Ember Sword
 | This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. (June 2024) |
| Ember Sword | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Bright Star Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Bright Star Studios |
| Director(s) | Maxim Zimnukhov |
| Producer(s) |
|
| Designer(s) | Maciej Ostrowski |
| Artist(s) |
|
| Writer(s) | Samuel Horton |
| Composer(s) | Jannick Damkvist |
| Engine | Project SERIUS |
| Platform(s) | |
| Genre(s) | Social sandbox, Massively multiplayer online role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
Ember Sword is an upcoming massively multiplayer online role-playing social sandbox game developed and published by Bright Star Studios for Windows and macOS. The game's narrative depicts a distant future in which an apocalyptic event devastated the fictional Galilean moon of Thanabus, on which Ember Sword's events take place.
Presented from a three-dimensional isometric perspective, Ember Sword players will battle against each other or non-player characters, enhancing their character's abilities by equipping different weapons and armor. Players will be able to trade with each other for resources or loot them from slain foes. The game will integrate the Ethereum blockchain, which will allow for players to use non-fungible tokens to acquire items.
The game is scheduled for early access release in late 2024, with browser accessibility.
Gameplay[edit]
Players will control a character avatar from a three-dimensional isometric perspective. With the camera locked onto their character, players will be able to traverse and engage in different activities.[1] Characters will be factionless; with combat with hostile non-player characters (NPCs) called "mobs" or other players in designated player versus player arena spaces.[2] Abilities will be tied directly to the types of weapons that are equipped, with armor complementing their respective character statistics. Items and currency will be acquired by looting corpses of slain NPCs or by trading with other players. Professions will be developed by earning points by participating in respective in-game activities, such as mining, fishing and logging.[1]
Ember Sword will follow a play-to-earn business model; currency earned by slaying mobs, selling items and trading with players will be exchanged for tokens that convert to Ethereum cryptocurrency. Players will be able to acquire land, used for the construction of structures, planting of crops and establishment of dungeons.[2]
Development[edit]
Production of Ember Sword began in 2018, under the Danish developer So Couch Studios, led by chief executive officer Mark Laursen. It was announced in October of that year. Initially developed on the Unity game engine, Ember Sword was intended designed for Windows and Android operating systems. The Ethereum blockchain was intended to be integrated into the game, which will allow for players to acquire tokenized cosmetics through gameplay, tradable for the in-game currency called "PIXEL".[3][1] In April 2020, the venture capitalist firm Galaxy Interactive announced a $700,000 pre-seed investment alongside Play Ventures in the game's developer, renamed Bright Star Studios.[4] An initial virtual sale of in-game land was held in May 2021; the four thousand available plots sold out within six hours.[5]
In July 2021, Bright Star held a subsequent virtual land sale, resulting in over $203 million being pledged from approximately 35,000 applications for plots.[6] Shortly after the conclusion of the initial land sale, a $2 million investment deal from the previous May was announced.[7]
Ember Sword initially was to rely upon Polygon (MATIC) as the platform for handling Ethereum, but with the establishment of Immutable Pty Ltd's Immutable X platform, Bright Star announced in March 2022 that it would migrate to the newer platform, alongside a $100 million partnership with GameStop.[8] Bright Star decided in 2021 to abandon Unity as the game engine and develop a proprietary engine that would favor browser accessibility and streaming media.[1] Bright Star initially contracted with a third-party engine developer, but decided to develop a proprietary engine in-house. Five game engines were attempted before Bright Star created the final iteration called Project SERIUS.[9]
Release[edit]
In April 2022, virtual land owners and VIP badge holders were given access to a pre-alpha technical test of the game.[10] A year later, an alpha test was held, focused on a new area and demonstrating rudimentary core mechanics.[11] A subsequent vertical slice alpha demo was released in October 23, allowing players to participate in raids.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e Hassfeld, Niels (October 26, 2023). "Ember Sword Hands-On Preview – Potentially great MMO, but worries about Blockchain". IGN. Archived from the original on October 27, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ a b "Immutable Games Spotlight: Ember Sword Announces Alpha Land Sale" (Press release). Immutable Pty Ltd. July 28, 2023. Archived from the original on August 1, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ Daniel, Matt (October 18, 2018). "New mobile MMO Ember Sword is another cryptocurrency game". Massively Overpowered. Archived from the original on October 18, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ Sheehan, Gavin (May 1, 2020). "Galaxy Interactive Part Of $700K Investment Into Bright Star Studios". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on May 3, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ Takahashi, Dean (July 13, 2023). "Bright Star Studios launches land sale for Web3 MMO Ember Sword". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on July 13, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ Shankar, Poorna (August 4, 2021). "Ember Sword's Pledges Reach Over $203 Million for NFT Community Land Sale". MMORPG.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ Kaser, Rachel (December 6, 2021). "Bright Star Studios attracts new investors following in-game land sale". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ Takahashi, Dean (February 3, 2022). "GameStop launches NFT marketplace on Immutable X, creates $100M dev fund". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on September 21, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ Laursen, Mark (January 24, 2023). "Bright Star Studios: Forging Better Experiences in Gaming and Technology in 2023 & Beyond" (Press release). Bright Star Studios. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ Gonzalez, Christina (March 3, 2022). "Ember Sword Will Hold Pre-Alpha Technical Testing in April". MMORPG.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ Whitmore, Ralph (April 24, 2023). "Ember Sword Alpha Impressions - Did Bright Star's MMO Show Potential?". MMORPG.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2024.