Ember Sword

{{Infobox video game

| title = Ember Sword

| image = Ember Sword.jpg

| developer = Bright Star Studios

| director = Maxim Zimnukhov

| producer = {{Unbulleted list|Sage Durain|Joris Huijbregts|Victor Rubinstein|Samuel Horton}}

| designer = Maciej Ostrowski

| artist = {{Unbulleted list|Victor Rubinstein|Siniša Zimke Vučković}}

| writer = Samuel Horton

| composer = Jannick Damkvist

| engine = Project SERIUS

| platforms = {{Unbulleted list|macOS|Windows}}

| released = {{ubil|December 2, 2024 (Early access)}}

| genre = Massively multiplayer online role-playing, sandbox, blockchain

| modes = Multiplayer

}}

Ember Sword was a planned massively multiplayer online role-playing sandbox blockchain game developed by Bright Star Studios for macOS and Windows. Presented from a three-dimensional isometric perspective, Ember Sword had players battle against each other or non-player characters, enhancing their character's abilities by equipping different weapons and armor. Players were able to trade with each other for resources or loot them from slain foes. The game integrated the Ethereum blockchain, which allowed for players to use non-fungible tokens to acquire items.

The game entered early access on December 2, 2024, with browser accessibility. Its servers were shut down on May 21, 2025, accompanied by a farewell announcement.

Gameplay

Players could control a character avatar from a 3D isometric perspective.{{cite news |last=Hassfeld |first=Niels |url=https://nordic.ign.com/ember-sword/74597/preview/ember-sword-hands-on-preview-potentially-great-mmo-but-worries-about-blockchain |title=Ember Sword Hands-On Preview – Potentially great MMO, but worries about Blockchain |date=October 26, 2023 |work=IGN | accessdate = April 25, 2024 |archive-date=October 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027143930/https://nordic.ign.com/ember-sword/74597/preview/ember-sword-hands-on-preview-potentially-great-mmo-but-worries-about-blockchain |url-status=live}} Characters were factionless; with combat with hostile non-player characters (NPCs) called "mobs" or other players in designated player versus player arena spaces.{{cite press release |url=https://www.immutable.com/blog/immutable-games-spotlight-ember-sword-announces-alpha-land-sale |title=Immutable Games Spotlight: Ember Sword Announces Alpha Land Sale |date=July 28, 2023 |publisher=Immutable Pty Ltd | accessdate = April 25, 2024 |archive-date=August 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801131737/https://www.immutable.com/blog/immutable-games-spotlight-ember-sword-announces-alpha-land-sale |url-status=live}}{{primary inline|date=June 2024}} Abilities were tied directly to the types of weapons that were equipped, with better weapons and armor provided as a reward for defeating enemies. The game intended to offer non-combat activities, such as farming crops.

Rare cosmetic items and land were to be stored via blockchain. Ember Sword would follow a play-to-earn business model; currency earned by slaying mobs, selling items and trading with players would be exchanged for tokens that convert to Ethereum cryptocurrency. Players were able to acquire land, intended to eventually be available for real estate development.{{cite news |last=Bošnjak |first=Dominik |url=https://gamerant.com/ember-sword-shutting-down-why-crypto-game-funding-ran-out-blockchain/?taid=68330d50e6bb390001baf5c4&utm_campaign=TrueAnthem-GR&utm_medium=Social-Distribution&utm_source=Twitter |title=Ember Sword Is Shutting Down After Raising Over $200 Million Selling Land |date=May 25, 2025 |work=GameRant | accessdate = May 25, 2025 |archive-date=May 25, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250525173316/https://gamerant.com/ember-sword-shutting-down-why-crypto-game-funding-ran-out-blockchain/?taid=68330d50e6bb390001baf5c4 |url-status=live}}

Development

Production of Ember Sword began in 2018, under the Danish developer So Couch Studios, led by chief executive officer Mark Laursen. It was announced in October of that year. Initially developed on the Unity game engine, Ember Sword was intended designed for Windows and Android operating systems. The Ethereum blockchain was intended to be integrated into the game, which will allow for players to acquire tokenized cosmetics through gameplay, tradable for the in-game currency called "PIXEL".{{cite news |last=Daniel |first=Matt |url=https://massivelyop.com/2018/10/18/new-mobile-mmo-ember-sword-is-another-cryptocurrency-game/ |title=New mobile MMO Ember Sword is another cryptocurrency game |date=October 18, 2018 |work=Massively Overpowered | accessdate = April 25, 2024 |archive-date=October 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018230319/https://massivelyop.com/2018/10/18/new-mobile-mmo-ember-sword-is-another-cryptocurrency-game/ |url-status=live}} In April 2020, the venture capitalist firm Galaxy Interactive announced a $700,000 pre-seed investment alongside Play Ventures in the game's developer, renamed Bright Star Studios.{{cite news |last=Sheehan |first=Gavin |url=https://bleedingcool.com/games/galaxy-interactive-invests-700k-into-bright-star-studios/ |title=Galaxy Interactive Part Of $700K Investment Into Bright Star Studios |date=May 1, 2020 |work=Bleeding Cool | accessdate = April 25, 2024 |archive-date=May 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503073959/https://bleedingcool.com/games/galaxy-interactive-invests-700k-into-bright-star-studios/ |url-status=live}} An initial virtual sale of in-game land was held in May 2021; the four thousand available plots sold out within six hours.{{cite news |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/bright-star-studios-launches-land-sale-for-web3-mmo-ember-sword/ |title=Bright Star Studios launches land sale for Web3 MMO Ember Sword |date=July 13, 2023 |work=VentureBeat | accessdate = April 25, 2024 |archive-date=July 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713143855/https://venturebeat.com/games/bright-star-studios-launches-land-sale-for-web3-mmo-ember-sword/ |url-status=live}}

In July 2021, Bright Star held a subsequent virtual land sale, resulting in over $203 million being pledged from approximately 35,000 applications for plots.{{cite news |last=Shankar |first=Poorna |url=https://www.mmorpg.com/news/ember-swords-pledges-reach-over-203-million-for-nft-community-land-sale-2000122709 |title=Ember Sword's Pledges Reach Over $203 Million for NFT Community Land Sale |date=August 4, 2021 |work=MMORPG.com | accessdate = June 16, 2024 |archive-date=April 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425213902/https://www.mmorpg.com/news/ember-swords-pledges-reach-over-203-million-for-nft-community-land-sale-2000122709 |url-status=live}} Shortly after the conclusion of the initial land sale, a $2 million investment deal from the previous May was announced.{{cite news |last=Kaser |first=Rachel |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/bright-star-studios-attracts-new-investors-following-in-game-land-sale/ |title=Bright Star Studios attracts new investors following in-game land sale |date=December 6, 2021 |work=VentureBeat | accessdate = April 25, 2024 |archive-date=December 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203201242/https://venturebeat.com/games/bright-star-studios-attracts-new-investors-following-in-game-land-sale/ |url-status=live}}

Ember Sword initially was to rely upon Polygon (MATIC) as the platform for handling Ethereum, but with the establishment of Immutable Pty Ltd's Immutable X platform, Bright Star announced in March 2022 that it would migrate to the newer platform, alongside a $100 million partnership with GameStop.{{cite news |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/gamestop-launches-nft-marketplace-on-immutable-x-creates-100m-dev-fund/ |title=GameStop launches NFT marketplace on Immutable X, creates $100M dev fund |date=February 3, 2022 |website=VentureBeat | accessdate = April 26, 2024 |archive-date=September 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921200950/https://venturebeat.com/games/gamestop-launches-nft-marketplace-on-immutable-x-creates-100m-dev-fund/ |url-status=live}} Bright Star decided in 2021 to abandon Unity as the game engine and develop a proprietary engine that would favor browser accessibility and streaming media. Bright Star initially contracted with a third-party engine developer, but decided to develop a proprietary engine in-house. Five game engines were attempted before Bright Star created the final iteration called Project SERIUS.{{cite press release |last=Laursen |first=Mark |url=https://embersword.com/blog/bright-star-studios-forging-better-experiences-in-gaming-and-technology-in-2023-beyond |title=Bright Star Studios: Forging Better Experiences in Gaming and Technology in 2023 & Beyond |date=January 24, 2023 | publisher = Bright Star Studios | accessdate = April 25, 2024 |archive-date=September 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921143607/https://embersword.com/blog/bright-star-studios-forging-better-experiences-in-gaming-and-technology-in-2023-beyond |url-status=live}} The game's token, rebranded as "$Ember", was launched on June 13, 2024.{{cite news |last=Weber |first=Steven |url=https://www.mmorpg.com/columns/ember-sword-clarifies-economy-ahead-of-crypto-token-launch-teases-early-access-mmonft-2000131694 |title=

Ember Sword Clarifies Economy Ahead of Crypto-Token Launch - Teases Early Access |date=May 30, 2024 | work = MMORPG.com | accessdate = June 24, 2024 |archive-date=May 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530203952/https://www.mmorpg.com/columns/ember-sword-clarifies-economy-ahead-of-crypto-token-launch-teases-early-access-mmonft-2000131694 |url-status=live}} In August 2024, the game was announced to be migrating layer 2 protocols, from Immutable X to Mantle.{{cite news |last=Weber |first=Steven |url=https://www.mmorpg.com/news/ember-sword-leaves-immutable-x-for-mantle-touting-enhancements-for-mmorpg-gamers-mmonft-2000132508 |title=Ember Sword Leaves Immutable X for Mantle Touting Enhancements for MMORPG Gamers |date=August 15, 2024 | work = MMORPG.com | accessdate = August 16, 2024 |archive-date=August 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815142136/https://www.mmorpg.com/news/ember-sword-leaves-immutable-x-for-mantle-touting-enhancements-for-mmorpg-gamers-mmonft-2000132508 |url-status=live}}

Early access release and cancellation

In April 2022, virtual land owners and VIP badge holders were given access to a pre-alpha technical test of the game.{{cite news |last=Gonzalez |first=Christina |url=https://www.mmorpg.com/news/ember-sword-will-hold-pre-alpha-technical-testing-in-april-2000124465 |title=Ember Sword Will Hold Pre-Alpha Technical Testing in April |date=March 3, 2022 | work = MMORPG.com | accessdate = April 25, 2024 |archive-date=March 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303183207/https://www.mmorpg.com/news/ember-sword-will-hold-pre-alpha-technical-testing-in-april-2000124465 |url-status=live}} A year later, an alpha test was held, focused on a new area and demonstrating rudimentary core mechanics.{{cite news |last=Whitmore |first=Ralph |url=https://www.mmorpg.com/editorials/ember-sword-alpha-impressions-did-bright-stars-mmo-show-potential-2000127793 |title=Ember Sword Alpha Impressions - Did Bright Star's MMO Show Potential? |date=April 24, 2023 | work = MMORPG.com | accessdate = April 25, 2024 |archive-date=April 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424131820/https://www.mmorpg.com/editorials/ember-sword-alpha-impressions-did-bright-stars-mmo-show-potential-2000127793 |url-status=live}} A subsequent vertical slice alpha demo was released in October 23, allowing players to participate in raids. The game's closed beta, dubbed the "Prologue", began on July 12, 2024.{{cite news |last=Gonzalez |first=Christina |url=https://www.mmorpg.com/news/ember-sword-prologue-is-early-access-and-the-first-phase-will-open-on-july-12th-2000132063 |title=Ember Sword: Prologue is Early Access and the First Phase Will Open on July 12th |date=June 28, 2024 | work = MMORPG.com | accessdate = August 16, 2024 |archive-date=June 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628220143/https://www.mmorpg.com/news/ember-sword-prologue-is-early-access-and-the-first-phase-will-open-on-july-12th-2000132063 |url-status=live}} The game began early access testing on December 2, 2024. In a December 18 review for MMORPG.com, Steven Wilber negatively compared the early access version to previous beta and preview versions, saying "even at this early stage, it was clear that Ember Sword still has a long way to go in nearly every facet of its gameplay."{{cite news |last1=Weber |first1=Steven |title=Ember Sword Early Access: Still Far From Igniting a Web3 Revolution {{!}} MMONFT |url=https://www.mmorpg.com/editorials/ember-sword-early-access-still-far-from-igniting-a-web3-revolution-mmonft-2000133702 |access-date=21 December 2024 |work=MMORPG.com |date=18 December 2024 |language=en}}

On May 21, 2025, Bright Star Studios announced that development and server support for Ember Sword would end due to insufficient funding.{{cite news |last=Muchai |first=Florence |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/technology/ethereum-s-ember-sword-shuts-down-leaving-investors-in-disarray/ar-AA1Fl0SI?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds |title=Ethereum’s ‘Ember Sword’ shuts down, leaving investors in disarray |date=May 23, 2025 |work=MSN |access-date=May 23, 2025 |archive-date=May 23, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250523131714/https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/technology/ethereum-s-ember-sword-shuts-down-leaving-investors-in-disarray/ar-AA1Fl0SI?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds |url-status=live}}