When Turbine announced the closure of Asheron’s Call and Asheron’s Call 2, it hit me with a mix of emotions. These weren’t just old MMORPGs shutting down. They were reminders of a time when the genre was still being defined. When anything felt possible in online games. And yet, in 2017, I couldn’t help but think… maybe it really was time.
A Personal Moment in Gaming History
Asheron’s Call was one of the first MMORPGs I ever played. I still remember the excitement of an in-game event I joined with a friend. How fun and immersive it felt! Later, Microsoft revealed that Bill Gates himself had played during the event. I rewatched the clip, and saw my character right next to his. I screamed, “No way!!!” That was the moment I truly understood how connected online worlds could be. You never really know who you’re playing with. That one experience changed how I interacted with people online forever.
The Core Community That Wouldn’t Let Go
The game itself was great, for its time. But even the best games can’t survive when the audience resists evolution. The core player base of Asheron’s Call loved it just the way it was. That love became its greatest strength… and its downfall. As the MMO genre exploded with World of Warcraft, Dark Age of Camelot, Star Wars Galaxies, and others, Asheron’s Call struggled to keep pace. The newer games weren’t just shinier. They brought innovation. And the players moved on.
When a game clings too tightly to its past, it can’t keep up with the future. Older players may return for nostalgia, but if the issues that pushed them away in the first place are still there, they won’t stay. You can’t build a future off sentiment alone.
A Tale of Two Closures
While Asheron’s Call quietly endured, Asheron’s Call 2 had a rockier path. First launched in 2002, it was shut down just three years later in 2005 due to low profitability and dwindling players. Turbine said it “no longer makes sense to continue the service.” Surprisingly, it returned in 2012 as a free beta exclusively for Asheron’s Call subscribers. An attempt to rekindle the spark. It stayed online for another five years until both games were shut down for good on January 31, 2017.
The reason? Business. Turbine was leaving the MMO space. Profitable games like Lord of the Rings Online were spun off to Standing Stone Games. Asheron’s Call and its sequel, however, stayed with Warner Bros., and with no future development or business case, they were simply no longer sustainable.
Endings Can Be Necessary
It’s sad to see a game close, but sometimes, that’s the most respectful thing you can do. For the game and the people who loved it. These worlds were meaningful. They shaped our memories, our friendships, even our values. But nothing lasts forever. That’s not failure. It’s part of the journey.
I hope those still playing until the very end cherished every last moment. And I hope those who loved Asheron’s Call find new worlds where they can make new memories. The magic of MMOs doesn’t live in one game. It lives in the people who bring those worlds to life.
📌 Changelog
- June 7, 2025: Article re-written to add additional information.
- Dec 27, 2016: Original article posted.
