The relaunch of this defunct medieval survival MMO is met with 95 cry-laugh emojis, 74 poops, 62 clowns, 42 letters spelling S-C-A-M, and 35 optimistic thumbs
It is at all times a bummer when an MMO, or any multiplayer sport, will get shut down and goes endlessly darkish. That was the destiny of medieval survival sandbox Life is Feudal: MMO, which entered early entry in 2018 however closed its doorways barely three years later, apparently attributable to monetary points and disagreements between developer Bitbox and its writer, Xsolla.
So that you’d anticipate hardcore followers of the real looking medieval MMO to react with pleasure and pleasure upon listening to Life is Feudal has a brand new writer that is bringing the sport again. Proper?
Not fairly. Within the official Discord, the Might 30 announcement of Lifetime of Feudal’s rebirth was met with 95 cry-laugh emojis, 74 poops, 62 clowns, and a gaggle effort to spell out the phrase S-C-A-M in emoji letters. To be truthful, there have been additionally 35 thumbs-ups, which I attribute to individuals being genuinely completely satisfied (but additionally possibly a couple of of them not studying the announcement all that carefully).
So, what’s the issue? Why aren’t followers completely satisfied the MMO is being given new life?
First off, there’s the value. Life Is Feudal’s new writer, Lengthy Story Video games, is at present operating a playtest that prices $20 to affix. That does not really feel fully out of line till you understand that is not the price of the sport, however the price of a month-to-month subscription.
That is $20 per thirty days, which is dearer than an MMO like World of Warcraft, or Eve On-line, or PC Recreation Cross, or some other gaming subscription round. And what you get for that worth is entry to a playtest. The month-to-month subscription is required even for individuals who flat-out purchased the sport again when it was on the market on Steam and price anyplace between $30 and $100, relying on the model.
It is not notably clear what the subscriptions provides you, both. “Along with your subscription, you may obtain month-to-month bonuses and objects that will not disrupt the sport’s steadiness,” the announcement reads. “The longer your subscription, the extra substantial these perks turn into. We’ll present extra details about this reward system nearer to the sport’s launch.”
Possibly present that data… now? You understand, when you’re accepting subscriptions that price $20 per thirty days?
There are extra purple flags apart from simply the value. The web site of the brand new writer, Lengthy Story Video games, states it’s “experimenting with variants of rebuilding and relaunching video games” and “employs modern monetization methods and groundbreaking person acquisition methods” with a “various portfolio” that spans “from basic video games to web3” (uh oh).
Properly, that “various” portfolio of video games at present solely contains Life is Feudal: MMO, however the discuss of web3, monetization methods, and a press launch that states the plan so as to add “a dynamic financial system” into Life is Feudal has alarm bells ringing within the Discord (and in my very own head) that this is among the many makes an attempt at introducing the blockchain into gaming.
I even went to attempt to subscribe to the playtest, however it directs me to a website known as known as Babka. I’ve by no means heard of Babka earlier than, however it’s a “portal to safe funds throughout web2 and web3 in your favourite video games, unique drops, and a revolutionary loyalty program (coming quickly).” That is not likely one thing I personally really feel assured about placing $20 a month into.
It sucks when a multiplayer sport closes down, and it is heartening when there’s an opportunity it would get a brand new life with a brand new writer. However the excessive skepticism of Life is Feudal followers, and all of the indications that the MMO goes to be changed into a blockchain sport… I am not saying I agree with the Discord emojis that that is undoubtedly a S-C-A-M, however I do should agree with the poop emojis. Possibly attempt the fan-run revivals of Metropolis of Heroes or Warhammer On-line as a substitute.
