ArcheAge Has Four New Projects in the Works After Most Servers Shut Down

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ArcheAge may be gone in most regions, but XL Games isn’t done with the series. After the original MMORPG shut down in North America and Europe in June 2024, then China in September 2024 and Korea in March 2025, the studio now has several ArcheAge projects moving at once.

The lineup covers a pretty wide spread: an online action RPG, a new PC MMORPG, a separate worldwide MMO project, and a China-only revival of the original game. Not all of them are aimed at the same players, and not all of them are confirmed for the West.

  • ArcheAge Chronicles is the closest to release. Formerly known as ArcheAge 2, it has shifted away from a traditional MMORPG setup and is now being positioned as an online action RPG for PC and consoles, with solo and co-op PvE, plus some MMO-style features like housing and raids. XL Games is targeting a fourth-quarter launch.
  • Project X7 is described in XL Games’ annual report as a new PC MMORPG and a spiritual successor to the original ArcheAge. It’s being built in Unreal Engine 5 and is expected to keep major ArcheAge pillars like an open world, PvP, and a player-driven economy. The report points to a second or third quarter 2027 launch window.
  • ArcheAge S: Straits of Freedom is now official after an earlier trademark filing. XL Games and Kakao Games are framing it as a PC MMORPG for worldwide distribution, with Kakao handling publishing in Korea and international markets. A release is planned from next year, though it’s not clear yet whether that means a simultaneous global launch or a Korea-first rollout. No business model has been announced.
  • ArcheAge Returns is a relaunch of the original PC MMORPG for China, developed under a licensing deal with local publisher Chuangtian Interactive. Its Pioneer closed beta began June 26. The project uses a 1:1 recreation of the classic map, HD visual upgrades, the original skillsets, housing, land auctions, crafting, trading, and promised server improvements for large-scale battles.

For now, ArcheAge Returns has no announced Western release. ArcheAge S and Project X7 are the ones to watch if you’re looking for a more traditional MMO follow-up, while Chronicles is clearly aiming for a different crowd with its action RPG approach.

It’s a strange spot for the series. The original game is effectively gone outside Russia, but the name is suddenly attached to more projects than it has been in years. Whether that turns into a real comeback for ArcheAge players is still an open question.