Albion Online Articles

Latest

Merlyn Update Arrives - Let the Battle Begin!
Sponsored

With the arrival of the Merlyn update to Albion Online, players can now ride out on the warpath. The new Faction Warfare system should bring some new experiences to players, as rival groups vie for control of the game world. But that's not all that Merlyn brings. Keep reading!
Posted on 08/01/2018 by Suzie Ford

Recent
Editorials
Previews
Interviews
Developer Journals
Awards
Columns

Steam Launch Day Arrives with Discounts & Goodies (Sponsored)

If it's May 16th, you know what that means: Albion Online has now officially launched on Steam! If that's not enough, Sandbox Interactive has a nice gift for ALL players as well as a sweet deal for anyone who's looking to buy in.
Posted on 05/16/2018 by Guest Writer
Albion Online is Coming to Steam on May 16th! (Sponsored)

The official Steam launch announcement has arrived from Sandbox Interactive: Albion Online will be released on Steam on May 16th. It will include new achievements that will also be available for those who use the "native" Albion Online client.
Posted on 05/08/2018 by Guest Writer
Lancelot Update is Released! (Sponsored)

Lancelot, the third major post-launch content update for Albion Online, is now live! But what’s new?
Posted on 03/12/2018 by Guest Writer
The MMOs That Had It Worst in 2017

The MMO genre is filled with bad games, mediocre games, and games we’re all surprised manage to keep on running. This list is not for them, because well... we’d be here all day. Instead, we’re listing out five MMOs that had a really bad or disappointing year. Some were closed, some failed to live up to hype, and others just kind of lingered on like a shambling corpse waiting for judgment day. Here then are our MMOs that had it worst in 2017.
Posted on 12/29/2017 by William Murphy
One Week Review in Progress

It’s been one week since Albion Online launched, and how’s it doing so far? Pretty smoothly… no really there’s been very few issues. This is our Review in Progress of Sandbox’s new MMORPG.
Posted on 07/26/2017 by Robin Baird
Launch Day & Beyond - Our Exclusive Interview with Stefan Wiezorek

Albion Online's release has been a long time coming. Beta seemed to go on forever as Sandbox Interactive refined and retooled the game based on its founders' feedback. Now, launch is upon us. Today, we talk to the team and find out what the future holds.
Posted on 07/17/2017 by Suzie Ford
Testing After Galahad

I recently spent some time in Albion Online. Was it enough to feel out all the changes? LOL no, not even close. It did give me a preview of a few things. As with many big tests in a game that is still in beta I was greeted with starting over once again, then a black screen, then a few minutes of play followed by a server restart! I chuckled about the ordeal because this is Beta and shortly after a massive patch.
Posted on 03/17/2017 by Tim Eisen
Ganked by Galahad

Join Tim Eisenzimmer as he finally gets to talk about a game that is near launch…or does he?!?! Dun Dun Dunnnnnn
Posted on 03/03/2017 by Tim Eisen
Player's Choice Awards - Most Wanted MMO of 2017

A New Year brings new hope and new hype. And that means it's time to set our sights on the games of 2017 and for us to ask you all to vote for your most wanted MMO of the next 12 months.
Posted on 01/04/2017 by William Murphy

Editorials

MMO Wearables: You Are What you Wear

This week I've stolen my editorial title from Albion Online's new promo trailer, “You Are What You Wear.” Though in real life, that expression might be only superficially true, in an MMO it's quite literally the case. Fantasy MMO Albion Online hopes to spin that idea in a new direction making it possible for players to wear anything they want. Considering this could result in a game full of players dressed like thrift store refugees, is that such a good idea?
Posted on 03/15/2014 by Neilie Johnson

Previews

Lancelot Update is Released! (Sponsored)

Lancelot, the third major post-launch content update for Albion Online, is now live! But what’s new?
Posted on 03/12/2018 by Guest Writer
A Modern Blast From the Past

I don't remember much about the Albion Online booths exterior. I can't. It's all drowned out in a shared memory with the team from Sandbox Interactive GmbH. Someone is playing a trailer of some description. We're trying to talk about a medieval sandbox MMO. All we can hear is someone insisting voiciferously that we should "Come to mama!"
Posted on 08/18/2015 by Jonathan Doyle
We Came. We Claimed. We Conquered

We came. We claimed. We conquered. Albion Online is a Free-to-Play game in its alpha-testing stage which offers a cross-platform sandbox MMO on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. Think of it as a living world with no NPC vendors, no questlines and no NPCs to report to. Instead you, your guild and your friends decide who owns what: it is an entirely player-driven economy with full-loot hardcore PvP.
Posted on 02/09/2015 by Alexander Brown
Will You Ragequit or Persevere?

Get used to these three words. Indie Sandbox MMO. They're pretty much all the rage right now. Just off the top of my head, I can think of about ten of these games coming out. One of the bunch is a game being funded through Kickstarter, Albion Online. This game is, of course, a sandbox MMO brought to you by the fine folks from Sandbox Interactive. From the top-down prespective to the player-run cities, Albion Online screams how much it wants to emulate the beloved, old-school MMO.
Posted on 09/25/2014 by Hive Leader
Up Close & Personal with the Game

In June I had the pleasure of visiting the Sandbox Interactive games studio for an up-close and personal introduction to the forthcoming Albion Online, a sandbox MMO, due out in the last quarter of this year.
Posted on 06/13/2014 by Alexander Brown
Hands On the Alpha

Last week while many gamers were celebrating the release of Diablo III: Reaper of Souls another lesser known MMORPG was opening its doors for an alpha test. Sandbox Interactive, a developer based out of Berlin,Germany, allowed players trickle into their freshman effort, Albion Online. We got our hands on the game, and have our own first impressions to report.
Posted on 04/03/2014 by Robert Lashley

Interviews

Launch Day & Beyond - Our Exclusive Interview with Stefan Wiezorek

Albion Online's release has been a long time coming. Beta seemed to go on forever as Sandbox Interactive refined and retooled the game based on its founders' feedback. Now, launch is upon us. Today, we talk to the team and find out what the future holds.
Posted on 07/17/2017 by Suzie Ford
From F2P to B2P, Plans for Launch & Beyond

Recently, Albion Online announced that they’d be dropping the F2P (free to play) payment model in favor of the buy to play (B2P) model used by games like Elder Scrolls Online and Black Desert Online. We sat down with Game Director Robin Henkys to discuss this change, and more about the ongoing plans for launch and beyond.
Posted on 01/29/2016 by Garrett Fuller
On Beta, PVE, and What Makes Albion Unique

Now in closed beta after months of alpha testing and gathering feedback, we caught up with Sandbox Interactive to chat about what they've learned, where the game goes from here, and how they're working to make Albion the best sandbox MMO it can be.
Posted on 11/25/2015 by William Murphy
A True Cross-Platform Sandbox MMO

Albion Online has been flying under the radar but Stefan Wiezorek is ready to reveal more about this cross-platform sandbox MMO. We scored an exclusive interview to introduce our readers to Albion Online. Check it out and then discuss it in the forums.
Posted on 08/12/2013 by William Murphy

Developer Journals

Steam Launch Day Arrives with Discounts & Goodies (Sponsored)

If it's May 16th, you know what that means: Albion Online has now officially launched on Steam! If that's not enough, Sandbox Interactive has a nice gift for ALL players as well as a sweet deal for anyone who's looking to buy in.
Posted on 05/16/2018 by Guest Writer
Albion Online is Coming to Steam on May 16th! (Sponsored)

The official Steam launch announcement has arrived from Sandbox Interactive: Albion Online will be released on Steam on May 16th. It will include new achievements that will also be available for those who use the "native" Albion Online client.
Posted on 05/08/2018 by Guest Writer
In Albion Online, Everybody Matters! (SPONSORED)

In Albion Online, stories are written by the players and their actions influence the world. They can choose whatever they want to be - be it an adventurer, an industrious gatherer, a reckless outlaw or a masterful crafter. No matter what you want to do, you can and will find your own place in Albion’s vast world.
Posted on 07/27/2016 by Guest Writer
Benefits of a Fully Player-Driven Game World

In this column, I want to outline how our player-driven world works, and what that means for the players who venture into it. Not only in itself, but also in comparison to classical theme park MMORPGs such as World of Warcraft.
Posted on 07/05/2016 by Guest Writer
August 1st Marks the Start of the Final Beta Phase!

On August 1 it’s time to reset the clocks: Albion Online from Sandbox Interactive goes into the Final Beta phase and includes exciting new features and improvements.
Posted on 06/30/2016 by Guest Writer
Boss Fights – the 'Demon Prince'

Ahead of the upcoming start of the Closed Beta, Sandbox Interactive, developers of Albion Online, released a new feature highlight video, showing of the game’s high-end PvE content.
Posted on 10/21/2015 by Guest Writer
Behind the Scenes - One Day in the Life of a Game Designer

Who doesn’t dream of a job that does not only pay your bills but is also truly about your passion and sometimes feels more like a hobby? Many would say that this description goes very well with people who work as game designers for video games. But what does a game designer really do all day long? We shed some light on this question by following Sandbox Interactive Game Designer Emil „Empa“ Östlin around.
Posted on 09/10/2015 by Guest Writer
Summer Alpha Underway!

After much anticipation from its fans, Sandbox Interactive, developers of Albion Online, have opened their servers for the start of the big Summer Alpha 2015. Read on for what the new version includes and how to get in on the action.
Posted on 06/29/2015 by Guest Writer
How Albion Online is Combating the Zerg

As anyone who has played online games for any length of time will know, the territory comes with its ups and downs. One common issue, especially with resource-based open-world games that allow for PvP, is when players form into large groups and trample their respective countrysides (or space stations), obliterating everything in their path. Whether you know it as 'blobbing,' 'zerging' or by some other name, you're sure to have run into it in one form or another.
Posted on 06/25/2015 by Guest Writer
Housing & Real Estate

Albion is an exciting new world, a blank slate of abandoned land just waiting to be claimed, developed and brought back to life again! Any player with enough money can buy a plot of land for themselves in a safe zone, town or a player-run city.
Posted on 07/29/2014 by Guest Writer
Guild Alliances

Creating an alliance is similar in many ways to creating an individual guild. The leader of an alliance is the leader of the alliance's founding guild, and they have the power to invite guilds, cancel invitations and dismiss guilds from their alliance. They can also choose to completely disband the alliance.
Posted on 07/12/2014 by Guest Writer
Destiny Board - The Route to a Powerful Character

Albion Online's Destiny Board is a player's route to a powerful character, built exactly the way they want. Based on feedback from the last test, we've made many improvements to the Destiny Board and how players progress through it.
Posted on 06/02/2014 by Guest Writer
Player Driven Cities

Although much of Albion is wild and untamed, with monsters – and other players – free to roam and attack as they wish, there are also a number of towns and cities, which function as safe spots for players to stock up and reequip themselves. They are protected from the wilderness, and have established economies with a series of buildings available for player use, such as crafting stations and merchants.
Posted on 05/14/2014 by Guest Writer
Primarily Focused on PvP & GvG

Albion Online is going to be a game that PvPers will really enjoy with its focus on PvP and GvG. We have teamed up with the Albion Online team to bring our readers and exclusive look at how that will work. Read on before heading to the comments.
Posted on 11/20/2013 by Guest Writer

Awards

Player's Choice Awards - Most Wanted MMO of 2017

A New Year brings new hope and new hype. And that means it's time to set our sights on the games of 2017 and for us to ask you all to vote for your most wanted MMO of the next 12 months.
Posted on 01/04/2017 by William Murphy

Columns

The MMOs That Had It Worst in 2017

The MMO genre is filled with bad games, mediocre games, and games we’re all surprised manage to keep on running. This list is not for them, because well... we’d be here all day. Instead, we’re listing out five MMOs that had a really bad or disappointing year. Some were closed, some failed to live up to hype, and others just kind of lingered on like a shambling corpse waiting for judgment day. Here then are our MMOs that had it worst in 2017.
Posted on 12/29/2017 by William Murphy
One Week Review in Progress

It’s been one week since Albion Online launched, and how’s it doing so far? Pretty smoothly… no really there’s been very few issues. This is our Review in Progress of Sandbox’s new MMORPG.
Posted on 07/26/2017 by Robin Baird
Testing After Galahad

I recently spent some time in Albion Online. Was it enough to feel out all the changes? LOL no, not even close. It did give me a preview of a few things. As with many big tests in a game that is still in beta I was greeted with starting over once again, then a black screen, then a few minutes of play followed by a server restart! I chuckled about the ordeal because this is Beta and shortly after a massive patch.
Posted on 03/17/2017 by Tim Eisen
Ganked by Galahad

Join Tim Eisenzimmer as he finally gets to talk about a game that is near launch…or does he?!?! Dun Dun Dunnnnnn
Posted on 03/03/2017 by Tim Eisen
The Most Wanted MMOs of 2017

2016 was a rough year. The long-standing MMOs we’ve come to love carried along quite well, but for new titles the selection was pretty limited. And so, as we’re fond to do at year’s end, we look forward to 2017 and the titles we expect to launch (even if in early access, which we pretty much consider launched but ‘half-baked’). Here’s to the next twelve months and the many hours of gaming goodness we hope it brings.
Posted on 12/29/2016 by William Murphy
The Return of the Early MMO

Gaming can go full circle with trends and concepts. Back in 1997 Ultima Online created a concept that allowed large groups of players into a digital sandbox to grow a fantasy world together. EverQuest picked up the ball and ran with it scoring a huge touchdown by taking the game from an isometric view into a third person view.
Posted on 02/29/2016 by Garrett Fuller
Why It's Worth Being Hopeful for the Future

Albion Online is many things, but it certainly isn't shy about its huge grind. In fact, where most games try to hide their grind behind neatly dissected levels and gradual spoon feedings of content, Albion displays it proudly on its Destiny Board—a map that helps you chart your progress through the game. "Look at me," it says. "Look at how many countless hours you will need to spend to ever wield the best items in the game."
Posted on 12/29/2015 by Steven Messner
Destiny Board - A Key Way to Become Powerful

The Albion Online Destiny Board was designed to give players some direction in a world in which there are no levels; though players are not relying on a traditional experience points accumulation and level-up system, they are still able to plan their own Destiny in the world of Albion, and become their own unique hero.
Posted on 01/22/2014 by Guest Writer
The Most Wanted Indie MMOs of 2014

We already covered our all-around most wanted MMOs of 2014 last week, but did you know there were a boatload of Indie MMOs also releasing this year? We’d be remiss if we didn’t give the guys with the littler budgets and possibly bigger dreams their own spotlight, so we’re back this week with the Most Wanted Indie MMOs of 2014. Read on for our list, and be sure to comment and let us know if you agree or have something we missed to boot.
Posted on 01/07/2014 by William Murphy