Kakao Games and XLGames made a surprise announcement during today's Sony State of Play, showcasing a new trailer for its upcoming ArcheAge sequel, now known as ArcheAge Chronicles.
Formerly known as ArcheAge 2, ArcheAge Chronicles is built on Unreal Engine 5 and looks to be releasing sometime in 2025, according to the new reveal trailer. Coming to PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X, the upcoming online action RPG trailer highlights gorgeous visuals, lifeskilling, combat and much more. We reached out to confirm whether this was ArcheAge 2, which was confirmed by a Kakao rep.
From the trailer description on YouTube:
"Pioneer Your Path in Auroria, the Land of Opportunity" Embark on an epic journey in ArcheAge Chronicles, an online action RPG with stunning Unreal Engine 5 visuals. Explore the rediscovered land of Auroria, filled with rich lore, dynamic action-based combat, seamless open-world exploration, and engaging life skills like crafting, farming, and trading."
Via a developer's post on the PlayStation blog, XLGames talks about the world, some of the tentpole features, and more coming with ArcheAge Chronicles. Exploration and the open world will feature, with players exploring the vast world of Auroria in the Age of Pioneers, and it look like it can be done both solo and with friends in true ArcheAge fashion.
It wouldn't be an ArcheAge game without an emphasis on housing, either, which Yongjin Ham, the executive producer behind the online action RPG, describes as a "cornerstone feature." Ham also says that through housing, players can create "vibrant, town-like communities" organically within the game world.
"In ArcheAge Chronicles, housing will be a cornerstone feature, enabling players to build and customize their own homes. Transitioning from the previous open-world model, ArcheAge Chronicles now features dedicated housing zones where players can showcase their creativity and achievements. Additionally, the game enables multiple players to come together to form vibrant, town-like communities. Furthermore, ArcheAge Chronicles offers a rich variety of life skills, such as farming, crafting, and trading, providing numerous ways to engage with the game world and its economy."
The trailer also highlighted both solo and group combat, with Ham describing it as both a "refined combat system," as well as a system with tactical and strategic depth. According to the post, groups of ten players or more can "chain skills in sync" with each other to pull off even more devastating attacks.
ArcheAge Chronicles, which was formerly referred to as ArcheAge 2, has been in development for some time, and while we've not heard a ton about what to expect with Kakao and XLGames' next installment in the iconic MMO franchise, it hasn't been smooth sailing for the team. Initially slated for a 2024 launch, we caught wind that it could slip out of even 2025's launch window. With the news today confirming a 2025 launch (and we do know it'll feature at Gamescom 2025 next year thanks to a recent Kakao earnings report), it'll be interesting to see how things progress from here.
[Update 4:29 pm PDT] We reached out to our Kakao rep to ask about the language describing ArcheAge Chronicles, as it describes an MMO, despite calling it repeatedly an "Online action RPG." Our Kakao rep pointed us back to this afternoon's press release in response to the question and added the following statement:
"More details about the online and multiplayer components will be coming soon."
