Bless Unleashed

Bless Unleashed is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Round 8 Studios and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One in 2020. It is a reboot of Bless Online.[1] Similarly, Unleashed uses a free-to-play business model. It was also released for the PC by NEOWIZ, then later published by VALOFE, in 2021. This game features multiple classes and races.

Bless Unleashed
Promotional banner featuring a female Berserker
Developer(s)Round 8 Studios
Publisher(s)Bandai Namco Entertainment, NEOWIZ, VALOFE
SeriesBless
EngineUnreal Engine 4
Platform(s)Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows
ReleaseXbox One
  • WW: March 12, 2020
PlayStation 4
  • WW: October 22, 2020
Windows
  • WW: August 6, 2021
Genre(s)MMORPG
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Classes[2]

Berserker

The berserker class is one of the two frontline options in the game, and is focused on nonstop offensive gameplay. The berserkers use axes and are locked to the Varg race.

Crusader

The crusader class is one of the two frontline options in the game, with this class balancing offense and defense. The crusaders use swords and shields and are locked to the Human and Ippin race.

Mage

The mage wields a staff and attacks from a range using both arcane and elemental magic. This class is shared between the human and elf race.

Priest

The priest is the game's healer class that also wields a staff as their weapon. This class is about buffs, protection, and supporting your allies. This class is also locked to the Human and Ippin race.

Ranger

The ranger class uses a longbow to deal damage from range, and is locked to the elf race.

Races

Human

The human race is about adaptability and numbers. They arrived in a hostile environment, eventually outgrowing and outperforming their enemies. Once they had society growing, war eventually broke out among themselves until only one tribe was left, becoming the main city for humans. This remaining city became known as The Old Empire.

The Old Empire expanded quickly, increasing their growth and promoting the growth of other races. This cooperation eventually led to the learning of magic from Elvish teachers. Some humans however chose a different path, causing the destruction of the empire and causing the terrible event named "The Breaking" to occur.

Plot

After a dream sequence fighting the Archon of Fire, the Hero of Lumios wakes up inside their house on the neutral island of Telarion. Temperate and cultured, it teems with festivities and trade, and serves as a safe haven for refugees fleeing the cruelties of war. Guiding them is a lighthouse that stands unguarded and always lit. Each year, travellers gather from all over the world to attend a grand festival that commemorates the day that the first inhabitants built the lighthouse and watched a holy fire burst to life inside it. During this year's festivities, the island is attacked by a powerful mage named Gideon who summons hell spawn to aid in the invasion. After defeating a handful of these creatures, the Hero of Lumios narrowly escapes when their new ally, Don Diego, swoops in and grabs them with his griffin. This starts the long and treacherous journey to defeat Gideon and his minions, and prevent the Breaking from happening again.

Development

Bless Unleashed was announced in 2018.[3]

Beta testing

Closed beta releases for the game were held during April[4] and July 2019.[5] The first open beta for the game was held in November 2019.[6] In January 2020, the same beta reopened for the purposes of stress testing the game's servers.[7]

Xbox One

On March 12, 2020, the game was finally released for the Xbox One for the Windows Store, with early access to the game available via paid Founders Packs on the Xbox One.[8] On July 2, 2020, it had its first major expansion update, "Saurin's Deception".[9]

PlayStation 4

The PlayStation 4 version was released on October 22, 2020.[10][11]

PC

The PC version was released on Steam in August 6, 2021.[12]

Closing

Bandai Namco closed their Bless Unleashed servers on November 30, 2022 at 11 PM PT.[13]

Reception

References
  1. "GDC 2019 Hands-On IMPRESSIONS: Bless Unleashed - oprainfall". Operationrainfall.com. March 28, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  2. "Bless Unleashed - A stunning fantasy genre MMORPG developed on Unreal Engine 4 featuring an innovative combat system". www.blessunleashedpc.com. August 2, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  3. "Bless Unleashed Announcement Trailer". Mmorpg.com. August 31, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  4. "BANDAI NAMCO invites you to participate in the Bless Unleashed Closed Beta! - Xbox Wire". News.xbox.com. April 24, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  5. "Bless Unleashed's Closed Beta Starts Today July 11th - Xbox Wire". News.xbox.com. July 11, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  6. "Bless Unleashed Enters Open Beta Today on Xbox One - Xbox Wire". News.xbox.com. November 7, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  7. Skelton, Jaime (January 30, 2020). "Bless Unleashed: Stress Test Now Live". MMOHuts. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  8. "Bless Unleashed, the new MMORPG from BANDAI Namco, releases next month". February 15, 2020. Archived from the original on February 28, 2020.
  9. "Bless Unleashed Launches Saurin's Deception Content Update". blessunleashed.com. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  10. "MMORPG Bless Unleashed Confirmed for PS4 Release Following Xbox Console Exclusivity". Push Square. August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  11. "Bless Unleashed for PS4 launches October 22". Gematsu. September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  12. "Bless Unleashed Coming to Steam in early 2021". blessunleashed.com. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  13. "Bless Unleashed Sunset | Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc". www.bandainamcoent.com. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  14. "Bless Unleashed for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 26, 2021.


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