In a dramatic collision of old-world charm and cutting-edge game design, Legendary Star Studio is ushering in a new era of post-apocalyptic gaming with their upcoming MMORPG, Ashfall. Slated for release in Q3 2024, Ashfall weaves together an intricately detailed world, steeped in history and teeming with life, despite the dystopian landscape it portrays.

Drawing inspiration from the much-loved Fallout series, Ashfall plans to breathe new life into the genre by infusing its vast, open world with a unique Eastern cultural influence, setting the stage for an immersive, survival-driven narrative unlike any other.

This article takes an in-depth look at this highly anticipated title, exploring its world, mechanics, and the excitement it has stirred among the gaming community.

The World

The game is set in a world annihilated by a rogue AI that waged a nuclear war against humanity. The resulting landscape is a dystopian wasteland filled with ruins and the lingering mysteries of a world now lost. Players will assume the role of survivors who emerge from Vaults to find the Core of Creation, which is believed to be the key to saving what’s left of the world.

The game features a vast, unprecedented post-apocalyptic landscape teeming with a mix of bizarre and familiar sights. Expect encounters with giant worms marching in an orderly fashion, humanoid creatures engaging in clandestine trades, talking rabbits, and heaps of robot wreckage tucked away in a desert basement. Ashfall’s environment is also deeply infused with Eastern culture, adding a unique flavor to the desolate backdrop.

Adventure Post-Apocalypse

Ashfall’s proposition is to offer players a unique adventure experience in a post-apocalyptic setting. It provides an expansive world for exploration, marked by a distinct sense of visual and narrative variety. The aftermath of the apocalypse in Ashfall is manifested across diverse environments, from snowy wastelands teeming with mutated creatures to cities deeply influenced by Eastern culture.

The developers have stated that a significant aspect of Ashfall’s player experience lies in its emphasis on exploration. The game invites players to delve into a richly populated world, filled with a diverse range of NPCs. These characters are integral to the game’s narrative framework, contributing to the overarching story through their individual quests and characteristics. From humanoid figures participating in clandestine trades to talking rabbits and hidden robot wreckage, every interaction serves to enhance the overall immersion in Ashfall’s post-apocalyptic universe.

Ashfall’s combat mechanics also aim to add to the overall player experience. Players face a variety of enemies, such as giants and mutated crayfish, each requiring specific tactics and skills to overcome. This diversity in combat situations underscores the game’s focus on strategy and quick thinking.

Further enriching the game’s strategic element is its crafting system. Players will be able to create a plethora of items, including equipment and tech devices, such as drones, smart sentry guns, and medic robots. Balancing the resources for crafting with combat requirements and exploration needs is another aspect of the game’s strategic layer.

The game also allows players to construct their own bases. These spaces serve as sanctuaries from the harsh exterior world, offering players a chance to plan, strategize, and rest. Decorative items can be found during exploration, offering an additional dimension to base customization.

In terms of mobility, Ashfall offers a personal mount system. These tamed creatures aid in navigating the game’s diverse environments and can bring an extra layer of strategy to both exploration and combat.

The game also features a companion system. Each companion character brings unique abilities and backgrounds to the table, providing additional tactical options and contributing to the game’s narrative depth.

Music by Hans Zimmer

One of the defining features of Ashfall is the incredible score, co-produced by Oscar winner Hans Zimmer, renowned composer Steve Mazzaro, and Fallout series music producer Inon Zur. The music promises an immersive and atmospheric experience, enhancing the desolate beauty of the world’s post-apocalyptic ruins.

Crossplay Experience

Ashfall supports cross-platform play, providing players with a unique, versatile experience. Whether you prefer to venture the world as a lone hero or fight alongside friends, Ashfall caters to both preferences. This cross-platform play allows players to enjoy the game with friends, irrespective of the platform or system being used.

Beta Testing

In the lead-up to the full release, Legendary Star Studio has recently announced a multi-platform beta test slated for July 2023. This test aims to give players a taste of the visually stunning game world, enhanced with updated graphics shown in the new Wasteland trailer. Sign up for the beta here.

Behind the Scenes

The game’s development has been an open process, with Legendary Star Studio sharing updates, concept arts, and insights through blog posts on their official site and on Steam.

Conclusion

In the evolving landscape of gaming, Ashfall appears to be a promising entrant. As it steps into its beta phase in July, its ability to deliver on these features and the overall player experience will be put to the test. Regardless of the outcomes, Ashfall’s unique premise and the sheer breadth of its proposed gameplay mechanics represent an ambitious stride in the post-apocalyptic genre.

Ashfall, the much-anticipated upcoming MMO, has seen its release date delayed to Summer 2024, the game’s developers announced today. The decision, they said, is aimed at ensuring that the game provides the richest and most engaging experience possible to players.

“We understand that it’s never easy to hear that a game’s release date has been delayed,” the Ashfall Development Team stated in an open letter to fans. “But we want to ensure that we deliver the best possible experience to our players.”

The postponement will allow the developers more time to polish and refine the game, building on the unique wasteland world of Ashfall that fans have been eagerly anticipating.

In the lead-up to Ashfall’s release, several beta tests will be conducted. The team is inviting all ‘Wanderers’ – as Ashfall’s players are known – to participate in these tests and share their valuable feedback. The first of these Closed Beta Tests is slated for July.

The team emphasized that this feedback will help to improve and refine the game, ensuring that it delivers an exceptional gaming experience that lives up to fans’ expectations.

“We know this news may be disappointing,” the team acknowledged in their statement. But please know that the Ashfall Development Team is working tirelessly to make the game worth the wait.

The team ended by expressing their gratitude for fans’ understanding and patience as they strive to create a truly remarkable game.

Legendary Star Studio announced yesterday that the closed beta testing of their new post-apocalyptic shooter MMORPG, Ashfall, will commence this July. Fans and eager gamers are now invited to pre-register and secure a spot in this eagerly anticipated beta testing phase.

In a recent tweet from the official Ashfall Twitter handle, the company declared that pre-registration for the beta is open.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world devastated by AI-launched nuclear warfare, Ashfall tasks players with an epic journey beyond the relative safety of their Vault. Their ultimate goal: to find the Core of Creation, the key to restoring their shattered world.

Ashfall is said to offer players a blend of strategic combat, team-based missions, and immersive storytelling, all set against the backdrop of a dystopian future. As humanity’s last hope, players will traverse a devastated world, fight AI adversaries, and unravel the mysteries of the Core of Creation.

Pre-registration for Ashfall’s closed beta test is a straightforward process. Interested participants need to fill out a questionnaire available on the official website, a step that aids Legendary Star Studio in creating a diverse and representative player pool for the beta testing.

Ashfall, the highly anticipated oriental wasteland-themed shooting MMO developed by Legendary Star Studios, is set to take center stage at the NetEase Connect 2023 Annual Product Launch Event. This groundbreaking game has been making waves with its innovative gameplay and captivating visuals, and now it’s poised to make an even bigger impact with its exceptional musical score.

Renowned composer Hans Zimmer, winner of the 67th Oscars for Best Original Score, and acclaimed music producer Steve Mazzaro have collaborated on Ashfall’s grand score, which has garnered high praise from Zimmer himself. To shed light on the creative process behind the game’s audio aesthetics, the duo will unveil a new music production documentary at NetEase Connect 2023. Fans of the game will have the opportunity to watch the complete video at the event and gain insight into the unique soundtrack that enhances the immersive experience of Ashfall.

Ashfall introduces players to a desolate wasteland where they must embark on a quest to find the legendary Core of Creation. The game’s setting provides a backdrop for players to explore, gather resources, overcome enemies, and complete challenging missions, all while experiencing an immersive online multiplayer environment. Whether teaming up with friends to tackle difficult levels or venturing solo to test their skills, players can enjoy Ashfall’s wasteland world on both PC and mobile devices, thanks to its cross-platform compatibility.

What sets Ashfall apart from other post-apocalyptic games is its infusion of Eastern culture. The inclusion of Oriental-style music, unique Chinese architecture, captivating monster designs, and distinct customs seamlessly blends with classic post-apocalyptic elements, resulting in visually stunning scenes that embody a rich cultural theme. Each location within the vast wasteland world showcases a unique and thrilling experience, immersing players in a captivating fusion of cultures.

Legendary Star Studio is committed to delivering an exceptional audio-visual experience in Ashfall. The game boasts realistic weather effects, meticulously crafted sound effects for different encounters, and character animations captured through motion-capture technology. However, it is the magnificent and stirring music composed by Hans Zimmer and Steve Mazzaro that truly elevates the immersive experience of the game. By creating a sensory-driven environment, Ashfall allows players to deeply engage with the narrative and seamlessly immerse themselves in the breathtaking audio-visual world.

To get a taste of Ashfall’s immersive gameplay, players can participate in the closed beta by wishlisting the game on Steam and visiting the official Ashfall website.

In the latest Dev Blog for the upcoming MMO Ashfall, developers have revealed new details about the game’s personal base system. According to the blog, players will have the opportunity to claim a personal base as their own once they reach a certain point in the game.

At first glance, the personal base may appear to be nothing more than a warehouse with a bunch of dusty equipment. However, as players collect building materials and upgrade their equipment, they will begin to see the true potential of their personal base. For example, the lounge area will start off as just a few worn sofas, but can be upgraded to house more companions. Additionally, the base will feature a shooting range that can be unlocked, allowing players to practice their pistol skills and learn special talents to increase pistol damage in battle.

Players will also be able to decorate their base with furniture collected during their adventures, which can improve the comfort of the base and restore more Stamina when inside. Certain special furniture pieces can even permanently increase a character’s combat stats.

The personal base also allows players to take advantage of pre-war technology and intelligence, such as automated mines and exploration robots. Developers have promised more information on this aspect in their next blog, as well as network communications that will allow players to solve others’ material needs.

While some jaded MMORPG gamers still claim that the genre is dead, more and more MMOs are being developed, both by small indie studios and by large AAA developers. Some games are being made to cater to the nostalgic old-school MMO players, while others push the boundaries of the MMO genre in new and exciting ways.

In this blog post, we will take a look at 11 of the biggest MMOs that are scheduled to release in 2023 or later.

Ashes of Creation

• Developer: Intrepid Studios
• Release Date: NA – Currently in Alpha
• Platforms: PC
• For fans of Old-School MMOs, ArcheAge

Ashes of Creation is a highly-anticipated MMO by Intrepid Studios, which promises to offer players a truly dynamic world that is constantly evolving based on player actions.

The game will be made in Unreal Engine 5 and in addition to having beautiful graphics, the game will also feature a huge open world to explore both at land and at sea, 9 playable races, 64 possible class combinations, and a dynamic evolving world that the players can impact in a major way.

Alpha 1 for AoC finished last year, and the team at Intrepid Studios is now preparing for Alpha 2, so while the game won’t be released next year, we’re at least going to get the next phase of alpha soon.

Corepunk

Developer: Artificial Core
Release Date: NA – Beta testing to start in 2023.
Platforms: PC
For fans of ARPGs, MOBAs

Corepunk is an isometric cyberpunk MMO that is inspired by ARPGs, strategy games, and MOBAs.

It even has Fog-of-War, a feature rarely seen in MMOs, along with a very distinct and vibrant art style.

News has been sparse lately from Artificial Core, the developers of Corepunk, but they did confirm last month that the game was on track to start beta testing this year or at least sometime early next year.

Chrono Odyssey

Developer: Npixel
Release Date: Was going to release in 2022
Platforms: PC, Playstation, Xbox
For fans of Korean MMOs

Chrono Odyssey was first announced back in 2020 by South Korean studio Npixel.

The company later dropped a trailer for the title and announced that Chrono Odyssey would go into testing in 2021, with release in 2022. It was also stated that the game would release for console as well as PC and that it would be crossplay.

Not much has been heard from the studio since regarding the game, but hopefully, we get some news soon.

Into the Echo

Developer: Etlok Studios
Release Date: NA
Platforms: PC
For fans of Time Travel

Into the Echo was announced back in April of 2021 by developer Etlok Studios. It is yet another MMO that will utilize Unreal Engine 5 and feature next-gen graphics.

The developers have been rather tight-lipped on the title, only releasing a short teaser and stating that the game will feature time travel, labeling itself as a “massively multiplayer time-travel odyssey.”

It will be released on PC and console.

Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen

Developer: Visionary Realms
Release Date: NA – Currently in Pre-Alpha
Platforms: PC
For fans of Old-School MMOs, EverQuest

Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen is another highly-anticipated MMO that promises a challenging, group-oriented adventure and classic MMO gameplay mechanics.

The game has been inspired by old-school classics such as EverQuest, and it will aim to recapture the sense of community, danger, and mystery that these games are known for.

Pantheon is being developed by Visionary Realms, a studio founded by many MMO veterans who have worked on MMO titles such as EverQuest and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes.

Pantheon is currently in alpha testing, and no release date has been announced yet, but we are crossing our fingers for big things to happen in Pantheon next year.

Throne and Liberty

Developer: NCSoft
Release Date: 2023
Platforms: PC
For fans of Lineage II, Korean MMOs, Black Desert Online

Throne and Liberty is a new MMO from NCSoft, the company behind games such as Aion, Blade and Soul, and Lineage 1 and 2. If we count their subsidiaries, we can add City of Heroes, Wildstar, and Guild Wars 1 and 2 to that list.

Throne and Liberty was originally going to be a new game in the Lineage series, but the developers eventually decided it would be best to set the game in a whole new IP.

It was originally set to be released this year, but the release was pushed back to 2023.

Palia

Developer: Singularity Six
Release Date: NA – Currently in Alpha.
Platforms: PC
For fans of Crafting, Player Housing

Palia is not like other MMOs in the sense that it is not about combat and killing monsters. Palia’s gameplay is centered around all the little things that are secondary in other MMOs, things like building a house, fishing, exploring, farming, and crafting.

Palia calls itself a cozy MMO and a community sim, and from the looks of it, it will be very relaxing to play.

We don’t have a release date for Palia yet, but Alpha 2 was just finished so we are hoping for at least some news on the beta next year.

Bellatores

Developer: Nyou
Release Date: NA
Platforms: PC
For fans of Black Desert Online, Korean MMOs

Bellatores aka Project N1 is yet another fantasy MMORPG from Korea. Developed by Nyou, a company mostly known for mobile games.

At this point, alarm bells might be going off but the developer has stated that they do not wish to make an MMO for the typical mobile gamers, but instead a game that can compete with Black Desert Online.

The game will be developed in Unreal Engine 5.

ArcheAge II

Developer: XLGames
Release Date: NA
Platforms: PC
For fans of Korean MMOs

ArcheAge II is a follow-up MMO to the popular original that was released back in 2014.

Not much info has been released on the sequel but we do know that the game will return to its roots as a sandbox MMO with extensive player housing and sailing being among the key features.

We also know that it will be developed in Unreal Engine 5, and is set 2000 years before the original game.

Riot MMO

Developer: Riot Games
Release Date: NA
Platforms: PC
For fans of League of Legends, World of Warcraft

The Riot MMO will be set in the same setting as League of Legends and Legends of Runeterra, meaning it already has a huge amount of fans waiting for the game to launch.

In fact, Legends of Runeterra has been a big part of fleshing out the world to prepare for the MMO.

Not much is known about the MMO yet, except that Riot has hired a lot of talent with previous MMO experience to work on the title.

Soulframe

Developer: Digital Extremes
Release Date: NA
Platforms: PC, Console
For fans of Warframe, Action Combat

Soulframe is a fantasy MMO that was just recently announced by Digital Extremes, the studio behind the hugely popular Warframe.

Many of the developers that worked on Warframe will also develop Soulframe, which will be a free-to-play Action Hybrid-MMORPG set in a fantasy setting.

Soulframe is still very early in development so the release is probably still a few years away.

That was all the biggest 11 MMOs currently on the horizon. There are of course tons of other projects to look forward to like City of Titans, Mad World, and Profane amongst others which we will cover in future articles and videos on MMORPG.GG. So stay tuned for more MMO news!

Tokyo Game Show is always a hotbed for new game announcements, and this year was no exception. One of the few MMO announcements was Ashfall, a post-apocalyptic MMORPG from Legendary Star Studio.

The game has been in development for a few years now, but it was finally revealed to the public this weekend. Ashfall takes place in a world that has been ravaged by nuclear war. The only hope for humanity lies in finding the Core of Creation.

The title had been previously known as Project 56 but changed its official name to Ashfall for the Tokyo Game Show reveal.

The music for the upcoming MMO will be composed by none other than the great Hans Zimmer along with Steve Mazzaro, the man behind the score for movies such as No Time to Die and Dune, and Inon Zur, who has composed soundtracks for some of the biggest videogame titles in history including the Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Dragon Age and Everquest.

Storywise not much has been revealed about Ashfall, but a few tidbits can be found on the official Steam page. Humanity has built a new world from the scraps of civilization that are left over after a nuclear war against the AI, and must now fight for its survival.

The game is clearly inspired by the Fallout series, but with an eastern touch.

Ashfall is set to release in 2023 for PC and mobile devices. Are you excited about the post-apocalyptic MMORPG? Let us know in the comments below!