Perfect World announced two sunsets yesterday: Four-year-old Swordsman Online and nine-year-old Jade Dynasty will close down in June. Here’s the official announcement for Swordsman players posted yesterday evening.
“It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the shutdown of all Swordsman (SWM) servers on June 5th, 2018. On that day, your SWM character will no longer be accessible. This was a very difficult decision to make, but we are grateful for everything that you have put into the game and all the wonderful communities that have come from SWM. We no longer feel there is room for SWM to grow, but the development teams are moving on to bigger and better things! As amends to our most dedicated fans, we are making sure to offer refunds for the last few months.”
The Jade Dynasty announcement is nearly identical, with the same shutdown date and promise of refunds. Cash shop currency is no longer available for purchase; currency purchases made since February 1st will apparently be converted into Arc credit for your account.
The company continues to operate multiple online games, including Star Trek Online, Neverwinter, and Champions Online. Its MOBA Gigantic is already slated to close down on July 31st.
So, a Western port of a primarily Eastern based MMO failed. Guess not everything translates well. Amazing though that they sunset this yet, Champions Online still limps along.
Swordsman Online was fun, although I didn’t stick with it to endgame. It’s a shame it’s going away. Very accessible to English speakers, unlike many similar games.
Have there been more shutdowns this year than launches? It sure feels that way. There are too many games out there atm, but it still sucks, I heard Swordsman Online presented story fairly well (being based on a series of novels).
Eh. If you want to get the full story try and find a Chinese tv show called Laughing in the Wind. Though there is also a 2018 adaptation called New Smiling Proud Wanderer.
People are quicker top denounce pay to win mechanics now. Atleast in the West. That’s why there are so many companies going to mobile. That’s where the fools are now. All’s not well there either. BNS and Riders of Icarus mobile are already done.
It’s just so cold how they shut down a nine-year-old running MMO in a very flippant way. As if it meant nothing.
Which sure, it may have meant nothing to them, but it would cost them $0 to at least put some effort into the announcement post. At least pretend to be sad.
Did you miss “with great sadness and a heavy heart” part?
Yeah, the same buzzwords you get on every single generic server/site shutdown ever, non-MMOs included.
Ya, but you cant blame them for not pretending to be sad. They pretend
Perfect World needs to do something high budget and ambitions to sit at big players table again. I remember when it was one of the biggest MMO companies. And now I barely hear about it and when I hear its news like this.
They may be clearing out their catalogue for Magic The Gathering MMO.