Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning shuts down today, December 18, 2013 (Archive link: http://archive.is/1pghI | Archive link of Original Notice: http://archive.is/iozxa).
I cannot even begin to express how important Warhammer Online and Mythic Entertainment have been to me. This was my first job in The Industry and my first credited title. A whole lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into this game – It was more than just a job, it was something I helped create. I put a lot of myself into this game, and it really hurts to see it close its doors for good.
Since it’s an MMO, there will be no finding a copy of the game years down the road and playing it for old times’ sake; there will be no stumbling upon the game on Good Old Games and buying it to play again. No – It’s an MMO, and once it’s gone, it’s gone for good.
Looking back, with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, there were things we could have done better, of course. I look back on arguments I never had and points I was too timid to make, and I wish now that I had been more forceful back then. Would we be in a different place today? Even if we had to close, could we have done it better?
I think of all those who worked on WAR, and the vast community of players, as extended family. We may have bickered and argued, but it was from a place of love. This game meant so much to me, just as it has meant a lot to so many others. I weep today for its closure.
Below is a 25-minute fan-made video, telling their own story through WAR. It is very well done and brought me to tears more than once. I encourage anyone who shares a personal connection with WAR to watch it.
[Update 11/2023] Sadly, it looks like Luranni‘s video is no longer available 🙁