http://www.inven.co.kr/webzine/news/?news=244335
When you cannot fix the existing version of the game, let’s just milk the revenues from the existing games, and use it to fund the next thing by creating a new version, and calling it ArcheAge 2. Metrics likely highlighted they have a captive customer base (numerous fresh starts as well as players who bought into Unchained/Premium server in Korea) which they can continue milking with AA2.
Obviously, what’s limiting ArcheAge is CryEngine (it uses CryEngine 3 whereas the latest stable build is 5.6.6) and it’s a not so trivial task of simply upgrading to the latest build. Additionally, the revenue model for licensing the engine has changed (CryEngine V initially switched to a “pay what you want” model but as of 2018, that changed to a 5% revenue sharing deal).
So it’s not surprising they decided to base the game on Unreal Engine 5 (since if you are going to start from scratch, might as well utilize the latest tech). The existing game has a ton of great designs which they can simply draw on and expand to the increased capabilities of the newer tech. The problem is always going to be in the business model and the actual in-game mechanics that are used for that monetization.
It’s still going to take them a few years to get this out. But XL just telegraphed the existing versions of the game are an eventual dead end (and just a vehicle for funding AA2 since that has been how XL rolls given how much money they wasted on failed mobile initiatives).
