Smilegate RPG's Lost Ark will finally open its North American servers at 9 AM Pacific Time on Feb. 11, 2022. This MMO Action RPG brings players into the world of Arkesia, where an ancient threat has risen once more to terrorize the land. It's up to the heroes of Arkesia to rise up against Kazeros and his demon legion. They must seek the legendary lost Ark and use its light to push back the darkness.
Lost Ark is a free-to-play game, but for anyone who can't wait until Feb. 11, there is a way to gain early access to the North American servers three days ahead of time. Players willing to spend some money can pick up Head Start access starting on Feb. 8 if they purchase a Founder's Pack. There are multiple packs available, each providing Feb. 8 access to the North American servers, as well as exclusive in-game items and benefits.
How to Buy Founder's Packs
There are four Founder's Packs available to choose from, with each tier offering more bonuses for every price increase. Founder's Packs can be purchased on Amazon or directly through Steam. Purchasing through Steam automatically applies the Founder's Pack benefits to the customer's account, while Amazon customers will be sent a key to confirm their purchase. Players will then be able to hop onto the servers on Feb. 8 and obtain the contents of the Founder's Pack from their Roster Storage.
The Bronze Founder's Pack is the most affordable at $14.99, followed by Silver for $24.99, Gold for $49.99 and Platinum for $99.99. All four come with a 30-Day Crystalline Aura and an exclusive pet and title. With each price increase comes additional items and benefits like supply boxes, in-game currency, exclusive skins and an exclusive mount for the biggest spenders. Founder's Packs will be on sale right up until the free-to-play server launch, so players should grab them before 9 AM on Feb. 11 if they don't want to miss out.
Why to Buy Founder's Packs
Aside from the exclusive items for players to show off and the opportunity to support the game's developers, the Founder's Packs provide the greatest gift of all to players starting in a new MMO: a leg up on the competition. Three days may not seem like much, but any players that drop money on a free-to-play game are going to be taking full advantage of that time. Not only do they have time on their side, but the Crystalline Pass will expedite their early-game growth with benefits like reduced fast-travel costs and reduced timers on crafting and research. Smilegate RPG isn't calling it a Head Start pass for nothing.
Joining an MMO game early has social benefits as well. One of the most intimidating things new players in an MMO have to contend with isn't a particularly tough boss or getting hold of an especially rare item; it's finding a social circle to fit into within the game. Putting early access to the game behind a paywall means that anyone on the servers before Feb. 11 is already excited to play and ready to put time into the game. Players will be more likely to find other adventurers that will still be playing the game three months from now. Plus, they have smaller crowds to compete with for attention, making it much easier to connect to others.
These aren't just friends; they are potential raid partners and guildmates. Like many MMOs, Lost Ark also has a guild system. Head Start players will be establishing the server's first guilds, so now is the perfect time for a new player to get their foot in the door of these potentially powerful player-run organizations. The true value of these Founder's Packs is in the name: players can seize the chance to be one of the founders that shapes their respective servers.