Summary
After almost 10 years, Kakao Games will be shutting down the North American and European servers for its MMORPGArcheAgedue to a decrease in active players. The open-world fantasy game, developed by XL Games, launched back in 2015 under the leadership of Korean developer Jake Song, who formerly worked on another MMORPG calledLineage. In November 2022, it was announced that a sequel toArcheAgewas in development and slated for some time in 2024. WhileArcheAgehas only been accessible on PC, the sequel will also be available onXbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.
Described as a “sandpark” RPG,ArcheAgeincorporates elements of both “sandbox” content and “themepark” playstyle. The story is borrowed fromThe ArcheAge Chronicles, a novel series by the Korean author Jeon Min-hee. It outlines the ongoing struggle between the forces of good and evil in a world inhabited by mythical creatures and six distinct races, all battling for control of two continents called Nuia and Harihara. These different races work similarly toFinal Fantasy 14’s character classes, which grant each individual a different unique ability. Players would build their own character, align themselves with one of the six factions, and band together to uncover a conspiracy plaguing the fictional world.
In anofficial announcement, Kakao Games attributed the decision to shut down theArcheAgeservers due to a dramatic decline in server populations. “After discussing the performance ofArcheAgewith XL Games at length, we have concluded that we’re no longer able to provide the MMORPG we envisioned. The declining number of active players means the game’s content is no longer accessible in the way it used to be, and the experience of it is different from what was originally intended. In light of this, we’ve made the difficult decision to terminate the live service of ArcheAge in Europe and North America.”
When Will ArcheAge Servers Shut Down?
On Steam, many players shared their disappointment withArcheAgeterminating its servers, sharing nostalgic memories of experiencing the RPG through childhood into adulthood. Others have directly blamed Kakao Games for the outcome, suggesting the game shut down due to “corporate greed” and negligence as focus shifted from providing aunique and revolutionary MMORPG experienceto monetizing in-game upgrades. Before it was considered thatArcheAgeshould be terminated, Kakao Games had implemented a pay-to-win system that offered advantages to players who could afford to buy weapons, abilities, and upgrades. In the eyes of many long-term fans ofArcheAge, this was the game’s undoing.
According to Kakao Games, Game Access:ArcheAgeservers will shut down permanently on June 07, 2025, while the developer’s support team will be available until September 27 to assist with any inquiries or concerns. In addition, Kakao Games elected to refund any purchases made two weeks prior to the initial notice, which was posted back in April. In the midst of a bittersweet farewell, Kakao Games has expressed gratitude to members of the community who have supported the game since the very beginning and likely foundthe MMORPG genrethrough it, encouraging them to cherish the memories made in almost a decade ofArcheAge.
