Archeage Promotional Events And Free Content Updates In 2017

The year 2017 marked a significant period for the free-to-play MMORPG ArcheAge, characterized by major content expansions and community-focused promotional events. During this time, the game's publisher, Trion Worlds, alongside developer XLGAMES, introduced several updates that provided players with new gameplay systems and celebratory activities. These updates were offered as free content additions to the existing game, allowing players to experience new features without an upfront purchase. The primary focus of these 2017 initiatives included the release of the "Erenor Eternal" expansion, the introduction of the Ancestral Level system, and anniversary celebrations that rewarded player participation.

The Erenor Eternal Expansion

In June 2017, Trion Worlds and XLGAMES announced a massive content update for ArcheAge titled "Erenor Eternal," which was scheduled for release on June 7, 2017. This expansion was distributed as a free content update to the game. One of the most significant changes introduced with the Erenor Eternal expansion was the Ancestral Level system. Prior to this update, players in ArcheAge were capped at Level 55. The new expansion allowed players to progress beyond this cap through the Ancestral Level system. At the launch of the expansion, there were 7 Ancestral Levels available, with Ancestral Skills being granted to players upon reaching Levels 1, 4, and 7 of this new progression system.

Merv Lee Kwai, the Executive Producer of ArcheAge at the time, commented on the upcoming update, stating, "ArcheAge has always been forward thinking in design, constantly pushing the limits of what’s possible in an open world MMO." This statement highlights the development team's intent to expand the game's capabilities through this free update.

Anniversary Celebrations and Community Events

ArcheAge celebrated its third anniversary in 2017 with a series of promotional events designed to engage the player base. The third annual Shadowguard Festival was a key component of these celebrations. This festival included a specific quest that tied into the anniversary celebration, offering players a thematic activity to participate in. In addition to the quest, the anniversary events featured an auction house discount, which allowed players to list items on the auction house with reduced fees, thereby enabling them to sell their in-game goods with larger profit margins.

The anniversary celebrations extended through October 18, 2017, giving players a substantial window to take advantage of the event-specific rewards and discounts. An article from Massively OP noted that there was a full report available on the anniversary and an upcoming update, which was based on a meeting with ArcheAge’s Seraphina Brennan at PAX. This indicates that promotional information and updates were disseminated through both in-game events and external media channels.

Gameplay Features and Free-to-Play Model

ArcheAge is described as an open-world sandbox game that offers a wide variety of activities. Players can engage in features such as raising mounts, fighting through dungeons, crafting high-quality armor, constructing open-world farms and houses, sailing ships for trade, using airships for combat, and engaging in player-versus-player combat to defend territory for their guild. These features are part of the core game experience, which is available as a free-to-play title on PC.

The game's environment is noted for its risks, particularly in relation to transporting goods across the high seas, where pirates and bandits pose a threat. This open-world design philosophy was a central part of the game's appeal and was maintained through the free-to-play model. The game was originally released in North America and Europe on September 16, 2014, by Trion Worlds, with publishing rights transferring to Kakao Games on December 1, 2021.

ArcheAge Begins Mobile Game Update

In addition to the main PC version, 2017 also saw activity for the mobile version of the franchise, ArcheAge Begins. Gamevil, the publisher for this mobile title, released the game's first major update in late 2017. This patch introduced new content, including a guild versus guild system. While ArcheAge Begins is a separate mobile game, its promotion and updates were part of the broader ArcheAge brand's activity during this period. The mobile game was described as a visually impressive title, and the update demonstrated continued support for the franchise across different platforms.

Access and Participation

The promotional events and content updates discussed were available to players of the free-to-play version of ArcheAge on PC. Participation in events like the Shadowguard Festival and accessing the new content from the Erenor Eternal expansion did not require an additional purchase beyond having a game account. The auction house discount was an automatic benefit available to players during the event period. For the mobile game ArcheAge Begins, the update was distributed through standard mobile app update channels.

Conclusion

The year 2017 provided ArcheAge players with substantial free content and promotional activities. The Erenor Eternal expansion significantly expanded the game's progression system with the introduction of Ancestral Levels, while the third-anniversary celebrations offered event-specific quests and economic benefits through auction house discounts. These initiatives were part of the ongoing development and support for the game's free-to-play model on PC, alongside parallel updates for the mobile title ArcheAge Begins.

Sources

1. DualShockers - ArcheAge: Erenor Eternal Expansion Release Date
2. ArcheAge Fandom Wiki - ArcheAge Overview
3. Massively OP - ArcheAge Celebrates Third Anniversary
4. Massively OP - ArcheAge Begins First Big Update