For those still on the (seemingly) endless quest to find a true open-ended sandbox MMO, your wait may be nearing an end. Working As Intended has announced that Dawntide will be released on October 1, 2011.

Dawntide has come a long way since the beginning of Open Beta, and we now feel that the time is right to begin the transition from Beta into the actual launch of the game. As such, we are announcing today that the Open Beta will end and Dawntide will launch on October 1st, 2011. The game will be distributed free of charge with no up-front costs through our online download center. A free trial period of 10 days will be offered, after which we will charge a subscription fee of €8.95 per month, €23.95 for 3 months and €44.95 for 6 months, with the additional option to purchase a lifetime subscription for €84.95.

Read more on the Dawntide forum. You can also check out a brand new trailer from Dawntide by clicking the image below.

Thanks to Rohn for the tip!

Has this game improved at all from Beta back in 2008?

Tried to play it a few weeks ago.  Game is disconnected and buggy.. at best.

With so many good free to play games out currently, and GW2 hopefully in the not too distant future, I'm never going to pay a monthly subscription for a new game. I see absolutely no need. I'll keep playing the numerous game titles I currently own, and wait for Guildwars 2 with no monthly subscription. (I know I'll play GW2 for many years having played GW since Proph, therefore I'll ignore all other titles.)

There was an article the other day, (maybe on this site?) which said that perhaps F2P games are taking over. Well in my eyes they are, simply because I ignore games instantly when they have a subscription attatched to them, because the F2P market is pretty darn good too!

Personally, many new games developers in the MMO market need to really consider their strategy when it comes to going subscription or F2P based (with cash shop if needed.)

@Gamerlamer:

If GW2 satisfies you, you're obviously not part of Dawntide's intended audience anyway.

I played this game ealier this year and it was nto laggy or buggy at all

@katriell:

So someoneone can't like themepark and sandbox? GW2 looks very appealing to me, but I also would like to find a great sandbox MMO. I think one of the reasons GW2 looks appealing to me is because it seems to give the player a lot of freedom. I think it's more of a hybrid, than pure themepark or pure sandbox.

HAHAHAHAHHA, monthly fee?  You have got to be kidding me.  This game is nowhere near ready to be released, let alone charge a fee.

Game is maybe in the worst shape I have seen a game want to release besides Xsyon.  And it might be worse.

Originally posted by mad-hatter

HAHAHAHAHHA, monthly fee?  You have got to be kidding me.  This game is nowhere near ready to be released, let alone charge a fee.

This is the roadmap they are using to help define where the game should be at launch, and what will likely be worked on afterward.  They do have a long way to go.

I have played a bit of the open beta and the only reason I haven't played more is that I have problems talking with NPC's, like accessing shops and I really have no patience for such basic things not working. I haven't played in a couple of weeks so I might go back, though I have to agree Dawntide is nowhere near release standard yet, maybe in time one of these small indie developers will nail it, I don't think Dawntide is going to change that but their business plan to give the client away for 10 days trial and then you only have to subscribe is definitely a plus, good luck to them.

well I did played this game for some time in his beta and well.... not worth, sorry guys I know the idea put on the game are good but not gonna happen, too laggy, ui is too troublesome, combat is slow and too boring, too many ideas put in place but none will work the way it should.

The game isn't 'good' but it's not Dark & Light bad either. Although that's not saying much postive about it.

I got to try it myself, and as everyone else is saying it was quite buggy and had a bit of lag.. This was sometime late last year I believe, so I am not sure what has changed since then.. But if they haven't learned anything from games like Mortal Online and Earthrise, they should understand that indie games that plan on charging a sub fee had BETTER be stable enough for adequate gameplay to be able to sustain even the smallest loyal fanbase..

Even Xsyon lost quite a bit of "loyals" due to technical issues..

This isn't going to go over well. I'm thinking the sound "phut" will sum it up nicely.

I logged back in after a long hiatus several weeks ago. It wasn't that it was buggy or laggy. The world just seemed to lack energy and life. I was the only player in the starting town for a few hours and when I went out into the wilderness I found about 4 mobs. It wasn't so much the lack of other players as the lack of stuff to slay.

Although, they are constantly updating. Who knows what will happen?

Looked a bit meh !!

Showed some promise though...

As a side note, that player twatted a skelly with a blade and it went down !  A skelly cant take a slash wound and bleed out, everyone who's ever played and RPG knows that crushing damage from weaps such as maces need to be used for any effect.  In that respect the game un-realistic..

Anyway, didn't know It was open beta so am downloadig it now for the shitz n giggles..  I will post my real impressions when I get in.