few voices express themselves neutrally or positively. They understand that with Colossus, the investors who invested 7.5 million dollars in the developers two years ago need to be appeased.
Camelot Unchained Should Still Have a Future
What will happen to the MMORPG? In the interview, Jacobs confirms that work on Camelot Unchained continues. While Colossus has delayed some gameplay content of the MMORPG, it is also supposed to have a positive effect on development:
- The new money from investors is also supposed to be used for the MMORPG.
- Both games moved from Windows to Linux servers due to Colossus. A process that was originally planned for Camelot Unchained anyway.
- The engine was expanded with new systems, including matchmaking, improved AI for NPCs, weather systems, and adjustments to lighting and rendering.
When will Camelot Unchained finally be released? The release of Camelot Unchained has been postponed repeatedly. There is still no exact date. However, Jacobs confirms that the MMORPG is developing well.
A lot will probably depend on how well Colossus is received by the players.
What do you think of the new game and how the developer is handling the backers? Is Colossus a good idea?
