Bluehole, creators of bothPlayerUnknown’s BattlegroundsandTERA, has announced a new game. IntroducingAscent: Infinite Realm, also known asAIR, a high fantasy steampunk MMO with a heavy focus on airship combat and “Realm vs. Realm” PvP. A beta for Korean players is set to begin in the first half of 2018, but there is no official release date or release window for the game.
AIRmay be coming from the developers ofTERA, but early details could lead players to think ofKorean MMOs includingAIONandBlack Desert Online. For one,AIRplaces a heavy importance on verticality within the game world. Whether it be via airship or flying mount, players will be soaring through the sky exploring and participating in aerial combat. And likeBDO, there’s also plenty of housing and customization features.
In addition to flight and customization, Bluehole is also focusing heavily on “Realm vs. Realm” combat, or what the developers are callingAIR’s interfactional PvP. Players will fight between huge flying warships, leaping from ship to ship and shooting cannons at enemies. Players can also man mechs from the ground, firing anti-air artillery. Bluehole seems to be aiming for something truly unique with Realm vs. Realm battles.
There are plenty of other details left forBlueholeto reveal, of course. The game will feature five “customizable” classes, but those classes and how they are customized remains a mystery. The announcement also mentions thatAIRis a fusion of “classic MMORPG elements,” which may giveTERAfans pause since the game was heavily criticized for its classic MMO structure.
AIRwill be published in the west by Kakao Games, which alsopublishedBlack Desert Onlinein North America and Europe. Kakao is another South Korean company and whileBlack Desert Onlinehasn’t been perfectly received in the west, Kakao has done a solid job of localizing. That is, it’s a solid job when compared to other struggling Korean MMOs. That Bluehole didn’t end up partnering with En Masse again, which runsTERA’s western services, is perhaps telling.
No release date for the PC-exclusive MMOAIRhas yet been announced. Expect more information throughout 2018.
