ArcheAge Chronicles news & patch notes
Key ArcheAge Chronicles announcements, newest first, in a sentence or two each. Once early access starts, patch notes will be summarized here too. You can also follow new items through the RSS feed.
Early access starts November 3 at 3 PM PT, Steam pre-purchase open
Steam early access opens November 3 at 3 PM PT (8 AM on November 4 in Korea). Pre-purchase opened on Steam on October 27 (PT) at $29.99, or 36,000 won in Korea. The pre-order bonus, the Dawn Pioneer set, is an outfit for one class of your choice, claimed in game after launch. The press release describes an area about 20 times the size of the demo with over 1,000 things to explore and collect, and the demo finished Next Fest fifth on Steam's most played demos list.
Sources: Steam, 경향게임스, Gematsu · Related: Release date & early access, Platforms, price & monetization, Early access content & update plans, Korea service FAQ, How to join playtests & the demo
PC specs updated: RTX 2060 SUPER minimum, SSD required
The Steam minimum spec dropped from an RTX 3060 Ti to an RTX 2060 SUPER (AMD RX 6600), and the minimum CPU from an i5-12400 to an i5-10400 (Ryzen 5 3600). The recommended GPU is now an RTX 4060 Ti 16GB (AMD RX 7700 XT). Both tiers require an SSD and target 1080p with Quality upscaling: 30 FPS on Low for minimum, 60 FPS on High for recommended. The change was not announced; we noticed it on October 28.
Sources: Steam · Related: System requirements, Korea service FAQ
Official site copyright line now lists Align Studio
The copyright line on the official site (English) now names XLGAMES and Align Studio (ALINESTUDIO Corp.), as checked after the October 27 closing date of the ArcheAge IP transfer. Steam still lists XLGAMES as developer and publisher, and the terms under which Chronicles uses the IP have not been disclosed.
Sources: 공식 사이트 · Related: IP transfer & publishing change
Steam demo ends
The Next Fest demo ended on October 26 at 10 AM PT. In a Steam post, the team thanked players and said feedback will shape development. According to several outlets, demo progress does not carry over to early access.
Sources: Steam · Related: How to join playtests & the demo
Brazil server added to the demo
A Brazil server was added to the demo at players' request. It appears under NA in the server list for now, but it is located in Brazil.
Sources: Steam · Related: How to join playtests & the demo
Early access price set at $29.99: three regions at launch, date still to come
In a developer video released October 21, executive producer Yongjin Ham set the early access price at $29.99 (36,000 won in Korea), buy once with no extra fees. Early access opens with three Auroria regions (Diamond Shores, Gylden Ruins, and Astron Plains), more than 30 hours of main story and quests, and four classes with two weapons each. Later plans include more gender options starting with select classes, a third weapon per class, new regions, and more life and community content. The Steam page expects early access to last about 9 to 12 months and says the price may change at full release. The start date will be announced later.
Sources: Steam, 인벤, Massively OP · Related: Platforms, price & monetization, Early access content & update plans, Release date & early access, Weapons & classes, Korea service FAQ
Black screen at launch: wait up to 10 minutes
A Steam notice said some players see a black screen at launch. Loading can take 5 to 10 minutes, so wait up to 10 minutes without closing the game, and contact support if it persists.
Sources: Steam · Related: How to join playtests & the demo, Korea service FAQ
Steam demo opens October 19 at 10 AM PT: what to check first
The Steam Next Fest demo opens October 19 at 10 AM PT (2 AM on October 20 in Korea) and runs until October 26 at 10 AM PT. Download it from the Steam store page with no sign-up; it has Asian servers and supports Korean. The download size has not been announced, and the full game lists 100 GB of storage. Several outlets report that demo progress will not carry over to early access.
Sources: Steam, 게임인사이트, Mein-MMO · Related: How to join playtests & the demo, System requirements, Progression
Demo details: servers worldwide, Korean support, and a new dungeon
The executive producer detailed the demo in a Steam letter. It runs with no region limits on servers in North America (East and West), Central Europe, and East and South Asia, in English, Korean, and Simplified and Traditional Chinese. Alongside about two to three hours of quests, it adds Throne of Hinnon, a high-level dungeon behind a hidden key, and you can enter PvP channels once you leave the first town and reach the Nui statue at your next stop. Since the network test, voice-over, facial animation, and party quest sharing have been added, and work has begun on more gender options, starting with some classes, though not in time for the demo.
Sources: Steam, MMOHuts · Related: How to join playtests & the demo, Korea service FAQ, Weapons & classes
26 Partner Creators announced
A Steam post named the 26 creators picked for the Partner Creator Program, which opened applications in September. One of them, 천하진 CHEONHAJIN, is listed under a Korean name.
Sources: Steam
Progression explained: levels, stats, and weapon trait trees
The global PM explained progression in a Steam post. Most EXP comes from quests, exploration, and points of interest rather than monsters, and each level gives stat points you assign yourself across six primary stats. Trait points are separate from your level: you earn them at Raeven's Coilstones, each guarded by a powerful boss, and spend them in each weapon's own trait tree to unlock new skills or change how existing ones work. Solving every Hersander's Tower riddle in a zone opens a timed fight against a souped-up boss, with clear times on a leaderboard.
Sources: Steam · Related: Progression, Weapons & classes
Developer video: no in-game store at early access launch
In a developer video, executive producer Yongjin Ham laid out the game's direction and business model. It is buy-to-play with no in-game store at early access launch; later, extra content, customization, and convenience items are being considered, pay-to-win items will never be sold, and the timing and items will be announced in advance. The four classes in the current build were named Battlerage, Archery, Sorcery, and Defense, and each class has two weapons for now with a third planned. Gliding, underwater exploration, housing, life skills and crafting, and trade are also in development.
Sources: Games Press, 경향게임스, MMORPG.com · Related: Platforms, price & monetization, Weapons & classes, Korea service FAQ
PvP explained: separate normal and PvP channels
The global PM explained PvP in a Steam post. Each area is split into normal channels with no PvP and PvP channels where anyone outside your party and guild can be attacked; you switch at Nui statues after a delay. Monsters in PvP channels give 10–15% more XP, and player kills only earn kill logs and achievements. PvP channels are open from day one of the demo.
Sources: Steam, JeuxOnLine, GoHa.ru · Related: ArcheAge vs ArcheAge Chronicles, How to join playtests & the demo, Korea service FAQ
Steam Next Fest demo announced: open to everyone from October 19
Any Steam user can play the demo without signing up from October 19 to 26 (10 AM PT). It covers the early Diamond Shores region, all four classes, and PvP for the first time in a public build, while housing and trade are left out. No early access date or price was announced.
Sources: 인벤, Gematsu, Steamworks: Next Fest 일정 · Related: How to join playtests & the demo, Release date & early access, Korea service FAQ, Weapons & classes
Berserker revealed: axe and shield, or warhammer
The Berserker, the last of the four announced classes, got its two weapons detailed on the official Discord. Axe and shield is a defensive charger that builds Bleed, knocks enemies back, and reduces damage taken; the warhammer builds Burn and stored thunder for heavy strikes.
Sources: MMORPG.com, Massively OP · Related: Weapons & classes
Mage class revealed: Elemental Staff and Wavesword
Following the Warrior and Ranger, the Mage uses an Elemental Staff for ranged fire and lightning attacks and a Wavesword for frost melee. Spells can be retained and chained without incantations, and ten energy cores trigger Shooting Star.
Sources: MMORPG.com · Related: Weapons & classes
Global PM introduced
XLGAMES introduced its Global PM in a Steam post. His role is to share development news directly with Western players.
Sources: 스팀 공지: 글로벌 PM 소개 · Related: IP transfer & publishing change
Partner Creator Program opens
XLGAMES began accepting creator applications. Anyone 18 or older can apply from YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, or other platforms, with no minimum audience stated. Selected creators may receive exclusive information, creator assets, and collaboration opportunities.
Sources: 신청 양식, 스팀 커뮤니티 소식
Producer letter: self-publishing and early access this year
Executive producer Ham shared the network test results. More players joined than planned but the servers held up, and fixes are coming for black screens, the party UI, and griefing. Gender-locked classes stay for early access, which is still planned for this year with no date.
Sources: 스팀 공지: 총괄 프로듀서 편지, 인벤 · Related: Release date & early access, How to join playtests & the demo
North American network test held
A six-hour server and network test ran for Steam users in the US and Canada (7 PM to 1 AM ET). Only the early areas were open, and Korea was not included.
Sources: 스팀 공지: 테스트 사전 다운로드, 인벤 · Related: How to join playtests & the demo
IP transfer details: Chronicles trademarks included, development excluded
Filing attachments list 'ArcheAge Chronicles' trademarks among the marks being transferred, while the Chronicles development business is excluded. How Chronicles will hold rights after the transfer was not disclosed.
Sources: 인벤 · Related: IP transfer & publishing change
XLGAMES files to sell the ArcheAge IP and ArcheAge S
XLGAMES disclosed it will sell the ArcheAge IP and the ArcheAge S project to Align Studio for about 39.2 billion won. The deal closes on October 27, and the stated reason is securing liquidity and improving its finances.
Sources: 디지털투데이, 한국일보 · Related: IP transfer & publishing change
Open-world tour video released
A roughly three-minute video toured Auroria, showing quests, caravan trading, and combat.
Sources: Massively OP · Related: Trade, crafting & farming overview
Network test announced
A single six-hour network test was announced for September 12. Steam users in the US and Canada could apply on the store page, and streaming was discouraged but not banned. Early access was reaffirmed for Q4 2026.
Sources: 스팀 공지: 네트워크 테스트 안내, 인벤 · Related: How to join playtests & the demo, Release date & early access
Kakao Games Q2 call: Steam early access in Q4
On its Q2 earnings call, Kakao Games said Chronicles would debut in Steam early access in Q4, with XLGAMES now running the service itself.
Sources: 인벤 · Related: Release date & early access, IP transfer & publishing change
Ranger class revealed: hatchet and longbow
The Ranger fights with a hatchet for fast melee built on dodges and counters, and a longbow that marks targets, keeps its distance, and lands critical hits.
Sources: MMORPG.com, 게임뷰 · Related: Weapons & classes
Housing revealed
Housing works by claiming a plot and placing buildings in a dedicated edit mode. The video showed a scarecrow garden and what looks like a forge.
Sources: 게임뷰 · Related: Trade, crafting & farming overview
Warrior class revealed, business model outlined
The Warrior, wielding a longsword and a greatsword, was the first class detailed. Four classes have been named (Warrior, Berserker, Mage, Ranger), and the business model is buy-to-play with mostly cosmetic paid items and no pay-to-win.
Sources: MMORPG.com, 게임뷰 · Related: Weapons & classes, Platforms, price & monetization