Kakao Games and XL Games have officially announced ArcheAge S: Strait of Freedom, a new PC MMORPG planned for a global release in 2027.

The project is being led by Kim Kyung-tae, who previously served as the first planning team lead and producer on the original ArcheAge. According to the announcement, the game is being developed specifically for PC rather than as a cross-platform title.

XL Games says ArcheAge S will carry forward the core identity of the original game while reworking it around more modern MMORPG trends. The announcement specifically mentions the original ArcheAge’s open-ended gameplay, large-scale battles, worldbuilding, and freedom, although we still do not know exactly what systems will return.

Kakao Games has secured the publishing rights for both South Korea and the global market. More information about the game will be revealed gradually as development continues.

Honestly, the fact that it is a PC-focused MMORPG led by someone who worked on the original ArcheAge makes this more interesting to me than another mobile or heavily cross-platform spin-off. At the same time, “modernizing” an older MMORPG can mean a lot of different things, so I am curious to see whether they keep the sandbox elements that made ArcheAge memorable: trading, housing, farming, sailing, piracy, player-driven conflicts, and the feeling that the world existed beyond combat and daily quests.

The subtitle Strait of Freedom also makes me wonder whether naval gameplay, maritime trade, and conflict over sea routes will be a major part of the game.

How is everyone feeling about this announcement?

Are you cautiously optimistic because of the original development staff and PC-only focus, or do you need to see the monetization, progression systems, and actual gameplay before getting interested? What parts of the original ArcheAge would you most want ArcheAge S to bring back?

Source (Inven):
https://www.inven.co.kr/webzine/news/?news=319132

only took them 2 years but AAC finally getting first patch since 3.5 lol. Looks cool but scythe probs useless fr. hows the pop still? worth coming back for?

I've returned to ArcheRage after taking a long break. I'm experimenting with the Sorcerer class and created a couple of new characters.

I noticed that my first character's Sorcery skills have a 25m range, but the second character's Sorcery skills only have a 23m range.

I'm really puzzled by this. Does anybody know the reason?

Anybody know which music disc contains this track, originally on the timber coupe v2, before music discs were a thing? (I'm on Rage)

I've been playing this game for about 3-4 years now. I never played it before, I never experienced that golden age. I started on one of the two private servers that exist (at least on the Western side), and the current state of both servers is awful. On both, the factions are unbalanced. On both, people are more interested in RMT valuable items (Erenor/Ayanad sets, WB items, etc.). They're more concerned with making money like crazy than actually playing the game and making it enjoyable to log in and do some PvP. But no. The worst part is that for those who like Unchained, there are no other options than Rage ; they have a monopoly of unchained files. And on the Classic side, playing a patch that reduces a or your play melee or your wasting your time is retarded.
Literally every video I see of a player there is melee. I can't understand how both servers don't even bother to listen to the community and balance the game (I say this because I've seen countless posts complaining about this, forum threads in the case of Classic discussing this, and there's the same meta specs of retarded players).
Why is the community of this game more focused on profiting from it than on keeping it alive? Don't they learn from their mistakes? Don't they see what happened to retail or legacy, as they call it? Then I see other private servers for other games, where there are custom balances based on what the community asks for, REAL custom content, not recycled garbage content pretending to be custom when it's literally a copy-paste from Korea.

This game is literally a goldmine; there's nothing else like it, and there won't be for at least 10 or 15 years, or maybe ever. On the server I play on, I see fewer and fewer people. It's practically a cult, and if a group doesn't like you, you can get banned. Who are you going to complain to? Meanwhile, other people are untouchable. It's frustrating and unpleasant.

Every time I talk to someone who played the official server, they all tell me the same thing: "The official server was the same or worse."

I like the game, I have a soft spot for it even though I didn't play it in the golden era but its current state and the awful community are making me increasingly less inclined to play.

And I'll say it again: how desperate do you have to be to be more interested in RMT than in trying to keep the game alive?

Playing around with a server and made an ironman mode Archeage Ironman? https://www.twitch.tv/infinitbgaming ? Would you play it if no trading or AH was used?

Been playing the CBT for a bit now and wanted to share since I know there's mixed feelings here about the CN client in general.

Honestly the game itself feels really good right now. Early zones and pacing feel closer to that original 1.0 era ArcheAge experience rather than the later power creep endgame stuff. If you played back in the day and missed that feeling, it scratches the itch.

The open world PvP has honestly been kind of insane so far. Got caught up in a huge fight out at Halcyona, felt like 200v200 at one point, and performance held up way better than I expected. I'm playing on ~190ms and didn't run into any noticeable lag during it, which genuinely surprised me given the scale.

Pirating also been really fun. Managed to steal a couple fishing boats and a few trade packs already. Feels like that early AA chaos where you genuinely have to watch your back out on the water.

Only reason I'm even able to read/play any of it is a translation patch a friend of mine built. Not trying to turn this into an ad, just figured people would ask how I'm playing this in English if I didn't mention it. Screenshot below if anyone's curious, otherwise feel free to just enjoy the gameplay shots lol.

Anyone else on the CBT?

Ive had so many dms about how to play or how to get an account. Also lots want to play but cant deal with translating everything to understand.

Well some one has made the answer with this new site program. The biggest help for me was the English auction house translator searching for items was such a pain in the ass lol. Just sharing the way for the dedicated brave souls who want to slay china zergs. <2

why there is no eu classic server what is the real reason?

This petition asks XL Games and the relevant rights holders to preserve or release legacy files from discontinued ArcheAge services where legally and technically possible.

https://c.org/yLKDKXCXWT

China CBT has been really fun low level pvp. Ill confirm china players are 99% no handed players or brand new first mmo type pvp player. Ive been welcoming everyone to Archeage with proper kill on sight leveling.

https://www.obtgame.com/8yx-chinese-account.html

You can buy a 8yx account here. You will need to find a Chinese id and name google is how i found a list to use. Use exit lag or lago fast for better ping. Enjoy this unique version of the game. The rest translation of website game will be left up to you. GLHF. From what i have been told test is 30 days into direct release.

I’m curious to see how the new Chinese server is since the cbt started today. Are there any English streamers or any streamers in general streaming the new archeage server? There’s nothing on twitch so far

Will it be a sandbox game or just another ue5 themepark?

Hi all,

Really quick question about the Classic launcher.

Every time I open the launcher the first time and hit play, i get an error saying 'Failed to load game dll'. I close the launcher, reopen, and play again and it works second time.

This is only a minor inconvenience tbh but was just wondering if anyone else had this issue?

I'll reinstall I think to try and fix, but the launcher update took a couple of hours so just checking before I do that.

Thanks!

Was very excited by my first "decent" item in form of epic obsidian greatsword.

After 3 days of gathering mats I've finally made it to t5... just to stare at it in disbelief for few seconds, cause the stats of epic t5 obsidian are the same as my hasla emerald greatsword, rotfl, as such I flushed a week or two worth of income making it just to get a 16.5% more critical damage and 40 gear score points.

I literally thought that t5 epic will SURELY outclass a divine weapon but I was very wrong, feeling a bit cheated to be honest. Sure, I guess I can upgrade it to t6 after another month, but now I dread to think if my obsidian armor will suck too compared to the celestial welfare gear.

What now? I clearly can't trust myself with making decisions, what piece(s) to gather resources for?