Bless is coming to console, y’all, and it’s doing so under Bandai Namco’s banner.
“BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. today announced Bless Unleashed, a new free-to-play MMORPG experience coming first to the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X. Developed by Round 8 Studio of NEOWIZ, players will dive into an epic multiplayer journey across a vibrant persistent world where gods and mythical beasts exist. Bless Unleashed takes place in an untamed world with a rich backstory created with hardcore MMO gamers in mind. With deep combo-driven mechanics, player customization and cooperative (PvE) and competitive (PvP) multiplayer, there is an endless amount of content and gameplay possibilities to keep players engaged. The game utilizes the Unreal Engine 4, bringing unparalleled visuals to a fully realized fantasy world, offering one of the most stunning MMORPGs produced on a console platform. Players can enter an open persistent world where mythical beasts roam the land with integrated players-vs-player (PVP) mode. Five classic fantasy classes will be available for players to choose, from an arcane-wielding Mage to a bloodthirsty Berserker.”
BN’s Joon Hwang says the game will “takes the gameplay depth and community of an MMORPG and sets itself apart to create a new console RPG experience featuring fast-paced combat and beautifully rendered graphics.” PlayStation 4 is not mentioned, so this is just for Xbone for now.
MMORPG players have been watching Bless all summer as its western port disappointed audiences and reviewers alike and has struggled to right itself during its paid early access beta. The PC version of the game was originally announced in 2011.
We’ve updated this piece to reflect Neowiz’s email to us clarifying that it’s not a direct port but rather a “whole new game, built from the ground up in Unreal 4 with a focus on consoles. New story, new combat, new content, etc.”
