Is the dream of a truly modern, Western-focused MMORPG dead? That is the question many fans are asking following the abrupt end of the Ghost MMORPG project, led by industry veteran Greg Street.
Street, widely known by his online handle “Ghostcrawler,” has a storied history in game development, having served as the lead systems designer for World of Warcraft and later as the lead game designer for League of Legends. His return to the MMO space was met with significant excitement, promising a fresh take on a genre many feel has grown stagnant.
A New Castle in the Pixel Landscape
Founding Fantastic Pixel Castle
In 2023, Greg Street founded Fantastic Pixel Castle (FPC), a new studio dedicated to creating a modern fantasy MMORPG, codenamed Ghost. The studio was backed by NetEase Games, a major Chinese technology and gaming company, providing the resources needed for an ambitious project.
The FPC team was composed of notable veterans from Blizzard and Riot Games, signaling a serious intent to challenge the established giants of the genre. They adopted a highly transparent development process, frequently sharing updates and engaging directly with the community.
Targeting the Western MMO Audience
Street was clear about the game’s target audience. He aimed to create a new “tentpole” MMO for players who love classics like World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV, Elder Scrolls Online, and Guild Wars 2.
His philosophy was that many of these beloved games are decades old, and the time was right for a new, large-scale entry to capture the Western market. The goal was not to reinvent the wheel entirely, but to modernize the core experience with fresh ideas.
The Vision for Ghost: Blue Zones and Red Zones
The core design of the Ghost MMORPG was built around a duality of experiences, intended to cater to different player motivations: exploration and social interaction. This innovative approach was one of the most talked-about aspects of the project.
The Exploration of Blue Zones
The “Blue Zones” were designed to draw inspiration from roguelikes and survival games like Valheim. These were one-off, procedurally generated maps focused primarily on exploration and discovery.
Street emphasized that the vision was to encourage players to discover the areas for themselves, rather than simply following a map. This was intended to recapture the sense of wonder and unknown that many feel is missing from modern, fully-mapped MMOs.
The Massively Multiplayer Red Zones
In contrast, the “Red Zones” were the game’s traditional, massively multiplayer regions. These areas were public and designed to feel “like an MMO on steroids,” according to Street.
The intent was to limit the number of these zones to ensure they were memorable, epic, and successful in bringing large numbers of players together for shared experiences, such as world events and large-scale combat.
The Sudden Silence: NetEase and the Shutdown
Despite the promising vision and the transparent development process, the story of the Ghost MMORPG took a tragic turn. After approximately 14 to 16 months of active development, and following the release of a prototype gameplay demo, the project was abruptly halted.
In late 2025, NetEase Games pulled funding from Fantastic Pixel Castle. Street announced that the studio would officially close its doors on November 17, 2025.
The closure was a painful reminder of the volatile nature of the AAA game development industry, particularly for ambitious, high-budget MMOs. It marked the end of a promising venture before it could even enter a proper beta phase.
The Unfinished Legacy
The cancellation of the Ghost MMORPG leaves behind an unfinished legacy. It represents a lost opportunity for a fresh, community-driven approach to the genre, championed by a developer with a proven track record.
The transparency of the development process, while admirable, ultimately highlighted the immense financial and logistical challenges of launching a new MMO in today’s market. For many, the “Ghost” project will remain a tantalizing glimpse of what might have been.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Ghost MMORPG still in development?
No. Fantastic Pixel Castle, the studio behind the project, officially closed its doors in November 2025 after its publisher, NetEase Games, pulled funding.
Who is Greg Street (Ghostcrawler)?
Greg Street is a highly respected game designer. He is best known for his work as the lead systems designer for World of Warcraft and later as the lead game designer for League of Legends.
What was the core concept of Ghost?
The core concept was a modern fantasy MMO that blended traditional massive multiplayer areas (“Red Zones”) with unique, roguelike-inspired exploration zones (“Blue Zones”) to encourage discovery and social interaction.
