Ashfall is an upcoming MMORPG that is being published by NetEase and developed by Legendary Star Studio. It has a post-apocalyptic setting that promises a dynamic weather system, Fallout-style exploration, and more. While there are aspects of the game that make the project very interesting, players are already concerned after looking at the gameplay reveals and NetEase’s history with monetization is not doing the game any favors either.
The Ashfall vs Ashfall Drama
I feel like this needs to be addressed just to clear up any confusion. There are two games titled Ashfall that are in development. The one we are discussing is an MMORPG that is coming to PC and mobile devices in 2023.
The other Ashfall is currently in development by Liithos Game Studio, a new studio led by former PlayStation executive Michael Mumbauer and Days Gone creative director John Garvin. It is a narrative-driven open-world title that is coming to PC and console. Just like the MMORPG Ashfall, this game too has a post-apocalyptic world that is being ravaged by global warming.
According to WCCFTECH Mumbauer had tweeted that Liithos pitched Ashfall to NetEase earlier this year for a publishing partnership which was declined. He later claimed that NetEase’s Ashfall did not have a name and it was internally known as Project 56. In September 2022, NetEase announced Project 56 as Ashfall and we don’t know how things will pan out between both studios.
A Beautiful World With Seemingly Subpar Gameplay
The initial reveal trailer from 2022 showed off some beautiful environments. Veteran composers Hans Zimmer, Inon Zur, and Steven Mazzaro are involved with the game’s music and I don’t expect to be disappointed on that front. Some of the music that the developers have presented so far sounds excellent.
In the “world premiere” hosted on IGN’s YouTube channel, the developers talked about how much they are into Fallout. But during the premiere, the gameplay was shown off and it was jarring to look at. The amount of visual clutter in the game and the hit markers that show up as you keep shooting enemies look straight out of a 2010s game and it is not good by any metric.
There are no death animations or ragdoll physics when enemies die and as soon as you eliminate someone, they straight up disappear into thin air. Some enemies do have animations but a lot of common mobs do not.
The bosses also look like larger versions of enemies you see everywhere and the gameplay just doesn’t look interesting enough. Some of the UI elements of the game look like they were ripped off from Fallout and it did not take long for keen-eyed gamers to take note of what was going on. Online forums and YouTube videos have brought this up and it would not be the first time that a NetEase game has cloned an existing product.
It looks like NetEase is going for a mobile-first approach and I won’t be surprised if Android and iOS are their target platforms and not PC. The gameplay looks unrefined and I am not convinced that I want to try out the game.
The game claims that it is an MMORPG but it showed off only three-player co-op. While the open world may allow dozens of players to be in the same area and complete world events, nothing of the sort has been shown so far. The game is still in development and it is plausible that a lot of the content that NetEase has planned for release is simply not ready yet so take this preview with a grain of salt and decide whether you want to invest your time into the game once it launches.
NetEase’s Troubled History With Monetization
NetEase is no stranger to live-service titles and it was partnered with Blizzard Entertainment to publish World of Warcraft, Starcraft II, and Overwatch in the Chinese Market. NetEase was also in charge of the development of Diablo Immortal, a game notorious for its microtransactions and pay-to-win mechanics.
Whether you like it or hate it, NetEase is good at what it does at least on the monetization front. Diablo Immortal has earned hundreds of millions of dollars despite the criticism from gamers and news outlets alike. “Predatory” monetization is simply here to say that whether you like loot boxes, pay-to-win mechanics, and other questionable methods of monetization or not, there is no denying that NetEase will try to make as much money as possible from Ashfall.
Of course, there is always the argument that you can simply enjoy a free-to-play game for what it is and not delve into microtransactions. Many feel that as long as the monetization of a game does not get in the way of their enjoyment, there’s not much to complain about. Going by NetEase’s history, I would be surprised if there are no “pay-to-win” mechanics in Ashfall.
If you are on the fence about trying Ashfall, wait for an official release and see how much of a role monetization plays when it comes to enjoyment. Cosmetics, battle passes, and non-intrusive microtransactions are essential to keep a free-to-play game alive but it also needs to offer a fair experience to players who are not willing to open their wallets and pay with their time instead.
Should You Try Ashfall?
Ashfall is marketed as a free-to-play game and there is nothing wrong with giving the game a try. The ongoing drama between Legendary Star Studio and Liithos, the monetization concerns, and the rough gameplay trailers have left me disappointed. The gameplay shown so far has nothing to prove that it is an MMORPG even though the developers are marketing it as one.
Destiny or Warframe might be worth getting into if you are looking for a live-service shooter. While Destiny 2 can be expensive if you get the yearly expansions for around $50 to $60 USD a year, Warframe is a free-to-play experience that you can check out without needing to purchase battle passes, subscriptions, or anything of the sort.
