ArcheAge Chronicles: Everything we know so far about the upcoming MMO

ArcheAge Chronicles is the latest title to announce its entry into the highly contested MMORPG market. Developed by XL Games, ArcheAge Chronicle will play out like an Action RPG but in a multiplayer world, and will feature almost all of the features of a standard MMO.

ArcheAge Chronicles, formerly ArcheAge 2, is the long-awaited sequel of the original ArcheAge. Also an MMORPG, ArcheAge was memorable for many players due to its various rich and interactive gameplay features like farming and animal rearing, a player-driven judicial system, dynamic quests, and trade excursions.

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What we know about ArcheAge Chronicles so far

ArcheAge Chronicles was properly unveiled during the September 2024 State of Play, with a reveal trailer showing off various aspects of the game. The game is slated for release in 2025 but without any concrete dates.

It will feature an Action RPG-esque combat system, similar to that of Black Desert Online or even Black Myth: Wukong. Alongside this tactile combat system, the game will feature raids and world bosses, designed for up to 10 players and possibly even larger teams. ArcheAge Chronicles will also have a combo system and larger groups will unleash greater synergies.

The game will feature sprawling towns for relaxation and some trade. (Image via Kakao Games)

According to the executive producer Yongjin Ham, ArcheAge Chronicles will have a life skill system similar to the original ArcheAge. Players will be able to craft their perfect homes in designated areas. Furthermore, players can come together and build towns, which is a massive social upgrade compared to the housing systems of Guild Wars 2 and The Elder Scrolls Online.

Like ArcheAge, players in this game can engage in farming, crafting, and trading. It is unclear whether the systems will remain unchanged and offer players the freedom of approach similar to the first game. However, there has been no indication of whether players can raise animals for their farming and battlemount purposes. These systems will impact the in-game economy and will likely be a part of the PvP system.

ArcheAge Chronicles will boast PvP mechanics, which the developers have ascribed to being a natural evolution of the game's combat system. There has been no indication of siege warfare or Guild-based PvP, like that in Throne and Liberty. XL Games has promised a deeper dive into the multiplayer feature in the future, which should provide more details about the PvP aspect.

This game will be familiar to returning veterans of ArcheAge, as the gamespace will primarily feature the continent of Auroria. There has been no indication of whether Auroria will feature previously explored playable spaces like Exeloch and Diamond Shores. Furthermore, it is unknown whether the continents of Haranya and Nuia will feature in any playable form.

ArcheAge Chronicles will feature a variety of biomes to explore. (Image via Kakao Games)

Regardless, the scale of locations featured in the showcase will leave players drenched in exploration for a while. The trailer showcased a character restoring an ancient mural in a lush jungle environment, indicating that players will likely embark on exploration and world quests for loot, experience, and lore.

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Information about the game so far is scarce. It is expected given the scale of the project and the developers trying to manage expectations before the game is out of the gate. It's extremely ambitious for an MMORPG to have such an active combat system and combine it successfully with social mechanics like trading and taxes.

XL Games suffered a lot of player backlash because of their monetization strategy in the past. Hence, the game will be pivotal for the studio's future and the MMORPG genre. ArcheAge Chronicles will be released for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.