ArcheAge Chronicles launches in Steam early access with trading and housing

XL Games has launched ArcheAge Chronicles in global Steam early access.

The open-world action MMORPG is set on the continent of Auroria, 50 years after the events of the original ArcheAge.

Players can now trade goods, craft items and decorate homes, expanding beyond the combat and co-op play shown in last month's demo.

The explorable world is about 20 times larger than the demo, with more than 60 areas and 1,000 exploration and collection points.

The game combines combat and exploration with player-run economic and social activities, and its early-access version has no paid in-game shop.

In South Korea, it costs 36,000 won as a one-time purchase, with no monthly subscription.

A December update will add a female character for the fighting class and a new weapon, while the developer plans to remove gender restrictions across all classes before the full release.