Brighter Shores Heads into Steam Early Access in November, With a Beta Later This Month

Classic-inspired, free to play MMORPG Brighter Shores, from RuneScape vet Andrew Gower and his studio, Fen Research, is headed into Steam Early Access on November 6th. Before then, expect a brief closed beta starting October 22nd.

Set in a fantasy world called Adothria, you start in a town called Hopeport, where you are a new town guard. This is just the beginning, since it is an MMORPG and the greater world outside of the walls that you protect will offer more to discover. Expect colorful characters to meet, humor, and a dose of danger in the world that invites you to explore, uncover secrets, and maybe even save the world from a shadowy plot.

Expect activities like cooking, crafting, fishing, harvesting resources like wood, and if you don't have a lot of time but you still want to get a little progress, there is the option to sit and let your character level professions idly. The game is intentionally open for people to enjoy a classic MMO whether you have hours a day or 15 minutes. 

With Gower’s prior role as a co-founder of Jagex and lead on RuneScape, the grid-based, top-down MMORPG and the various features won’t seem unfamiliar to classic MMO fans, but Brighter Shores is set to stand on its own. 

Back in the summer, Gower said that the game would have optional PvP and head towards Early Access this year, and that is now officially happening. Fen plans to consistently update the game over time, releasing new narrative episodes as well as features. In the Early Access press release, Gower says:

“We're releasing Brighter Shores with plenty of features for players to sink their teeth into, but this is just the beginning. We've planned an extensive roadmap of updates to keep our game fresh and exciting for years to come."

While Brighter Shores will be free to play, there will be no item monetization for the independent MMORPG. There will be a premium pass available for optional extra content.