2023 is almost over - and what a year it’s been! With the launch of a second server, record player numbers enjoying the game, and some hugely ambitious new features added, this year saw Albion take huge leaps forward like never before. So join us as we take a look back at some of the major events of the past twelve months…
Albion East
The year started with a momentous announcement: Albion Online was to open a brand-new, second server called Albion East. Located in Singapore, this promised to make Albion more accessible for a host of new and experienced players, who could enjoy better connection speeds, optimized event times, and of course the experience of a fresh start in an untouched version of the world.
[previewyoutube=iUTHkUlxJ4A;full][/previewyoutube]
February 20 saw the Closed Beta open for Albion East, with players competing in a special, condensed Guild Season to earn unique rewards. Then, in March, the new server officially opened its doors…
A Global Phenomenon
Following a special, five-day early access period for Founder Pack owners, Albion East threw its doors open to the world on March 20. Its popularity surpassed all expectations and saw Albion smash its previous player record with 277,000 active users across both servers on launch day. And soon after, on April 2, the 300,000 mark was broken, as Albion teemed with life like never before.
With players flooding into the new server, Albion East was soon built up from an untouched land into a fully-flourishing world, with its own thriving economy, and guilds and alliances vying for control of the Outlands.
And hot on the heels of all this came the return of the Rites of Spring event. Only this time, there was a new, dangerous face in town to meet our adventurers.
[previewyoutube=krIaosbfFUk;full][/previewyoutube]
Knightfall in Albion
May brought with it the release of a major patch: Knightfall. This unveiled further secrets and treasures within the Mists, including the magical new dungeon Knightfall Abbey, a decayed realm with beautiful, stained-glass windows which told stories of Albion’s past.
[previewyoutube=xhLxGK0MvnA;full][/previewyoutube]
Knightfall also introduced Eralia Wayfarer, a trader in Brecilien, and brought some brand-new items including Mystic Owl mounts. But while all this was going on, the team were hard at work on Albion’s next big update…
Wild Blood
Away from the solitude of Knightfall Abbey, Wild Blood saw Albion unleash its primal side, introducing some massive new features like Shapeshifter Weapons, Tracking, new potions, and powerful Awakened Weapons.
[previewyoutube=fXc7B8_mrx8;full][/previewyoutube]
This update developed every side of Albion’s gameplay, from economics to combat, with some ambitious new mechanics added to the game. Players roamed the open world in pursuit of fantastical beasts, crafted their essences into powerful new items, and developed personalized weapons with unique traits forged through combat. After everything that 2023 had brought, Albion Online showed no signs of slowing down.
Looking Ahead to 2024
And indeed, 2024 will get off to a flying start, with the recently announced Crystal Raiders update arriving January 8. This promises to revamp Guild Seasons, with exciting new territory mechanics and valuable rewards for individuals and guilds alike.
[previewyoutube=iPNZ5r8AEXw;full][/previewyoutube]
This also marks the beginning of a new development cycle for Albion Online, with updates arriving more frequently, in sync with each Guild Season, and each focusing on a specific area of the game.
As we move into the new year, then, there’s a lot to look forward to on the way. For now, though, we want to thank you, the community, for being with us in 2023 and making this such a successful year. See you in 2024!
