A few hours ago, ArcheAge Chronicles developer XLGames released a new developer diary for the upcoming MMORPG via IGN’s YouTube channel. In the video interview, various development team members discussed the game’s features and content.
One of the main changes of this game (formerly known as ArcheAge 2) is the switch towards PvE rather than PvP (although the latter mode is still present in the game). This was consciously done in an attempt to reach a wider audience.
Executive Producer Yongjin Ham: ArcheAge Chronicles isn’t just a sequel to ArcheAge. Recreating ArcheAge to resonate with contemporary audiences was crucial. We aimed to infuse the game with new elements suitable for a new era, and we needed a title that reflected this shift. The name ‘Chronicles’ emerged, and we felt it aligned perfectly with the game’s direction.
People often expect large-scale battles and competitions from an MMORPG, which are indeed important. However, we also believe cooperative content and adventure stories, where players become the protagonists, could attract a broader audience. We hope for ArcheAge Chronicles to reach a wider audience than its predecessor. By making the game available on both PC and consoles, we aim to ensure that a greater number of players can enjoy the experience.
Creative Director Jaehwang Lee: We are prioritizing the PvE aspects of ArcheAge Chronicles, as we believe that engaging with a variety of monsters enhances the game’s appeal. But this doesn’t mean the game won’t have PvP. Rather, we believe if the monsters and combat mechanics are interesting, the PvP experiences will naturally be enjoyable as well.
On the subject of combat, XLGames is striving to make it as engaging as that of any single player action game, although that has been a challenge due to the MMO nature of ArcheAge Chronicles.
Executive Producer Yongjin Ham: Building action combat on an MMO server comes with its challenges, like network issues. If we solve these, we might really create something incredible. We aim for the action combat to rival that of a single player game.
Technical Director Yongmin Kim: Typically, combat in an MMORPG isn’t as detailed as in a single player game. We’ve had extensive discussions about hitbox and NPC AI designs to compensate for those shortcomings.
ArcheAge Chronicles, which is being developed with Unreal Engine 5, will be released at some point next year for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X.
