ArcheAge: Unchained

ArcheAge: Unchained was a buy-to-play re-release of ArcheAge that launched on October 15, 2019. Published by Gamigo, it was designed to address years of player complaints about the original game's aggressive free-to-play monetization. Players paid a one-time fee for access and received a version with no pay-to-win cash shop items.

Concept and launch

Announced in August 2019, Unchained ran the same game content and received the same updates as the free-to-play version. The cash shop was restricted to cosmetics. Three purchase tiers were available at launch. The idea drew significant interest from both returning veterans and new players who had avoided the free-to-play version.

ArchePass problems

The ArchePass progression system shipped with substantial bugs and exploits. Gamigo disabled it twice after players found ways to gain unintended rewards, undermining the economy on fresh servers.

Broken promises

In May 2020, Gamigo announced paid DLC for Unchained, breaking the original commitment to avoid paid advantages. XL Games and Gamigo argued the paid content would "make up for deficiencies" in Unchained's launch, but the move eroded player trust.

When Kakao Games took over Western publishing in December 2021, they converted Unchained to a $9.99/month subscription. Players who had already purchased the game found themselves paying again just to keep playing, a decision that drove away much of the remaining population.

Merger and end

In December 2023, ArcheAge and Unchained were merged into a single service. All Unchained characters and items transferred to the base game. Unchained ceased to exist as a separate product. The combined game continued for another six months before Kakao announced the NA/EU shutdown in April 2024.

The Unchained experiment's failure is one reason ArcheAge Chronicles adopted a buy-to-play model with explicit commitments against pay-to-win mechanics from the start of its marketing.