- MMORPGs enjoyed in the browser without installation open their doors wide to PC gamers with Steam launch.
- Winner of Discord App Pitch 2024 Grand Prize, Achieved 1 Million Users with Simultaneous Browser and Discord Service
Spiderware, an indie studio based in London, UK, officially announced the release of the Steam version of the pixel art MMORPG ‘Soulbound’ on May 20.
This game, which was first released on browser and Discord platforms, had already gathered over 1 million players prior to the announcement of its Steam release, showing exceptional growth for an indie MMORPG. In 2024, it won the Grand Prize in the Games category of the Discord app pitch ‘Adventure Together’, officially being recognized as the most innovative MMO experience on the platform.
The official release date for the Steam version is still undecided, and you can currently receive release notifications by adding it to your wishlist.
Survivor awakened in the digital universe… War against the hostile entity ‘Anima’
The stage of Soulbound is a living but hostile digital world.
The player awakens in an unfamiliar virtual universe and encounters ‘The Anima,’ a mysterious entity possessing overwhelming power from the very beginning. Having survived on the brink of death with the help of a robotic companion, the player then embarks on a journey to eliminate The Anima.
The game revolves around an apartment that serves as a personal base. Players collect materials, craft and enhance equipment, and prepare for combat during exploration. Subsequently, entering dungeons to grow their combat abilities forms the core gameplay structure.
The combat style is also quite flexible. Various playstyles are possible, such as withstanding attacks with a tank-type build, supporting allies as a healer, or maximizing offensive power with a DPS-focused setup. You can create your own unique character build by utilizing over 12 types of abilities and an upgradeable skill tree.
Dungeons support not only solo play but also cooperative play for up to three players. Players can form guilds to conquer dungeons together and aim for loot.
The coexistence of retro pixel art aesthetics, fast-paced Bullet Heaven combat, and MMO elements
Soulbound is a game that combines Bullet Heaven-style combat and roguelike elements with a retro-style pixel art-based MMORPG. On top of vivid pixel designs reminiscent of classic 90s RPGs, fast-paced arena battles and procedurally escalating boss battles are added, emphasizing the fun of repeated challenges.
Another feature is accessibility. The game can be played directly in a browser without separate installation, and can be played across laptops, desktops, and Discord environments using the same account and progress.
In particular, Spiderware goes beyond a simple browser MMO, emphasizing cooperative design as a core value. Its system structure, centered on real-time party play and shared experiences, is cited as a key differentiator from existing browser MMORPGs. The newly announced Steam version is set to focus on providing this experience in a more optimized PC environment.
1 Million Players & Discord Winner… An Indie MMO Verified by the Community First
Soulbound, which won the Grand Prize in the ‘Adventure Together’ Games category at Discord App Pitch 2024, was officially recognized for its innovative attempt to integrate MMO gameplay into the Discord platform.
Players appreciate this structure, which allows for real-time cooperative play, party events, and dungeon raids without leaving Discord, and there are currently over 29,000 community members active on the official Discord server, shaping the direction of the game together.
Zona MMORPG, the largest MMORPG media outlet in the Spanish-speaking world, immediately reported on the Steam launch announcement, introducing it as “the Steam debut of a pixel art MMO with 1 million players.” This announcement, which marks a leap to the larger stage of Steam based on gameplay already proven in the browser MMO market, is also attracting attention in the indie MMORPG scene.
Spiderware’s Challenge of Implementing an MMO with Discord Embedded App SDK
Spiderware is a London-based British indie team led by founder and CEO Thomas Webb.
At the time of winning the 2024 Discord App Pitch, Web stated, “Winning the Discord App Pitch category and advancing to the Grand Finals proves the team’s dedication and innovation. Discord is a platform that connects people, and we want to play the same role through ‘Soulbound’.”
In particular, the implementation of running an MMO directly within the platform using Discord’s embedded app SDK is regarded as a rare technical achievement in the industry.
Soulbound, which has already proven its presence by securing over 1 million players on browsers and the Discord platform, is now taking on a bigger stage called Steam.
Indie MMORPG fans are focusing their attention on whether this game, which combines pixel art aesthetics, cooperative design, and bullet heaven combat with the exceptional technical endeavor of being an MMO based on the Discord Embedded App SDK, can maintain its presence in the global PC market through its Steam release.
Information regarding ‘Soulbound’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer / Publisher | Spiderware (London, UK) |
| Genre | Pixel Art MMORPG / Bullet Heaven Roguelite / Co-op Dungeon Crawler |
| Release platform | Browser (In service) / Discord (In service) / PC (Steam, coming soon) |
| Scheduled for Steam release | Undetermined (Can be added to wishlist) |
| Cumulative Players | Over 1 million (based on browser and Discord) |
| Awards | Discord App Pitches 2024 ‘Adventure Together’ Category Winner |
| Key Features | Single Shared Server / 1-3 Player Co-op / Free to Play / No Installation Required in Browser |
| Community | Official Discord server 29,000+ members |
| Main Keywords | Pixel Art, MMO, Co-op, Roguelite, Bullet Heaven, Digital World, Free to Play |
| Official Channel | Discord · Official Site · X (Twitter) |
| Steam Page | Add to Wishlist |
| Browser Play | Shortcut |
