2025: Albion’s Year in Review
2025 is almost behind us, and it’s been another big year for Albion Online. Among other things, it’s given us *deep breath*... five Crystal Weapons, four full Guild Seasons, three major updates, two platform launches, and a [s]partridge in a pear tree[/s] new type of PvP. So without further ado, let’s dive back in time and relive the biggest moments of 2025.
[h3]Rogue Frontier[/h3]
The year began with the release of Rogue Frontier, unveiling a shady new faction in the Outlands – the Smugglers. Their Smuggler’s Dens gave players new ways to base themselves in Albion’s black zones, the Smuggler’s Network brought new economic opportunities and let players quickly regear in the Outlands, and new activities offered ways to earn shadowy rewards.
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Rogue Frontier saw intrepid solo players, daring small groups, and ambitious guilds venturing far and wide to seek wealth and glory, bringing fresh life to Albion’s most perilous regions.
[h3]Abyssal Depths[/h3]
Albion’s second major update of the year was Abyssal Depths, which introduced a brand-new PvP mode, set way down in Albion’s underworld. The Depths offered groups of two or three players an exciting, fast-paced extraction-style dungeon, while a new ruleset where you only drop your inventory on death gave players an entry point into competitive PvP.
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With Antiquarian’s Dens in the Royal Cities giving players easy access to the Depths, Hellgates, and Corrupted Dungeons as well, this update was one of our most well-received in recent memory, with countless players pouring into these dungeons to face off against each other.
[h3]The Crucible[/h3]
The release of Abyssal Depths set the stage for a massive creator battle in July – the Crucible. This tournament saw over 100 creators forming their own guilds and competing for the entire month to take the crown. But it wasn’t just glory at stake – thousands of gifted subs were on offer to the creators, while the top prize was a real life, steel Galatine Pair, forged by the good folks at Man at Arms.
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After the dust settled on the contest, it was Zizaran who emerged triumphant, walking away with these tremendous weapons. The Crucible was a blast, and we hope to do more events like this in the future, so stay tuned! Check out some of the best moments in this video from Albion Online Creator Program member Albion Bard.
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[h3]New Platform Launches[/h3]
2025 also saw Albion Online expand to two new platforms: Epic Games Store and Xbox Game Pass.
These launches saw thousands of new players landing on Albion’s shores for the first time, breathing fresh life into the world and furthering our goal of making the game accessible to as many people as possible. These new players help keep Albion’s Marketplaces, dungeons, and open world vibrant and dynamic, and set the game up strongly for the year ahead.
[h3]Realm Divided[/h3]
That brings us to the final update of 2025: Realm Divided. This focused on revitalizing Albion’s main Royal Continent PvP mode, Faction Warfare, with new objectives and easier access. Its mechanics were completely revamped, with a new system of Provinces providing ever-shifting frontlines for the different factions to fight over, and massive Fortress Sieges erupting across the continent.
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Daily Faction Warfare kills have more than tripled since the update launched, showing that this has succeeded in breathing new life into war on the Royal Continent. With so many of you enlisting, flagging up, and traveling to the frontlines to fight for your city’s glory, the year has truly ended on a high as we look ahead to 2026.
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Albion never rests though, and we’re cooking up some big developments for next year – stay tuned for more on those in January. Until then, enjoy the winter festivities, and we’ll see you in 2026!
