Dungeonborne, the ambitious title that aimed to carve its niche in the competitive realm of fantasy hack-and-slash extraction games, has officially announced its impending closure. Mithril Interactive, the developer behind the game, revealed that new account registrations and in-game purchases will cease on February 28, with the game itself set to go offline on May 28.
Development Journey and Challenges
The journey of Dungeonborne began with its first reveal in February 2024, where it was met with a mixed reception. Players noted its rough edges, a common occurrence for titles still in early development. The game drew comparisons to Dark and Darker, prompting Mithril Interactive to clarify its independence from Nexon, which had been embroiled in legal disputes with Ironmace, the developers of Dark and Darker, over copyright issues.
Despite its potential, Dungeonborne struggled to gain traction. According to SteamDB, the game peaked at a mere 22 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, a stark indicator of its waning interest. The lack of consistent updates from the developers likely contributed to this decline. Following the announcement of a season 1 roadmap and a pre-season patch in late September, players were left waiting as updates came to a standstill until today’s announcement.
Contrasting Fortunes in the Genre
In a twist of fate, Dark and Darker has continued to thrive in the same genre. After making a return to Steam in June 2024, just ahead of Dungeonborne’s final open beta, Dark and Darker has maintained a robust player base, with its most recent peak nearing 12,000 concurrent players. This stark contrast highlights the challenges faced by Dungeonborne and raises questions about the competitive landscape of fantasy gaming.
