Like many gamers, I have a deep appreciation for visually stunning MMORPGs. My journey began with classics like World of Warcraft, and I was later captivated by the gorgeous graphics of Final Fantasy 14 and the fluid combat of Lost Ark. Now, Chrono Odyssey stands out as another breathtaking open-world adventure that has me eagerly awaiting its release. It boasts beautiful visuals, an abundance of dragons, and a unique time-based combat system that truly sets it apart. Given my recent search for fresh experiences beyond conventional MMOs, this game has quickly become one of my most highly anticipated titles.
However, following its massive playtest earlier this year – which propelled it to number 17 on Steam’s ‘most wishlisted’ chart – Chrono Studio entered a period of silence. The playtest itself garnered lukewarm reviews, with players highlighting performance issues and inconsistent hit registration, a particularly frustrating problem in a combat system designed around targeting enemy weak points in a Monster Hunter-esque style. In response, the development team released two extensive developer diaries, outlining a comprehensive list of planned changes, including a complete overhaul of the combat system.
The last major communication, a second blog post, was released on July 30, and since then, the community has heard nothing. The official Chrono Odyssey social media account went inactive, and both the official website and Steam page saw no further updates – a complete radio silence. Although CEO Bong-Gun Bae conducted a detailed AMA on his personal account on August 16, the official communication channels remained dormant. That is, until very recently.
(A video update from community managers Jenny, Seanny, and Manny was included here.)
On Tuesday, September 23, the official social media account shared a video featuring community manager ‘Jenny’ alongside two other employees, ‘Seanny’ and ‘Manny.’ The video offered a glimpse “behind the scenes” at Chrono Studio, depicting the trio commuting by train (a seemingly twenty-minute journey), enjoying pizza, and participating in a team meeting.
A follow-up post on the same day, directly referencing the July 30 developer diary, succinctly stated, “there is no update because there is no update.” This phrase echoed a Discord comment visible in the video. The post elaborated, “The development team is currently undertaking a substantial amount of work, so it will be some time before we can reveal significant changes and results. We ask for your patience.” It concluded with prayer emojis and a direct address to CEO Bong-Gun Bae, asking for his endorsement.
“Show us something, even something small, and I’ll personally bring coffee and donuts to the team tomorrow,” Bae playfully responded, adding, “Best. Motivation. Ever.”
(Image: An illustration depicting the Chrono Odyssey developers requesting patience from players regarding game updates.)
In today’s volatile video game industry, extended periods of silence from developers can be unsettling. With numerous games being quietly canceled, often without much prior announcement, it’s entirely understandable why fans might grow concerned. However, in this particular case, I’m genuinely pleased to know that Chrono Studio is simply hard at work and dedicating the necessary time to refine their creation – because I truly, truly want this game to be exceptional.
If you’re looking for ways to fill your time now that Chrono Studio has delivered this update (of sorts), consider exploring some of the excellent free MMORPGs available. Alternatively, for a more focused yet equally enchanting experience, delve into a list of top fantasy games.
Are you excited for Chrono Odyssey? We’d love to hear your thoughts and even a glimpse into your own average workday! I think you can probably guess what mine entails.