ArcheAge (original)

ArcheAge was a sandbox MMORPG developed by XL Games using CryENGINE 3. Often described as a "sandpark" for blending sandbox freedom with themepark quest structure, it launched in South Korea on January 15, 2013 and reached North America and Europe on September 16, 2014 through publisher Trion Worlds. The game ran for over a decade before its final Korean servers closed on March 6, 2025.

Development

Development began at XL Games in 2006 under Jake Song, who had previously created Lineage at NCSoft. The game went through five closed betas and one open beta before its Korean release. Song wanted to build an MMO where players could shape the world through their own choices, and ArcheAge's interlocking systems of land, trade, crime, and naval warfare were designed to make that possible.

The soundtrack was composed by DaMeAte, a Korean music director whose score garnered several awards. The music blended orchestral arrangements with ambient soundscapes suited to the game's varied biomes.

Regional publishers

The game reached 2 million registered players within three months of its Western launch in October 2014. Steam concurrent player peaks reached approximately 6,500-7,200 during the most active periods. Mail.ru's Russian operation was particularly lucrative, generating over 15 billion KRW (roughly $14 million) in cumulative royalties for XL Games by October 2014.

Gameplay

ArcheAge distinguished itself through systems rare in MMOs at the time. The class system let players combine any three of twelve skillsets to create 220 possible classes. Open-world housing placed player-built homes and farms directly in the game world rather than in instances. Trade runs created a player-driven economy where transporting goods across dangerous ocean routes was both profitable and risky.

Naval combat let guilds wage war with galleons and clippers. Siege warfare on Auroria gave organized groups political control over entire territories. The crime and justice system put accused criminals before a jury of five real players. Players could even defect to become pirates.

Major expansions

The game received eight major content updates over its lifespan (dates are for the Western/NA-EU release):

1. Conquest of Auroria (November 4, 2014) - Opened the Auroria continent with castle siege warfare and guild territory control.

2. Heroes Awaken (September 12, 2015) - Version 2.0. Added the political system, upgraded crafting houses, guild expeditions, and guild wars.

3. Revelation (December 10, 2016) - Version 3.0. Added two new playable races (Dwarves and Warborn), Magithopters, Abyssal Skill system, and new zones Airain Rock and Sunbite Wilds.

4. Legends Return (2017) - Added the Swiftblade skillset (10th base skillset) with fast dual-wield melee combat.

5. Relics of Hiram (November 2018) - Version 5.0. Added the Malediction skillset (11th skillset with 45 new class combos), Western Hiram Mountains zone, and the Hiram gear system.

6. Shadows Revealed / Unchained (October 15, 2019) - Launched the buy-to-play ArcheAge: Unchained version alongside the free-to-play update.

7. Garden of the Gods (June 2020) - Version 7.0. Added new content and systems.

8. Spelldance (late era) - Version 8.0. Added the Spelldance skillset based on Naima's graceful combat dancing style.

Closure timeline

The closure coincided with development of ArcheAge Chronicles, its successor built on Unreal Engine 5.