MMO in production where your character actually ages and dies (averages about 10 -14 months).
https://chroniclesofelyria.com/
Elyrians are, for the most part, a healthy breed and while Children of Mann are not human, their anatomy and physiology is similar to our own. As a result, the typical Elyrian lives somewhere between 80 and 120 years (averaging ~100 years), based on the genetics of their bloodline.
Over the course of 10-14 real-world months your character will grow old and eventually die, leaving their mark on history. Aging is a process that every character goes through that has visual indications, attribute changes, and gameplay effects. While alive you must choose your actions carefully, as each in-game death reduces your overall lifespan (by approximately 2 real world days) and brings your character that much closer to permadeath. However, if you’re an influential player (the king perhaps), each in-game death is more impactful, leading to permadeath in just 4 or 5 times.
What makes this game different is they are attempting instead of a monthly sub you pay for the life of your character.
Chronicles of Elyria utilizes a new business model never before seen in MMOs. Different from a monthly subscription or a Free to Play (F2P) game with a cash shop, CoE uses a Spark of Life system. This hearkens back to the coin-op arcade model where, for $30, players buy a Spark of Life that grants a Soul the opportunity to live for between 10 and 14 months, before establishing your Soul in a new character of your choosing. (Note: 1 Spark of Life comes with purchase of the game.)
In CoE, bodies age and die, but Souls live forever. In your new body, whether that be your heir or someone else entirely, your Skill Ramp will get you back up to power quickly & allow you to advance further than in your previous life.
So what are your thoughts on this new attempt for a MMO business model. Interesting or will fail quickly?