Superhero MMORPG Metropolis of Heroes was formally shut down on the finish of 2012, however a bunch of devoted followers by no means gave up on the sport. And over a decade after the official servers went darkish, the most important fan server has been given the all-clear through a license from NCSoft, which is an enormous reduction for gamers. “Your accounts and characters are protected,” reads an announcement from Homecoming, a fan-run Metropolis of Heroes server. “Growth of latest content material will proceed.”
Homecoming was constructed off the unique sport code, which was uncovered in 2019. The server not solely restored the unique MMO content material, however included new class options, mechanics, and quality-of-life updates. Homecoming has lined its prices off donations; enjoying on the server is free. Nevertheless, gamers had existed in a form of limbo, ready to see if the company with authorized rights to the content material would muscle in and shut the occasion down.
Technically, NCSoft nonetheless may train its proper to finish Homecoming, however the folks behind the server don’t appear involved, saying within the announcement Q&A: “We’ve had a very optimistic and productive relationship with NCSoft for over 4 years now, so we don’t anticipate there being any points.” For followers who missed their outdated consolation MMO, this can be a enormous reduction; it feels as if the Eye of Sauron has moved on, eradicating an existential risk to the venture.
Homecoming is a ardour venture run by gamers, for gamers, and it looks like a belated Christmas miracle to see this settlement made public between the server and NCSoft. There isn’t a sport that’s managed to succeed in the heights of Metropolis of Heroes’ superheroic crusades and villainous schemes, so it’s good to know that it’ll proceed to stay on due to the fervour of its participant base.