Yesterday, the beta for the new MMORPG Lost Ark started successfully. Right at the beginning of the closed beta, the Diablo MMO reached the top 10 on Steam. We at MeinMMO summarize.
What happened with Lost Ark? The Korean MMORPG is actually not set to release in our region until next year. To ensure a smooth launch, a technical closed beta started yesterday, allowing some players to play for the first time.
There is a large demand for the game, as although only pre-order customers and those who won a key are allowed to play, Lost Ark reached over 88,000 simultaneous players last night.
This led to enormous login queues at the beginning of the beta, which were intentional by the developers. They stated on Twitter that there would be targeted login queues during the first three hours to test this and ensure a good final release (via Twitter).
This earned the beta a spot in the top 10 of the most played games on Steam. It gets even more exciting when looking at the Steam sales charts.
Free2Play game as a bestseller: In addition to the high player numbers already in beta, another Steam top list stands out even more. The game, which is set to release as a Free2Play title, is still holding on to positions 6 and 7 in the sales charts after the beta launch.
These are the pre-order packages that promise certain advantages at launch and are also practical before the release, as they grant immediate access to the ongoing beta.
However, this would already be the cheapest package for €14.99. This so-called Bronze package is at position 7 on the charts, while the Platinum Edition of the packages, which costs a hefty €99.99, holds position 6.
The players love Lost Ark
How is Lost Ark received by players? In addition to its good placement in the sales charts, the ratings of the MMORPG stand out particularly.
Currently, Lost Ark is the highest-rated MMO on Steam. Out of a total of 1,064 reviews, 96% are positive, granting this not yet released MMORPG the top spot. Here you can find a list of the MMORPGs with the best ratings on Steam.
What do the players say? Currently, a thread is being hotly debated on reddit titled “Amazon should have released Lost Ark first.” Other threads discussing how much fun the game is have also received numerous upvotes.
- The user Zambash writes (via reddit): “I know that many people are having technical issues right now. But guys, this is a beta and the game is just super. I couldn’t stop playing after an hour and I am really looking forward to the final release.”
- User CoffeeLoverNathan also writes: “I have been waiting for this game for years and it is absolutely worth it. I just can’t put the game down. Everything feels so good and smooth.”
- User Pariah adds: “My only criticism is that the new prologue feels really weird. […] The gameplay is just damn cool. It feels so satisfying to beat trolls with a sword that is bigger than I am. I can’t wait for the launch!”
Lost Ark is great for Diablo fans, but not a Diablo alternative
What is Lost Ark? At its core, Lost Ark is an MMORPG and many players overlook this when they only briefly engage with the game. Due to the isometric perspective, monster hordes, and the focus on the hack&slay combat system, this is more than understandable.
But Lost Ark is not a second Diablo, it is an MMORPG, with many skills, character optimizations, role-playing and raids. Those who expect a hack&slay game here will not be satisfied in the long run.
Because the MMORPG goes deeper in many areas than a hack&slay would. Especially regarding the optimization of your character or your island. The various romances are also quite untypical for the genre.
What can you expect? The battles in Lost Ark are good, feeling powerful and fluid. What you get is, however, an MMORPG that has more to offer than just the combat system.
Lost Ark is therefore recommended for all Diablo fans who do not want to play another Diablo. As well as for MMORPG fans looking for a refreshingly new kind of MMORPG.
Have you played the beta yet? What do you think of the game so far and what are your biggest criticisms? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
Our author Mark Sellner was able to play the game before the beta and tells you why the game does many things right, but also one thing wrong:
Today marks the start of the new MMORPG Lost Ark – We have already played it for 12 hours
