Image: Fen Research
The creators of Runescape are releasing a cosy new MMO later this year called Brighter Shores.
The creators of Runescape have revealed an all-new MMO called Brighter Shores, which will launch later this year after 10 long years of development. Game designer Andrew Gower and narrative designer Paul Gower are helming the project, after having created Runescape together all the way back in 2001. Brighter Shores shares some similarities with the iconic MMO too, set in a cosy fantasy land where players can unwind and take on a number of different professions.
Here’s a trailer:
Runescape creators reveal new MMO launching in 2024
For the unaware: Andrew Gower developed Runescape with the help of his brother Paul Gower, and the duo formed a studio together called Jagex to run the MMO for years to come. The brothers left Jagex in 2010 however, leaving the game they created behind for other pursuits. This week, it’s come to light that the Gowers have spent the last 10 years making an all-new MMO at their new game studio Fen Research.
This MMO is called Brighter Shores, and it isn’t that much of a departure from Runescape thematically. The game seeks to deliver a cosy and more laid-back multiplayer experience where players can enjoy a “relaxing respite from daily life.” Its visuals are a marked upgrade from Runescape however, as the game is built on the studio’s own Fenforge game engine rather than Java. The MMO is a point-and-click RPG with grid-based tilesets, which should seem familiar enough to Runescape fans.
Brighter Shores is set in a fantasy world where players step into the shoes of the newest recruit in the Hopeport town guard, looking to make a name for themselves. Their new job is quickly derailed by, “a strange storm raging over the harbour and unrest from the local goblins,” however, leading them to take on far more dangerous adventures. The game has a large number of professions to try out, along with, “an ongoing story and hundreds of hours of gameplay.”
Three classes will be available: Cryoknight, Guardian or Hammermage, one of which the player will adopt as they discover sources of magic and deal with a mysterious force corrupting the Hopeforest. When you’re not fighting magical beasts, you’ll also be able to take on the aforementioned professions like blacksmith, woodcutter, chef, alchemist and more to earn your living in town. Developer Fen Research plans to keep updating the game with new ‘episodes’ adding extra story and gameplay content after launch.
Brighter Shores will launch as a free-to-play game on PC and Mac via Steam sometime in Q3 2024. It’s worth noting that while the game is free-to-play, players can access more, “stories, professions and places to explore,” by buying a Premium Pass. Some of the paywalled content includes player trading, unique character names and specific in-game locations.
