After 10 years on Steam, Korean MMO ArcheAge is giving up on North America and Europe

GamesMMOAfter 10 years on Steam, Korean MMO ArcheAge is giving up on North America and EuropeWhen 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.

YouTubeWatch On

YouTube

A study aboutwhat might happen at the end of the worldbased on player behaviour in the Korean MMO ArcheAge is about to be put to the test. After a nearly 10-year run on Steam, ArcheAge servers in North America and Europe will be closed in June.

“After discussing the performance of ArcheAge with XL Games at length, we have concluded that we’re no longer able to provide the MMORPG we envisioned,” publisher Kakao Games wrote in aclosure announcement. “The declining number of active players means the game’s content is no longer accessible in the way it used to be, and the experience of it is different from what was originally intended. In light of this, we’ve made the difficult decision to terminate the live service of ArcheAge in Europe and North America.

“We understand this news is disappointing, for it’s a feeling we share. ArcheAge has been a big part of our lives, and we know many of you have a history with the game many times longer than ours. As we approach the end of this journey, we invite you to join us as we ride into the sunset.”

There is still some life left in ArcheAge though: The announcement doesn’t make any references to specific regions outside of North America and Europe, meaning that the East Asian servers should still be fair game. While Kakao Games does note that ArcheAge publishers in other regions have “implemented IP blocks based on their respective licensing agreements,” It still sounds like you should be able to make an account in another region if you need your ArcheAge fix that badly.

“If you eventually find yourself part of a different publisher’s Territory of Service, you are more than welcome to play,” the FAQ states. “Keep in mind that your EUNA in-game data will not be available in other regions, and you will have to start with a fresh account.”

ArcheAge player numbers have been in the doldrums for years. Following a peak of about 6,500 players on Steam in 2014, the player counttailed off dramatically: Since mid-2020 the concurrent player count has generally hovered a little over 100, which is neither sustainable nor much fun for an MMO. Amergeof ArcheAge and the ArcheAge: Unchained spinoff, which is essentially the same game with a different monetization model, took place in November 2023 and barely moved the dial: Following the merge, the concurrent player count briefly climbed into the low 200s.

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

A Kakao Games representative confirmed that ArcheAge will continue to operate in Korea. More information on that is available atarcheage.xlgames.com.

More about mmoWorld of Warcraft’s most recent patch soars with fun additions that last just long enoughWorld of Warcraft’s competitive dungeon mode is strugglingLatestCruel is a frantic run-and-gun shooter where you boot cultists out of windows in a cursed apartment block that wants you deadSee more latest►

More about mmoWorld of Warcraft’s most recent patch soars with fun additions that last just long enoughWorld of Warcraft’s competitive dungeon mode is struggling

More about mmo

World of Warcraft’s most recent patch soars with fun additions that last just long enoughWorld of Warcraft’s competitive dungeon mode is struggling

Image for World of Warcraft’s most recent patch soars with fun additions that last just long enough

World of Warcraft’s most recent patch soars with fun additions that last just long enough

World of Warcraft Mythic Plus screenshot

World of Warcraft’s competitive dungeon mode is struggling

LatestCruel is a frantic run-and-gun shooter where you boot cultists out of windows in a cursed apartment block that wants you deadSee more latest►

Latest

Cruel is a frantic run-and-gun shooter where you boot cultists out of windows in a cursed apartment block that wants you dead

Cruel

Cruel is a frantic run-and-gun shooter where you boot cultists out of windows in a cursed apartment block that wants you dead

See more latest►

Most Popular

My Summer Car, the absurdly detailed Finnish life sim about vehicle maintenance and drinking in your underpants, smashes into 1.0 after nearly a decade in Steam early access

Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes a run at improving parkour, as Ubisoft strives to make the system less ‘like a gas pedal’

Today’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11

The Last of Us season 2 trailer is a brief look at a story you should probably just play yourself in April

Lords of the Fallen publisher embraces fear of the DEI boogeyman, says it will not include ‘any social or political agendas’ in its games

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney says tech leaders are ‘pretending to be Republicans’ to gain favor with Trump, skirt antitrust laws, and ultimately ‘rip off consumers and crush competitors’

If you’re trying to convince me your ‘companionship’ robot is ‘lifelike’, maybe don’t rip her face off in the demo video

Square Enix launches new anti-harassment policy to protect its employees and partners from abusive fans

The Sims begins its 25th anniversary celebration next week with a Behind The Sims episode of news and announcements

Path of Exile 2 numberlord spends 16 straight days killing rare monsters to prove that a stat that makes loot better makes better loot

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

A bunch of the best Steam Deck accessories on a blue background.

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

Thank Goodness You’re Here review

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback

3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

4Ikea Utespelare desk review

Ikea Utespelare desk review

5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals#

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals