Editing Brighter Shores

[[File:Brighter Shores key art.jpg|thumb|The promotional image for Brighter Shores.]]
'''''Brighter Shores''''' is a game developed by [[Fen Research]] and designed by [[Andrew Gower]]. Early access to it was opened on 6 November [[2024]] at 10:49{{Fact}},{{CiteTwitter|url=https://x.com/AndrewCGower/status/1844016463205785795|author=Andrew Gower|date=9 October 2024|accessdate=9 October 2024|quote=We have decided to push the launch of Brighter Shores back to the 6th Nov, because apparently there is some sort of election thingy on the 5th - who knew?!|archiveurl=https://archive.ph/mSpI5|archivedate=9 October 2024}} and is be available for Windows, macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel chipsets) and Linux, as well as on Android and iPhone<ref>https://www.fenresearch.com/terms</ref>. The game is {{wp|free-to-play}}, but players can access additional features and content by purchasing the [[Premium Pass]].

Brighter Shores features an ongoing story with hundreds of hours of gameplay.{{CiteGeneral|url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2791440/Brighter_Shores/|title=Brighter Shores on Steam|author=Valve|date=22 March 2024|accessdate=22 March 2024|archiveurl=https://archive.is/eYgMA|archivedate=22 March 2024}} New content is released in the game in an episodic format. Players start their journey in [[Hopeport]], as a member of the town guard.

==History==
The game has been under development since September 2016, but some assets were taken from Fen Research scrapped 'Chasm Game'{{CiteTwitter|url=https://twitter.com/AndrewCGower/status/1819021220911673582|author=Andrew Gower|date=1 August 2024|accessdate=16 August 2024|quote=September 2016 Brighter Shores game started|archiveurl=https://archive.ph/VmmMK|archivedate=16 August 2024}} and was announced officially on 13 March 2024. An initial two-minute trailer was released, which depicts [[player]]s engaging in [[combat]], several [[profession]]s, and a variety of different [[location]]s.{{CiteGeneral|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASIbNq_pLQQ|title=Brighter Shores Gameplay Trailer|author=MMOs.com|date=13 March 2024|accessdate=22 March 2024}}

Part of the reason that Brighter Shores took a long time to develop is because Gower decided to create a new game engine from scratch, as opposed to using a popular engine like {{wp|Unreal Engine}} or {{wp|Unity}}.{{CiteGeneral|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/runescape-creator-answers-our-biggest-questions-about-his-new-mmo-brighter-shores-classes-professions-monetization-and-a-ttrpg-open-world/|title=RuneScape creator answers our biggest questions about his new MMO Brighter Shores: classes, professions, monetization, and a TTRPG open world|author=Austin Wood|date=23 March 2024|accessdate=23 March 2024|archiveurl=https://archive.is/AxMwI|archivedate=23 March 2024|name=griv}} He had previously created his own engine for his previous MMORPG {{wp|RuneScape}} in the early 2000s, programmed in {{wp|Java}}. The engine that Gower built is called [[Fenforge]], and had previously been used by at least two games prior to being used for Brighter Shores. Gower has said that active development on Brighter Shores officially started in 2017.{{NamedRef|griv}}

A closed beta is planned in 2024 prior to the release of the game.{{CiteTwitter|url=https://twitter.com/AndrewCGower/status/1767973447425003776|author=Andrew Gower|date=13 March 2024|accessdate=23 March 2024|quote=There will be a closed beta. I will post more about it on x/twitter closer to the time.|archiveurl=https://archive.is/BknSB|archivedate=23 March 2024}}

==Trivia==
* The logo of Brighter Shores features [[Hopeport Obelisk]].
* Fen Research might have first wanted Brighter Shores to be named "Wondrous Shores", judging by the trademark filings on 11 January 2024<ref>https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase/page/Results/1/UK00004001073</ref> and 15 January 2024<ref>https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase/page/Results/1/UK00004002179</ref>.
* The game's release date was intended to be 5 November [[2024]], but was delayed by one day due to the {{Wp|2024 United States presidential election}}.

==External links==
* [https://store.steampowered.com/app/2791440/Brighter%20Shores/ Steam page]
* [https://brightershores.com/ Official website]

==Update history==
{{UH|
* {{UL|update=2024-11-06|date=6 November 2024}}
** Added to game.
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:Fen Research]]