In the effort for online MMOs to reach a broader audience, we have seen these decade-spanning titles explore new platforms. Previously, one great example of this is Jagex’s OldSchool RuneScape which announced a mobile port for the game. Alongside its PC counterpart, users can seamlessly bounce between both platforms alongside approach a new, untapped player base as well.
Similarly, KingsIsle Entertainment is entertaining the same strategy. But rather than smartphones, the developer is aiming directly for consoles. Last year, the game studio announced that 2008’s Wizard101 will be receiving ports for Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch. Now recently, the game is available to some capacity.
Via Xbox Game Preview, Wizard101 is officially at first contact with consoles. During this build of the game, aspects like membership elixirs are not included. KingsIsle Entertainment emphasizes that this stage is to really iron out wrinkles and squash any bugs that will come up as it works towards the full release. You can read the phase schedule in the list below:
Phase 1: Access Pass / Zone Purchasing Testing
During this phase, membership elixirs will not be available so that we can test the ability for players to successfully purchase zones individually.
Phase 2: Membership Elixir Testing
During this phase, membership elixirs will enter the Crown Shop and will allow us to ensure that these elixirs work correctly alongside the zone purchasing method. This is the phase we are in right now.
Phase 3: Free Membership Testing
During this phase, all players will have free membership. This final wave will allow us to test the ability to give free membership for certain timeframes, as well as encourage a larger player base to enter the game for us to do overall gameplay testing on a larger scale.
Phase 4: Launch
After the testing period is over, Xbox Game Preview account data will be wiped and the whole community will start fresh on all consoles as we launch on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.
“We view launching on console platforms as a huge opportunity to not only allow any existing community members to experience the game in a whole new way, but also introduce the game to an entirely new generation,” the team says. “We can’t stress how important this is to us, and we want to make sure we get it right. The last thing we want to do is open the console floodgates during official launch and run into unexpected issues that hinder the player experience.”
It also clarifies that Crown purchases will be reset & returned after the Preview ends. “Please note that all game progress, as well as purchases made within the Crown Shop, during this Xbox Game Preview phase will be reset at the end of the testing period. Crowns spent in the Crown Shop will be returned to the Xbox account which purchased them, and can be used again once the game officially launches.”
How excited are you to play Wizard101 on console?
Wizard101 is available on Xbox One & PC; listed for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch.
Source: KingsIsle Entertainment
