Brighter Shores is a new retro-inspired, episodic free to play MMORPG from Jagex co-founder Andrew Gower, and former RuneScape Lead developer.
You play a new recruit in the Hopeport town guards, looking to get ahead and make your name. Naturally, things won’t remain peaceful. Expect goblins, an odd storm, and more.
“It's an MMORPG. But doesn’t rely on other players to be fun,” Gower said over on X (Twitter). Set to release on PC via Steam, the game is already attracting “RuneScape 4” like comments after its first trailer debuted. RuneScape players will indeed get a dose of the familiar, so those comments aren’t exactly out of place. It’s a top-down, grid-based fantasy MMO with plenty of skills to learn, like fishing, blacksmithing, causing magic and alchemy, and even “assembling dinosaurs”. You'll need to investigate threats, and survive in the world.
While some commented on the grid-based movement, Gower responded on X with more detail: “Movement is grid based, but the timing of the movement (and everything else) is NOT tick based so its very responsive”, he said.
Brighter Shores will be an episodic free to play MMORPG, though there will be a premium pass that gives access to all episodes and content. Gower has been working on the project for about a decade, and is built in a proprietary engine, Fenforge.
There will be new content episodes released on an ongoing basis, with new content, features, and more. There are “hours and hours” of free content, as per the official Steam description, but premium pass buyers will get additional zones and a series of perks like player to player trading and unique character names.
There will be a closed beta. I will post more about it on x/twitter closer to the time.
— Andrew Gower (@AndrewCGower) March 13, 2024
There are plans to consistently expand the game with new content, including new side quests, professions, lands, and advance a central story throughout. And professions there will be. “A huge number of professions” are promised in the game announcement.
Head over to Brighter Shores’ Steam page for more info and initial details.
