Make My MMO: Elite’s Odyssey is a beautiful mess

By
Bree Royce
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This week in crowdfunded MMOs, our own Stick and Rudder columnist Chris got his paws all over Elite Dangerous’ Odyssey alpha this week, finding the alpha label to be extremely accurate indeed, with plenty of rough edges, balance issues, and a weak test intro – but also one with enormous potential. “Odyssey is a new horizon for Elite Dangerous, and even though these first steps on the game’s new space legs were shaky, they already feel like they’re growing stronger,” he wrote. “I can’t wait to see what’s next.” Space truckin’!

Meanwhile, Project Gorgon got an animation overhaul, Pantheon dabbled in NFT, Ascent The Space Game returned from the brink of death, The Wagadu Chronicles previewed its art, Albion Online’s population continued to rise, and Ship of Heroes planned a spring test. And don’t miss our Elite-themed April Fools’ column!

This week we’ve undertaken a flagging system for all the games on our list so that you can quickly see what stage of development each crowdfunded game is in – let us know if it helps you! A few things we noticed: Antraxx, Spycursion, and Codename Reality are still in development; Descent Underground ran into legal troubles last year but is still coming; Dragon of Legends, Novus AEterno, Global Adventures, Project Oasis World, LUX, Mekria, Midair, Neo’s Land, The Flower of Knighthood, and Everfeud appear abandoned; Empyrion Online actually officially launched last year; PlayCraft hit early access; and Maguss sunsetted. If you spy any errors in our list, please let us know!

Read on for more on what’s been up with MMO crowdfunding over the last few weeks, plus our roundup of all the crowdfunded MMOs we’re following!

Elite Dangerous

Recent MMO crowdfunding news

Camelot Unchained

Campaigns and crowdfunded MMOs we’re watching

Holy crap it launched Holy crap it launched
It's launched, kinda It semi-launched?
In the development dungeons In development
It's dead, Jim Dead or abandoned
Drama bomb
It's dead, Jim3001SQ (SMV) – Kickstarter unsuccessful, dev halted in 2018.
Holy crap it launchedAdventureQuest 3D (Artix) – Raised 368k; beta since 2016.
Holy crap it launchedAlbion Online (Sandbox) – Launched July 2017, hit Steam May 2018.
In the development dungeonsAntraxx (Team Antraxx) – Kickstarter canceled.
Holy crap it launchedAscent: The Space Game (Fluffy Kitten) – Successful KS. Launched 2016.
In the development dungeonsAshes of Creation (Intrepid Studios) – Successful KS. Alpha zero.
It's launched, kindaBlast Out (Tarhead Studio) – Kickstarter successful. Originally called RUiN. In EA.
In the development dungeonsBook of Travels (Might and Delight) – Kickstarted. Closed beta.
It's launched, kindaBroke Protocol (Cylinder) – Unsuccessful KS. In free early access.
In the development dungeonsCamelot Unchained (City State) – Kickstarter successful; open donations/packages.
It's dead, JimCaribbean Conquest (Invenio) – First KS canceled, second ended unsuccessfully.
In the development dungeonsCodename Reality (Orode) – Kickstarter unsuccessful.
It's dead, JimContested Space (Zon) – Kickstarter unsuccessful.
In the development dungeonsCrowfall (ArtCraft) – Kickstarter win, Indiegogo. Beta.
In the development dungeonsChronicles of Elyria (Soulbound) – Kickstarter. Apparently un-abandoned.
Holy crap it launchedCity of Heroes Homecoming (Homecoming) – Monthly donation rounds.
In the development dungeonsCity of Titans (Missing Worlds Media) – Successful KS.
It's dead, JimDawngate (Studio Wayfinder). Kickstarter successful, but no license.
It's launched, kindaDay of Dragons (Beawesome) – Kickstarter successful.
In the development dungeonsDescent Underground (Descendent Studios) – Successful KS.
In the development dungeonsDestiny’s Sword (2Dogs) – Kickstarter successful June 2019; demo avail now.
It's dead, JimDivergence Online (Stained Glass Llama) – Abandoned in early access.
It's dead, JimDogma: Eternal Night (Prelude Games Factory): Kickstarter. Probably dead.
It's launched, kindaIt's dead, JimDragon of Legends (Thrive Games) – Successful Kickstarter.
In the development dungeonsDual Universe (Novaquark) – Kickstarter funded, donor platform. Paid beta.
It's launched, kindaEco (Strange Loop Games) – Funded, now in beta.
It's dead, JimEdengrad (Huckleberry Games) – Kickstarter funded. Abandoned repeatedly.
Holy crap it launchedElite: Dangerous (Frontier Developments) – Funded and fully launched.
Holy crap it launchedEmpyrion Online (Eleon) – Kickstarter canceled; launched on Steam.
It's dead, JimEndless Trials (Fire Hurts) – Kickstarter canceled.
It's launched, kindaEpic Space (EpicSpace.net)
It's dead, JimEverFeud (PSB) – Kickstarter canceled.
It's dead, JimEver, Jane (3 Turn Productions) – Successful Kickstarter. Sunsetted in 2020.
In the development dungeonsFractured (Dynamight) – Kickstarter successful. Alpha 2.
In the development dungeonsFrozen Flame (Dreamside) – Fig campaign successful. In founder alpha.
It's dead, JimIt's launched, kindaGlobal Adventures (SubaGames) – Kickstarter funded.
It's launched, kindaGloria Victis (Black Eye Games) – Open donations, no end date; in early access.
It's dead, JimGreed Monger (Greed Monger) – Abandoned, now allegedly in refund process.
Holy crap it launchedGrim Dawn (Crate Entertainment) – Funded and launched.
Holy crap it launchedIt's dead, JimGuardians of Ember (Runewaker) – Funded and launched.
Holy crap it launchedGuns of Icarus (Muse) – Funded and launched.
It's dead, JimHero’s Song (Pixelmage) – KS canceled; Indiegogo. Canceled w/ refunds.
It's launched, kindaInfinity: Battlescape (I-Novae Studios) – Successful KS; in early access.
It's dead, JimHoly crap it launchedHEX (HEX Entertainment) – Funded, launched; sunsetted in 2020.
In the development dungeonsIlysia (Team 21) – Kickstarter fully funded Oct 2020.
Holy crap it launchedLegends of Aria (Citadel Studios) – Kickstarted as Shards Online. Launched 2020.
It's dead, JimLife is Feudal (Bitbox): Indiegogo ended. Closed and maintenance-moded.
It's dead, JimLUX (Chimera) – Kickstarter canceled. Seemingly abandoned.
It's dead, JimMaestros of the Anthymn (String Theory) – Kickstarter canceled.
Holy crap it launchedIt's dead, JimMaguss (Maguss) – Indiegogo successful; launched then sunsetted in 2020.
It's dead, JimMekria (Infinity Online Studios) – Kickstarter canceled. Seemingly abandoned.
It's launched, kindaIt's dead, JimMidair (Archetype Studios) – Kickstarter successful. On Steam but abandoned.
Holy crap it launchedNebula Online (Mizar Games) Kickstarter canceled; launched in November.
It's dead, JimNeo’s Land (NeoJac Entertainment) – Open donations. Abandoned.
It's dead, JimNovus AEterno (Taitale Studios) – Successful KS. Abandoned.
It's dead, JimOath (Ready-Up) – Kickstarter funded. Seemingly abandoned.
It's launched, kindaOccupy White Walls (Stikipixels) – Kickstarter unsuccessful.
In the development dungeonsOdd Giants (Odd Giants) – Patreon ongoing.
Holy crap it launchedOrbusVR (Ad Alternum) – KS funded March 2017. In early access.
It's launched, kindaOverpower (Hydrant Games) – Kickstarter unfunded; early access.
In the development dungeonsPantheon: Rise of the Fallen (Visionary Realms) – Open donations. Pre-alpha.
It's launched, kindaPantropy (Brain Stone GmbH): First KS canceled, second funded. In EA.
In the development dungeonsPast Fate (Icy North): First Kickstarter unsuccessful, second successful.
In the development dungeonsPathfinder Online (GoblinWorks) – Still alive but struggling.
It's launched, kindaPath of Titans (Alderon) – Indiegogo. In early access.
It's launched, kindaPlanet Nomads (Craneballs) – Kickstarted, early access launched sans multiplayer.
It's launched, kindaPlaycraft (Bebop Games) – Kickstarter funded May 2019; in EA.
It's launched, kindaPixel Starships (SavySoda) – Kickstarter funded. Second one too. In EA.
It's launched, kindaProject Gorgon (Elder Game) – Kickstarted in three tries + Indiegogo. Early access.
It's dead, JimProject Oasis World (POW) – Kickstarter unsuccessful.
Holy crap it launchedPumpkin Online (Monique) – Launched as Pumpkin Days.
It's dead, JimRAW (Killerwhale) – Kickstarter canceled by Kickstarter.
It's dead, JimROKH (Darewise) – Kickstarter canceled; in early access but not active dev.
It's dead, JimSacrament (Ferocity Unbound) – Kickstarter, Patreon failed. Abandoned.
In the development dungeonsSaga of Lucimia (Stormhaven) – Indiegogo. Pre-alpha.
In the development dungeonsSeed (Klang Games) – Kickstarter imminent?
In the development dungeonsShadow’s Kiss (Clockwork Throne) – Ongoing Patreon, Kickstarter funded.
In the development dungeonsShip of Heroes (Heroic) – Kickstarter canceled, launch expected in 2021.
Holy crap it launchedShroud of the Avatar (Portalarium) – Soft launch July 2016. Launched March 2018.
In the development dungeonsSpycursion (Defun) – Kickstarter unsuccessful.
In the development dungeonsSquadron 42 (Cloud Imperium) – Beta delayed until who knows when.
In the development dungeonsIt's launched, kindaStar Citizen (Cloud Imperium) – Ongoing donations/packages. Backer alpha.
It's launched, kindaStarfighter Infinity (Ben Olding) – Kickstarter funded. Early access.
It's launched, kindaSwords ‘n Magic and Stuff (Kindred) – Kickstarter funded. Early access.
It's launched, kindaTemtem (Crema) – Kickstarter fully funded; now in early access.
It's dead, JimThe Exiled (Fairytale Distillery) – fka Das Tal; KS unsuccessful. Early access but dev halted.
It's dead, JimThe Flower of Knighthood – Kickstarter canceled.
Holy crap it launchedThe Realm: Reawakened (Stephen Nichols) – Live game. Ongoing GoFundMe.
In the development dungeonsThe Repopulation (Idea Fabrik) – Kickstarted twice by A&B. Back in alpha.
It's dead, JimThe Stomping Land (Alex Fundora) – Abandoned.
In the development dungeonsThe Wagadu Chronicles (Twin Drums) – Kickstarter successful.
In the development dungeonsTitanReach (Square Root) – Kickstarter unsuccessful. In demo/early access.
It's dead, JimTrials of Ascension (Dragonfire) – Latest Kickstarter failed. In EA as a singleplayer demo.
It's dead, JimTUG (Nerd Kingdom) – Abandoned without a word. Scam.
It's dead, JimVigor Roads (NeuronHaze) – Kickstarter unsuccessful. Website dead/abandoned.
It's launched, kindaWar of Rights (Campfire Games) – Successful Kickstarter; in early access.
In the development dungeonsZenith (Ramen) – Kickstarter successfully funded; now in pre-alpha.

Zenith

Yes, some crowdfunded MMOs most definitely do succeed. But others crash and burn, and you need to hear about the whole spectrum of games that sought your money early in exchange for the promise of input and transparency. And that’s exactly what Make My MMO does every Saturday. Help us keep ’em accountable, would ya?
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