Make My MMO: Project Gorgon rebounds, Pantheon regroups (original) (raw)

Welcome to another blast of MMO crowdfunding news from the last few weeks!

Pantheon has fully backtracked on its plans to launch the 247 extraction mode as a standalone game, vowing to return to full development on the MMORPG players backed. “The Pantheon community made it clear that the 247 test mode is not the reason they support us, and we need to listen to that,” Visionary Realms wrote. “We understand that for many of you, we have damaged your trust. That’s on us.”

Meanwhile, we got some rough news from Project Gorgon, as illness threatened financial woes for the two-person dev team and maintenance mode for the game, though fortunately, players came through with donations and purchases to keep the studio supported in the near future.

Brighter days are also ahead for Fractured Online, which finally rolled back into early access after a year of remission, and The Wagadu Chronicles, which is heading to its own early access on December 4th.

And finally, we added a new entry to our big list: Wizard’s Wrath. It’s a new MMO seeking $61K on Kickstarter, promising a VR angle for the MMO genre.

Read on for more on what’s been up with MMO crowdfunding over the last few weeks, plus our roundup of all the crowdfunded MMOs we’re following!

Wizard’s Wrath

Recent MMO crowdfunding news

‘We’re out of money’: Project Gorgon moves to part-time development to keep its server lights on

Kickstarted MMORPG Pantheon cancels 247 extraction mode: ‘We have damaged your trust’

Pantheon Rise of the Fallen claims ‘solid forward momentum’ thanks to art change and 247 extraction mode

Star Citizen outlines tentative timing and dates for its monetized Pyro preview channel testing

Project Gorgon, buffered by player donations, has been spared from maintenance mode – for now

The Wagadu Chronicles confirms a Steam early access launch date of December 4

PSA: Embers Adrift is adding temporary subscription perks to all current owners of the game

Ashes of Creation takes players on an Alpha Two caravan ride in latest preview video

Embers Adrift releases new hair, alchemy, and a roadmap for the rest of 2023

Kickstarted MMORPG sandbox Fractured Online relaunches early access on Steam today

Pantheon Rise of the Fallen talks about the return of 24-hour MMO testing and a shift of dev mindset

Legends of Aria’s crypto-spinoff nearly loses IP rights, promises pre-alpha this year

Wizard’s Wrath is a developing cross-platform VR spellcasting MMORPG on Kickstarter now

Fractured Online opens character creation ahead of next week’s early access relaunch

Fractured Online’s return to early access sees bug fixing, a small server rollback, and mixed player reaction

Star Citizen’s Intergalactic Aerospace Expo free-to-play event returns November 17

Ship of Heroes revamps targeting brackets and tab-targeting ahead of next test

Kickstarted VR MMO Ilysia releases an early access trailer as bug-hunting continues

Ghostly death returns to Book of Travels in its biggest update since its early access release two years ago

The Stream Team: Making a return visit to Project Gorgon

Star Citizen introduces the Gatac Syulen, Crusader Spirit C1, and Tumbril Storm as IAE free-fly event begins

Loftia checks in with progress on crafting, gathering, infrastructure, and dev tools

Fractured Online deploys medium-sized patch with ‘urgent balance changes’

Ashes of Creation

Campaigns and crowdfunded MMOs we’re watching

Holy crap it launched Holy crap it launched
It's launched, kinda It semi-launched?
In the development dungeons In development
It's dead, Jim Dead or abandoned
Drama bomb

It's dead, Jim3001SQ (SMV) – Kickstarter unsuccessful, dev halted in 2018.
Holy crap it launchedAdventureQuest 3D (Artix) – Raised 368k; beta since 2016.
Holy crap it launchedAlbion Online (Sandbox) – Launched July 2017, hit Steam May 2018.
In the development dungeonsAntraxx (Team Antraxx) – Kickstarter canceled.
Holy crap it launchedAscent: The Space Game (Fluffy Kitten) – Successful KS. Launched 2016.
In the development dungeonsAshes of Creation (Intrepid Studios) – Successful KS. Alpha one.
It's launched, kindaBlast Out (Tarhead Studio) – Kickstarter successful. Originally called RUiN. In EA.
In the development dungeonsIt's launched, kindaBook of Travels (Might and Delight) – Kickstarted. Early access.
It's launched, kindaBroke Protocol (Cylinder) – Unsuccessful KS. In free early access.
In the development dungeonsCamelot Unchained (City State) – Kickstarter; open donations/packages.
It's dead, JimCaribbean Conquest (Invenio) – First KS canceled, second ended unsuccessfully.
In the development dungeonsCodename Reality (Orode) – Kickstarter unsuccessful.
It's dead, JimContested Space (Zon) – Kickstarter unsuccessful.
Holy crap it launchedCrowfall (ArtCraft) – Kickstarter successful, Indiegogo. Launched, sold, unlaunched.
In the development dungeonsChronicles of Elyria (Soulbound) – Kickstarter. Much shenanigans.
Holy crap it launchedCity of Heroes Homecoming (Homecoming) – Monthly donation rounds.
In the development dungeonsCity of Titans (Missing Worlds Media) – Successful KS.
It's dead, JimDawngate (Studio Wayfinder). Kickstarter successful, but no license.
It's launched, kindaDay of Dragons (Beawesome) – Kickstarter successful.
In the development dungeonsDescent Underground (Descendent Studios) – Successful KS.
In the development dungeonsDestiny’s Sword (2Dogs) – Kickstarter successful June 2019; downgraded.
It's dead, JimDivergence Online (Stained Glass Llama) – Abandoned in early access.
It's dead, JimDogma: Eternal Night (Prelude Games Factory): Kickstarter. Probably dead.
It's launched, kindaIt's dead, JimDragon of Legends (Thrive Games) – Successful Kickstarter.
In the development dungeonsDreamworld (Dreamworld Realities) – Successful Kickstarter. Dodgy af. EA.
Holy crap it launchedDual Universe (Novaquark) – Kickstarter funded, donor platform. Launched 2022.
It's launched, kindaEco (Strange Loop Games) – Funded, now in beta.
It's dead, JimEdengrad (Huckleberry Games) – Kickstarter funded. Abandoned.
Holy crap it launchedElite: Dangerous (Frontier Developments) – Funded and fully launched.
Holy crap it launchedEmbers Adrift (Stormhaven) – Indiegogo. Fka Saga of Lucimia. Launched.
Holy crap it launchedEmpyrion Online (Eleon) – Kickstarter canceled; launched on Steam.
It's dead, JimEndless Trials (Fire Hurts) – Kickstarter canceled.
It's launched, kindaEpic Space (EpicSpace.net)
In the development dungeonsEthyrial Echoes of Yore (Gellyberry). Kickstarter canceled.
It's dead, JimEverFeud (PSB) – Kickstarter canceled.
It's dead, JimEver, Jane (3 Turn Productions) – Successful Kickstarter. Sunsetted 2020.
In the development dungeonsFractured (Dynamight/Gamigo) – Kickstarter successful. EA again as of 2023.
In the development dungeonsFractured Veil (Paddle Creek) – Kickstarter successful.
In the development dungeonsFreeland VR (Freeland VR AB) – Kickstarter successful.
In the development dungeonsFrozen Flame (Dreamside) – Fig campaign successful. In founder alpha.
Holy crap it launchedGenfanad (Rose Tinted Games) – Kickstarter successful. Launched 2022.
It's dead, JimIt's launched, kindaGlobal Adventures (SubaGames) – Kickstarter funded.
It's launched, kindaGloria Victis (Black Eye Games) – Open donations; early access.
It's dead, JimGreed Monger (Greed Monger) – Abandoned, now allegedly in refund process.
Holy crap it launchedGrim Dawn (Crate Entertainment) – Funded and launched.
Holy crap it launchedIt's dead, JimGuardians of Ember (Runewaker) – Funded and launched.
Holy crap it launchedGuns of Icarus (Muse) – Funded and launched.
It's dead, JimHero’s Song (Pixelmage) – KS canceled; Indiegogo. Canceled w/ refunds.
In the development dungeonsIdentity (Asylum) – Kickstarter successful. Beta July 2022. It's launched, kindaInfinity: Battlescape (I-Novae Studios) – Successful KS; in early access.
In the development dungeonsIlysia (Team 21) – Kickstarter fully funded Oct 2020. Closed beta.
It's dead, JimHoly crap it launchedHEX (HEX Entertainment) – Funded, launched; sunsetted 2020.
Holy crap it launchedLegends of Aria/BRITARIA (Citadel/Reaper) – Shards Online. Launched 2020. Yikes.
It's dead, JimLife is Feudal (Bitbox): Indiegogo ended. Closed and maintenance-moded.
In the development dungeonsLoftia (Qloud) – Kickstarter. Fully funded.
It's dead, JimLUX (Chimera) – Kickstarter canceled. Seemingly abandoned.
It's dead, JimMaestros of the Anthymn (String Theory) – Kickstarter canceled.
Holy crap it launchedIt's dead, JimMaguss (Maguss) – Indiegogo successful; launched then sunsetted in 2020.
It's dead, JimMekria (Infinity Online Studios) – Kickstarter canceled. Seemingly abandoned.
It's launched, kindaIt's dead, JimMidair (Archetype Studios) – Kickstarter successful. On Steam but abandoned.
Holy crap it launchedNebula Online (Mizar Games) Kickstarter canceled; launched in November.
It's dead, JimNeo’s Land (NeoJac Entertainment) – Open donations. Abandoned.
It's dead, JimNovus AEterno (Taitale Studios) – Successful KS. Abandoned.
It's dead, JimOath (Ready-Up) – Kickstarter funded. Seemingly abandoned.
Holy crap it launchedOccupy White Walls (Stikipixels) – Kickstarter unsuccessful. Launched 2022.
In the development dungeonsOdd Giants (Odd Giants) – Patreon ongoing.
Holy crap it launchedOrbusVR (Ad Alternum) – KS funded March 2017. Launched 2019.
It's launched, kindaOverpower (Hydrant Games) – Kickstarter unfunded; early access.
In the development dungeonsPantheon: Rise of the Fallen (Visionary Realms) – Open donations. Pre-alpha.
It's launched, kindaPantropy (Brain Stone GmbH): First KS canceled, second funded. In EA.
In the development dungeonsPast Fate (Icy North): First Kickstarter unsuccessful, second successful. Alpha.
It's dead, JimPathfinder Online (GoblinWorks) – Sunsetted 2021.
It's launched, kindaPath of Titans (Alderon) – Indiegogo. In early access.
It's launched, kindaPlanet Nomads (Craneballs) – Kickstarted, early access launched sans multiplayer.
It's launched, kindaPlaycraft (Bebop Games) – Kickstarter funded May 2019; in EA.
It's launched, kindaPixel Starships (SavySoda) – Kickstarter funded. Second one too. In EA.
It's launched, kindaProject Gorgon (Elder Game) – Three KS + Indiegogo. Early access.
It's dead, JimProject Oasis World (POW) – Kickstarter unsuccessful.
Holy crap it launchedPumpkin Online (Monique) – Launched as Pumpkin Days.
It's dead, JimRAW (Killerwhale) – Kickstarter canceled by Kickstarter.
It's dead, JimROKH (Darewise) – Kickstarter canceled; dev ended.
It's dead, JimSacrament (Ferocity Unbound) – Kickstarter, Patreon failed. Abandoned.
In the development dungeonsSeed (Klang Games) – Kickstarter imminent?
In the development dungeonsShadow’s Kiss (Clockwork Throne) – Ongoing Patreon, Kickstarter funded. Early access.
In the development dungeonsShip of Heroes (Heroic) – Kickstarter canceled, launch expected in 2022. Beta.
Holy crap it launchedShroud of the Avatar (Portalarium) – Launch 2016 & 2018. Trainwrecks.
In the development dungeonsSolarpunk (Cyberwave) – Kickstarter successful.
In the development dungeonsSpycursion (Defun) – Kickstarter unsuccessful.
In the development dungeonsSquadron 42 (Cloud Imperium) – Beta delayed.
In the development dungeonsStar Citizen (Cloud Imperium) – Ongoing funding. Backer alpha.
It's launched, kindaStarfighter Infinity (Ben Olding) – Kickstarter funded. Early access.
It's launched, kindaSwords ‘n Magic and Stuff (Kindred) – Kickstarter funded. Early access.
Holy crap it launchedTemtem (Crema) – Kickstarter fully funded and launched.
It's dead, JimThe Exiled (Fairytale Distillery) – fka Das Tal; KS unsuccessful. Early access but dev halted.
It's dead, JimThe Flower of Knighthood – Kickstarter canceled.
Holy crap it launchedThe Realm: Reawakened (Stephen Nichols) – Live game. Ongoing GoFundMe.
It's dead, JimThe Repopulation (Idea Fabrik) – Kickstarted twice by A&B. Abandoned in alpha.
It's dead, JimThe Stomping Land (Alex Fundora) – Abandoned.
In the development dungeonsThe Wagadu Chronicles (Twin Drums) – Kickstarter successful. Early acces Dec 2023.
It's dead, JimTitanReach (Square Root) – Kickstarter failed. Defunct/scam. Aka World of Titans.
It's dead, JimTrials of Ascension (Dragonfire) – Latest Kickstarter failed. In EA as a singleplayer demo.
It's dead, JimTUG (Nerd Kingdom) – Abandoned without a word. Scam.
In the development dungeonsValiance Online (Silverhelm) – Backer beta.
It's dead, JimVigor Roads (NeuronHaze) – Kickstarter unsuccessful. Website dead/abandoned.
It's launched, kindaWar of Rights (Campfire Games) – Successful Kickstarter; in early access.
Holy crap it launchedWorld Seed (Ape Egg) – Kickstarter unsuccessful. Classic launched.
In the development dungeonsWizard’s Wrath (DragonfiAR) – Kickstarter ends December 14.
Holy crap it launchedZenith (Ramen) – Kickstarter successful; VR version launched, PC delayed.

Pantheon

Yes, some crowdfunded MMOs most definitely do succeed. But others crash and burn, and you need to hear about the whole spectrum of games that sought your money early in exchange for the promise of input and transparency. And that’s exactly what Make My MMO does several times a month. Help us keep ’em accountable, would ya?