Make My MMO: Star Citizen sheds execs, Pantheon tops 6K concurrent, Stars Reach eyes Kickstarter

By
Bree Royce
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Welcome to our first Make My MMO of 2025! Make My MMO is a long-running column where we keep track of crowdfunded MMOs, both brand-new titles just starting their campaigns and older games long past their fundraising stage. At the end of December, we recapped all of 2024 in one fell swoop, but now, we’re pushing on to 2025!

Most recently in crowdfunding land, Star Citizen has been raising eyebrows left and right as rumors that Cloud Imperium took a flamethrower to its executive team were proven true. No, not literally, but multiple execs, including the chief strategy officer, chief people officer, corporate secretary, and core tech lead producer, have all been pushed out. The widespread assumption is that CIG is crunching money and continuing to reduce its US footprint in favor of its Toronto office.

Meanwhile, we’ve been checking keeping a few eyeballs on Pantheon, which didn’t wow either of our previewers but has still managed to break 6000 concurrent players and needed to open new servers. And over the holidays, we got a video out of City of Titans recapping the work going on behind the scenes.

Finally, we got some late-breaking news tonight that Stars Reach is angling for a Kickstarter in February.

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!

Monsters & Memories

Recent MMO crowdfunding news

City of Titans

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 two.
It's dead, JimIt's launched, kindaBlast Out (Tarhead Studio) – Kickstarter successful. Aka RUiN. Launched EA but abandoned.
In the development dungeonsIt's launched, kindaBook of Travels (Might and Delight) – Kickstarted. Early access.
It's launched, kindaBroke Protocol (Cylinder) – Unsuccessful KS. In free early access.
In the development dungeonsCamelot Unchained (City State) – Kickstarter; 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.
Holy crap it launchedCrowfall (ArtCraft) – Kickstarter successful, Indiegogo. Launched, sold, unlaunched.
In the development dungeonsChronicles of Elyria (Soulbound) – Kickstarter. Much shenanigans.
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; downgraded.
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 dungeonsDreamworld (Dreamworld Realities) – Successful Kickstarter. Dodgy af. EA.
Holy crap it launchedDual Universe (Novaquark) – Kickstarter funded, donor platform. Launched 2022.
It's launched, kindaEco (Strange Loop Games) – Funded, now in beta.
It's dead, JimEdengrad (Huckleberry Games) – Kickstarter funded. Abandoned.
Holy crap it launchedElite: Dangerous (Frontier Developments) – Funded and fully launched.
Holy crap it launchedEmbers Adrift (Stormhaven) – Indiegogo. Fka Saga of Lucimia. 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)
In the development dungeonsEthyrial Echoes of Yore (Gellyberry). Kickstarter canceled.
It's dead, JimEverFeud (PSB) – Kickstarter canceled.
It's dead, JimEver, Jane (3 Turn Productions) – Successful Kickstarter. Sunsetted 2020.
In the development dungeonsFarm Folks (Crytivo) – Kickstarter successful, studio bought out, new Kickstarter inc.
Holy crap it launchedFractured (Dynamight) – Kickstarter successful. Launched 2024.
It's dead, JimFractured Veil (Paddle Creek) – Kickstarter successful. Canceled in early access.
In the development dungeonsFreeland VR (Freeland VR AB) – Kickstarter successful.
In the development dungeonsFrozen Flame (Dreamside) – Fig campaign successful. In founder alpha.
It's dead, JimHoly crap it launchedGenfanad (Rose Tinted Games) – Kickstarter successful. Launched 2022, sunset 2024.
It's dead, JimIt's launched, kindaGlobal Adventures (SubaGames) – Kickstarter funded.
It's launched, kindaGloria Victis (Black Eye Games) – Open donations; 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.
In the development dungeonsIdentity (Asylum) – Kickstarter successful. Beta July 2022.
It's launched, kindaInfinity: Battlescape (I-Novae Studios) – Successful KS; in early access.
In the development dungeonsIlysia (Team 21) – Kickstarter fully funded Oct 2020. Closed beta.
It's dead, JimHoly crap it launchedHEX (HEX Entertainment) – Funded, launched; sunsetted 2020.
Holy crap it launchedLegends of Aria (Citadel/Reaper) – Shards Online. Launched 2020. Yikes. 2024 revival.
It's dead, JimLife is Feudal (Bitbox): Indiegogo ended. Closed and maintenance-moded.
In the development dungeonsLoftia (Qloud) – Kickstarter. Fully funded.
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.
In the development dungeonsMy Time at Evershine (Pathea Games) – Kickstarter successful.
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.
Holy crap it launchedOccupy White Walls (Stikipixels) – Kickstarter unsuccessful. Launched 2022.
In the development dungeonsOdd Giants (Odd Giants) – Patreon ongoing.
Holy crap it launchedOrbusVR (Ad Alternum) – KS funded March 2017. Launched 2019.
It's launched, kindaOverpower (Hydrant Games) – Kickstarter unfunded; early access.
It's launched, kindaPantheon: Rise of the Fallen (Visionary Realms) – Open donations. Early access.
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. Alpha.
It's dead, JimPathfinder Online (GoblinWorks) – Sunsetted 2021.
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) – Three KS + 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; dev ended.
It's dead, JimSacrament (Ferocity Unbound) – Kickstarter, Patreon failed. Abandoned.
In the development dungeonsScars of Honor (Beast Burst) – Kickstarter unsuccessful; dev continues.
In the development dungeonsSeed (Klang Games) – Kickstarter imminent?
It's dead, JimShadow’s Kiss (Clockwork Throne) – Patreon, Kickstarter. Canceled in early access.
In the development dungeonsShip of Heroes (Heroic) – Kickstarter canceled, launch expected in 2022. Beta.
Holy crap it launchedShroud of the Avatar (Portalarium) – Launch 2016 & 2018. Trainwrecks.
In the development dungeonsSolarpunk (Cyberwave) – Kickstarter successful. Missed alpha window.
In the development dungeonsSpycursion (Defun) – Kickstarter unsuccessful.
In the development dungeonsSquadron 42 (Cloud Imperium) – Beta delayed.
In the development dungeonsStar Citizen (Cloud Imperium) – Ongoing funding. Backer alpha.
It's launched, kindaStarfighter Infinity (Ben Olding) – Kickstarter funded. Early access.
In the development dungeonsStarship Simulator (Fleetyard) – Kickstarter successful.
In the development dungeonsStars Reach (Playable Worlds) – Kickstarter coming in February 2025.
It's launched, kindaSwords ‘n Magic and Stuff (Kindred) – Kickstarter funded. Early access.
Holy crap it launchedTemtem (Crema) – Kickstarter fully funded and launched; MMO dev halted, maint mode.
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.
It's dead, JimThe Repopulation (Idea Fabrik) – Kickstarted twice by A&B. Abandoned, revived-ish.
It's dead, JimThe Stomping Land (Alex Fundora) – Abandoned.
It's dead, JimIt's launched, kindaThe Wagadu Chronicles (Twin Drums) – Kickstarter successful. Canceled in early access.
It's dead, JimTitanReach (Square Root) – Kickstarter failed. Defunct/scam. Aka World of Titans.
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.
In the development dungeonsValiance Online (Silverhelm) – Backer beta.
It's dead, JimVigor Roads (NeuronHaze) – Kickstarter unsuccessful. Website dead/abandoned.
It's launched, kindaWar of Rights (Campfire Games) – Successful Kickstarter; in early access.
Holy crap it launchedWorld Seed (Ape Egg) – Kickstarter unsuccessful. Classic launched.
In the development dungeonsWizard’s Wrath (DragonfiAR) – Kickstarter canceled.
Holy crap it launchedZenith (Ramen) – Kickstarter successful; VR/sidegame maint mode, PC abandoned.

Ashes of Creation drama

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 several times a month. Help us keep ’em accountable, would ya?
Previous articleRaph Koster’s Stars Reach MMORPG is launching a Kickstarter in February – and could launch as early as 2026

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