KRAFTON is a name that’s synonymous with AAA online gaming. Readers, and players-alike, will very likely recognize this name thanks to their game development in games such as PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, TERA, Elyon, Devilian and the upcoming Callisto Protocol. Though originally named Bluehole Studio, the gaming giant became an umbrella company to hold subsidiary developer studios such as Bluehole Studio (I know, confusing!), RisingWings, Striking Distance Studios, and Unknown Worlds Entertainment.
So, naturally, players are interested in what is next for the PUBG developer’s future. Earlier this year, however, KRAFTON announced the sunsetting (shutting down of a game) of TERA; which impressively ran from January 2011 – June 2022. This would then follow-up with the company announcing the shutting down of their only other MMORPG, Elyon, which released in North America and Europe back in October 2021. The game, unfortunately, did not well in the West (the same can be said about the East, but this would be a much longer article), and is scheduled to be shut down globally on December 7, 2022.
Of course, it wasn’t all bad news, as KRAFTON soon announced the development of their new IP: Project Windless. Still, throughout the year not much has been said on the forefront on what is going on with Project Windless, other than reports for a 2022 release of their Art Book, with a 2023 release of its accompanied Graphic Novel. The team set to develop the game is reported to be set up by the end of year – latest, so players should expect a release in the next 3-5 years.
For the console version of TERA, there have been no updates on their social media such as Facebook, Twitter or Discord for patches or information on the game since March 2022.
Their other confirmed projects such as Project M, or their Deep Learning AI Special Project II, too, have no information.
What we do know is that KRAFTON has been looking into Web3 and investing into the NFT / Crypto craze that is running amok these days in the gaming sphere. So, what exactly is this upcoming project of theirs that is titled Project Migaloo? Is it a brand-new MMORPG to replace the likes of TERA and Elyon? Is it perhaps a new mobile game? Nope.
Instead, Project Migaloo is an upcoming metaverse project from KRAFTON which is hoping to offer a Create-to-Earn platform. If you’re as confused as I was while researching this, don’t worry, I understand. So, from my understanding, players can decide to opt-in to this virtually created world from the TERA developers and NaverZ – which is a 3D developer studio that creates applications for facial recognition, 3D avatars and AR technologies.
Players, or rather Creators, can then go on to expand on this virtual world; pretty much what Core did first, which is another metaverse game available on Epic Games, where players can create their own virtual worlds and earn on the Blockchain. However, it doesn’t stop there. KRAFTON has gone on to invest quite heavily in developing a 3D AI virtual human called Ana (see above). Ana’s purpose is to be, for lack of a better term, a mascot for the company. Which would include developing entertainment through different parts of the industry, such as Music Videos, Commercials, Concerts, Collaborations / Partnerships, etc.
Now, inside Project Migaloo, while KRAFTON is selling NFTs of their IPs, like TERA images or items – not much of a difference from them selling the exact same items from TERA in the Elyon cash shop, which did in fact occur – players will very likely see Ana, the new AI virtual human, communicating with others.
“Ana is a Virtual Influencer targeting global Gen. Z with its own unique universe.” – KRAFTON 2022 Investor Relations Report
So, if you’re a TERA player on the console version and you’re waiting for additional information on what is happening with the game, updates, etc. Based on the fact that the Bluehole Studio development team has not shared a single piece of information on their social media, and have also seemingly abandoned their official Discord Server for the game; I think it’s safe to say, that maybe you shouldn’t hold your breath for more information.
However, I will be looking for information always, and update readers as soon as I possibly can when it comes to this dear game that brings me such nostalgia. As for Elyon, it is still expected to shut down globally on December 7, 2022. Project Windless, Project M and other upcoming projects have no additional information. The Callisto Protocol, the upcoming sci-fi survival horror game from Dead Space creator, Glen Schofield, and Striking Distance Studios will release on December 2, 2022.
