On the 6th, the team behind 'Arthdal Chronicles: Three Forces' (hereinafter Arthdal Chronicles) took to a developer live stream to drop details on the upcoming 'New World' server. MC Kim Su-hyeon hosted the session, joined by Planning Lead Kim Hyun-su and influencer Mu-kkeut to chat about the game's evolution and the fresh start in New World.

Shedding the baggage: The 'New World' overhaul

Before diving into the changes, Planning Lead Kim Hyun-su looked back at the perception of Arthdal Chronicles with a few choice keywords. Mu-kkeut agreed with the praise for 'high-quality graphics' and 'thrilling combat'. In particular, the combat is praised for its tactical depth—using terrain to take down tough bosses or exploiting back-attacks for extra damage.

However, the criticism was equally sharp, particularly regarding optimization. Early on, mobile players suffered from overheating, lag, and crashes. There was also a sense of frustration regarding the 'pay-to-win' dominance of a few powerful players—the so-called 'dragon play'—and a general feeling that the monetization was a bit heavy-handed.

Planning Lead Kim Hyun-su explained that since last December, the team has been aggressively scrubbing away these negative perceptions. To bring the fun back to combat, they introduced a 'PVP adjustment system' to curb 'dragon play'. By early this year, they had already removed outdated faction mechanics, consolidated life content, and revamped offline hunting to make the experience more accessible.

March saw a renewed focus on the joy of grinding and progression. Items once locked behind monetization, like Spirits and Mounts, were moved to field drops, and summon tickets were made tradeable. By May, premium cosmetic items like Spirit Stones and weapon skins were made obtainable through clear rewards in Trial and Party Dungeons. The philosophy is clear: make core growth elements earned through actual gameplay.

The final piece of the puzzle arrives on July 14th with the New World update, which adds an 'Awakening' system and a synthesis failure safety net. Previously, the cost of failure in the awakening process felt demoralizing. Going forward, it will be a 100% success rate, with retroactive compensation for those who failed in the past.

To mitigate the pain of low-probability synthesis, they are introducing an item to boost success rates at the mid-point, provided as a 'pity' mechanic. These boosters will also be granted based on previous synthesis history.

The core of the new server: No packages

The New World server is doubling down on a subscription and pass-based monetization model. The four types of gacha—Spirits, Mounts, Weapon Skins, and Spirit Stones—are being completely removed. Every growth element is now 100% farmable: summon tickets drop in the field, while weapon skins and Spirit Stones are guaranteed from dungeon clears. Even Ancient accessories are now lootable in Trial Dungeons.Instead of a shop full of loot boxes, the developers want a loop where players sell farmed summon tickets to others, creating a self-sustaining economy that fuels further growth.

Pre-registration for the New World server is currently open. Those who sign up will receive an 'All-Farming Set' containing plenty of summon tickets and a choice of four Ancient accessories. Additionally, a special developer coupon for a 'D.I.Y. Restoration Ticket' will be available after the July 14th update, allowing players to select the type of synthesis ticket they wish to recover.

A monthly subscription pass will be priced at 9,900 KRW for 28 days of access. Crucially, this subscription is required to use the marketplace, serving as a barrier to keep mass-operated bot farms at bay.

The stream wrapped with a Q&A session, where the developers tackled burning questions about competition in the Black Night Island, anti-botting measures, and class balance. You can catch the full details in the developer live stream archive. Another broadcast is promised for next week to cover the remaining questions, so keep an eye out.