Summary
The video game company Fawkes has announced its plan to revive the MMODefianceand attempt to relaunch the IP this year. Fawkes boasts the motto “Breathing life to old worlds and preserving their legacy, together,” which resonates with the company’s current endeavor to reviveDefiance. Previously, Fawkes had a hand in resurrectingShaiyaandLast Chaos, while also retaining the rights toDesert OperationsandWargame 1942.
The sprawling title was an MMO third-person shooter developed by Trion Worlds for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, and later received the newerDefiance 2050version for PC, Xbox One, and PS4.Defiancebecame a transmedia project, similar to theupcomingOz: Adventuresgamedeveloped by former id Software level designer American McGee, when the MMO was designed to connect with the 2013 Syfy television show of the same name, which was later canceled in 2015. After its initial launch, theDefianceMMO switched to a free-to-play model in 2014, but its owner, Gamigo, shut down the servers seven years later in 2021.
Announced in a blog post, Fawkes confirmed its plans to obtain the license toDefiance’s worldwide development and publishing rights, and shared the first step in the game’s comeback would be a PC relaunch in April 2025. “Our relaunch is designed to be a homecoming… We want you to return to a familiar world that still holds countless memories, and to create new ones,” Fawkes explained, and noted if the relaunch was successful, the company would “explore the possibility” of returning the IP to consoles.Defiancejoined some ofthe best free-to-play MMOson the market, including the likes ofRunescape,Guild Wars 2, andStar Wars: The Old Republic, and Fawkes recognizes the project is close to gamers’ hearts despite the television show’s cancellation and the game’s eventual shutdown.
Fawkes Announces It’s Reviving the MMO Defiance
Fawkes shares a real passion for video game projects and the players, similar toNightdive Studios’ work onThe Thing,Turok, andSystem Shockremasters, which follows the developer’s mission to revive abandonware games. In an attempt to rebuildDefiancewith the community of Ark Hunters, Fawkes explained, “We will start small…bringing the changes that had an impact and leaving behind the ones that didn’t. We are ready to re-build Defiance together with you.” Additionally, the company welcomed fans to follow theFawkes Discordchannel to stay up to date with the revival.
Defiancesaw players transform into Ark Hunters, navigating a hostile Earth after the alien Votan race arrived on the planet and initiated war with humanity. The game is well-remembered for its gripping battles, proving its place alongside some ofthe best post-apocalyptic games of all time, and players could explore the San Francisco Bay Area to complete missions and take part in challenges with other Ark Hunters.
