RuneScape Creator's New MMORPG Brighter Shores Launches Early Access In November, Beta Later This Month

Remember when an NPC finally got RuneScape creator Andrew Gower to spill the beans about his upcoming MMORPG's early access release date? It was a pretty neat way to announce the date, actually. At the time, we learned that Brighter Shores would open the gates in November. Specifically, "maybe the 5th."

Well, early access isn't starting on the 5th. It's starting on the 6th.

Fans of the more old-school MMO style may be able to get their hands on Brighter Shores even earlier than that, though. Fen Research will fire up a beta on October 22nd. Both the beta and the early access will be available on Steam Early Access for PC and Mac.

If you haven't been following Brighter Shores at all, the game is very much a more "modern" RuneScape type MMO. Obviously, that's not all that surprising coming from the original creator of RuneScape himself. However, Brighter Shores may be inspired by Gower's past work, but that doesn't mean it plans to bog itself down in all the old systems.

Brighter Shores will still feature an isometric camera and a "more-retro-than-not" art style that Gower pioneered. However, new systems will allow players to level while idle (to a slower degree, of course), offer gameplay options to those who want adventure and to those that want a more "cozy" simulation-type life, and Brighter Shores will not have microtransactions. A paid premium pass will be the only thing you could buy.

There's still a LOT to learn about Brighter Shores. I know there's quite a few players REALLY stoked to see Gower working on another game...and work he has. Brighter Shores has been in development for over a decade, according to the team.

That said, we still don't really have a lot of details, footage, or information about the game itself. I guess, though, that will be changing in less than a month.

Stay tuned!