Breakdown
- MMO Wayfinder is heading into a new direction, ditching the genre and focusing on a co-op RPG experience
- The game will no longer become a free-to-play title when it fully launches, offering the full game for $24.99
- Airship has also announced the removal of live-service elements, including the always-online requirement and MTX
You'd be forgiven if Wayfinder slipped your mind. The MMO from Airship Syndicate and Warframe publisher Digital Extremes experienced a turbulent start, marked by server issues and the closure of its publishing branch. However, Airship Syndicate isn't bidding farewell to the IP.
Last August, the game debuted in Early Access on Steam, PS4, and PS5 as an MMO. While players could purchase founder's packs of varying amounts, the original plan was for the game to transition into a free-to-play live-service in the future.
However, Wayfinder encountered challenges including server issues, a dearth of content, and a significant setback - the closure of Digital Extremes' publishing arm. This setback delayed further updates, posing difficulties for the always-online MMO to maintain a sufficient player base.
In response, Airship Syndicate took drastic action. Despite being available for only eight months, Wayfinder was withdrawn from sale. The developer cited "major changes and improvements" ahead, adding "but we have no plans for it to vanish like so many online-only games."
The upcoming update appears to be a cornerstone of this strategy. With the Wayfinders Echoes update on the horizon, Airship Syndicate aims to depart from the original model. Transitioning from a free-to-play MMO, Wayfinder is evolving into a paid co-op RPG, shedding all online requirements and microtransactions, with the goal of becoming a perpetually accessible game.
Founder's packs are no longer available either - Airship is discontinuing supporter packs in favor of a single-price approach. However, those who already invested in the packs will retain their exclusive rewards, alongside a conversion of premium currency to in-game resources.
The full list of changes can be found on the Steam blog post.
Existing players on PC can test the new update starting May 31, 2024, while the revamped Wayfinder will launch on June 11, 2024, for other PC players at a price of $24.99. The PlayStation version will receive the Echoes update in the summer, with a full release for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox slated for the fall.
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