GamesMMORunescapeRuneScape creator’s new cozy MMO shouts “No microtransactions!” from the rooftops as it charts November launch after a closed beta coming this monthWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesMMORunescapeRuneScape creator’s new cozy MMO shouts “No microtransactions!” from the rooftops as it charts November launch after a closed beta coming this monthWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Fen Research)
Original RuneScape creator Andrew Gower will make his return to MMOs with Brighter Shores, a new game now confirmed to be launching inSteam early accesson November 6 following a closed beta that starts October 22. The base game will be free, with a premium pass available for purchase.
Brighter Shores has more than a bit of RuneScape in it – rather, both games have a lot of Gower in them – right down to the isometric perspective, life skills like fishing and woodcutting, and a generally freewheeling adventure vibe. You start as a humble guard in the town of Hopeport in the fantasy world of Adothria, and soon break into the wider world. For his new game, Gower leaned into a tabletop RPG aesthetic with point-and-click interactions, and moved away from tick-based mechanics, giving Brighter Shores a smoother look. It also features more MMO-like combat classes than the likes of Old School RuneScape: Cryoknight, Guardian, and Hammermage.
When Gowerfirst revealed the game earlier this year, it was billed as an anti-grind MMO that stands opposed to “the onslaught of microtransactions in modern MMOs.” A press release revealing the release date again specifies “No microtransactions!” as a main selling point, which feels mighty timelygiven the ongoing microtransaction discourseat modern RuneScape (3) shepherd Jagex.
“Andrew Gower has specifically designed the game to be fun no matter how much free time players can spend on it, and without microtransactions,” the release reads. “Brighter Shores allows players to explore, level up and solve quests at a pace that suits them. While there’s many hours of free content available, Fen Research will also be offering a paid premium pass for those who wish to discover even more of the game.”
“We’re releasing Brighter Shores with plenty of features for players to sink their teeth into, but this is just the beginning,” Gower adds. “We’ve planned an extensive roadmap of updates to keep our game fresh and exciting for years to come.”
(Image credit: Fen Research)
I spoke to Gower extensively about the goals and vision for Brighter Shores – you canread our big March interview here. It started out as a way to prove Fen Research’s custom game engine, and over roughly seven years of more direct production became its own game.
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Brighter Shores' premium pass is notably a one-time thing. Gower previously told us that “auto-recurring subscriptions are a very hard sell these days,” so the team “decided to just make a non-recurring payment, you can just buy a pass, get premium one time. It’s not a commitment that you’re gonna have to pay that forever.
“It gives you access to absolutely everything we’ve released up to that date,” he continues. “But obviously, we expect that when we release new episodes, that will drive people to take out a premium pass to enjoy that new episode. And then we’ll bring out another episode, and then they’ll buy another premium pass to enjoy that season.”
On Steam, Fen Research says it expects Brighter Shores to be in early access for approximately six months, “maybe.” Before leaving early access, the dev will add PvP, special attacks, and “Episode 5 - Stonemaw Hill.” The dev promises “hundreds of hours of gameplay” in the launch build, with no account or server wipe coming.
Terraria creator returns to Old School RuneScape, and within weeks catches the MMO dev’s attention, fishes at a concert, and plots a unicorn ritual.
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
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3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
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4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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1
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2
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3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
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5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”