User blog:Rpaarl/TERA closes

So TERA closes. Both Korean and global version hosted by Gameforge are closed down on 30th June 2022. TERA for PlayStation and Xbox continues for the time being.

TERA on Japan is closed already on the same day, April 20th as annoucement was made. JTERA announced closure already three months ago. Surely Gameforge had the information but then decided to keep the game running for few months more. Bluehole announced KTERA closure on same day as Gameforge, ending the service on same day too.

Gameforge annoucement goes: "Unfortunately, we come bearing bad news: TERA’s developers, Bluehole, have decided to cease work on TERA. After much consideration, the team in South Korea have come to the conclusion that they are no longer able to offer you the exciting and satisfying content you deserve. As the last remaining publisher of TERA, it is with a heavy heart that we must respect Bluehole’s decision, and will also have to shut down the game. The TERA servers will be switched off at 10 AM CEST (4 AM EDT) on 30th June 2022. Until then, we’ll be running some permanent events, in the hope that you’ll at least be able to enjoy these final months in Arborea."

"After nearly 10 long years, the TERA legend must sadly come to an end. Together we’ve braved so many of Arborea’s perils, fought valiantly against the argons, made many new friends and gone on countless adventures. We would like to thank you for your loyalty, for accompanying us on this long journey, and for being such an amazing community!"

Bluehole is in difficult situation
14th April financial analysis on TERA development studio Bluehole was posted.

As you might know Bluehole is, in addition of TERA, company originally reponsible for superpopular PUBG: Battlegrouds (Playerunknown's Battlegrounds).

After PUBG success Bluehole split off PUBG Corporation as an independent company. In November 2018 companies were rearranged under newly founded parent company, Krafton Game Union. Krafton went public in August 2021. Company was valued US$19.32 billion on IPO. Being publicly traded company also means Krafton finances are public and they have responsibilities to shareholders and things to worry like return-on-investment.

Bluehole's finances are now separate from the rest of the company. Fiscal year 2021 was their first full year as an independent company. In 2021 Bluehole Studio's sales were 19.7 billion won. Also they recorded an operating loss of 25.2 billion won using 44.9 billion won in operating expenses. 25.2 billion won losses are 20,3 million dollars or 18,7 million euros. Their expenses are over twice the income they earn. Hanyoung Accounting Firm, which was in charge of auditing the financial statements, raised questions about Bluehole Studio's ability to survive.

Some interesting information are that Bluehole's sales are split to PC platform 16.3 billion won and console sales are 3.3 billion won. Console sales is prolly only TERA Console. Sales by region were 12.1 billion in Korea, 2.9 billion in Asia, and 4.6 billion in America/Europe. Asia means TERA Japan and Elyon published in Japan 2nd half 2021.

Bluehole Studio's main games are TERA and Elyon. Elyon was released in Steam October 2021. It has pretty bad ratings and actually less players in steamcharts than TERA. Even it's already in worse shape than TERA, they posted development roadmap and are maintaining it through 2022.

Bluehole Studio is still developing console shooter project 'BLACKBIRD' and two new mobile games. The two new mobile games are 'Project FF' and 'Project Whale'. 'Project FF' is a mobile gache anime girl collection RPG. 'Project Whale' is a mobile casual game.

Links

 * The Adventure Ends by Gameforge https://archive.ph/Rnuqw
 * TERA Shutdown - FAQ by Gameforge https://archive.ph/2Sp3X
 * TERA 서비스 종료 안내, KTERA closure annoucement https://archive.ph/ok6qx
 * 독립한 블루홀스튜디오, 첫해 성과 197억원, Bluehole financial results and analysis 2021