Iverian Wars: Craxion vs Defugel Launches to Harsh Criticism Despite Initial Player Surge

Iverian Wars: Craxion vs Defugel launched into Steam early access on February 24, 2026, with Zemi Interactive aiming to modernize the world of Iveria for contemporary audiences. However, the debut has been marred by a stark disconnect between initial player interest and actual reception, with the game currently sitting at a "Mostly Negative" review rating despite reaching an all-time peak of 1,839 concurrent players.

The game's troubled launch stems from several critical issues that have left players feeling misled by what many describe as "nostalgia baiting." Originally known in development circles as 4Story: Origin, Iverian Wars is effectively a rebrand of the 2008 Korean MMORPG 4Story. This connection to its predecessor has proven to be a double-edged sword, as the game fails to meet even basic expectations set by its decade-old counterpart.

The most immediate problem players encounter is a catastrophic bottleneck in the opening hour. The starting quest requires killing specific spiders, but with hundreds of users competing for only a handful of spawns, progression comes to a grinding halt. This design flaw is compounded by severe optimization issues that have left even high-end hardware struggling. Community reports on Reddit and Steam forums show frame rates dropping as low as 6-12 FPS on powerful systems like the RTX 4090 during these player-dense encounters.

Beyond the technical problems, the gameplay loop has drawn heavy criticism for being "soulless." Players describe it as relying on repetitive "kill-and-return" quests that lack the mechanical depth and fluid movement found in modern action-RPGs. The game's proprietary engine, marketed as an improvement, actually delivers visuals that many argue are inferior to the original 2008 assets. Common issues include glitching textures and inaccurate building hitboxes that break immersion and gameplay.

Monetization concerns have also emerged quickly, with players raising "pay-to-win" red flags. The ability to craft high-level PvP weapons almost immediately by spending real-world currency on specific materials has bypassed the intended progression grind entirely. This, combined with the lack of basic features like functional mouse-view response and an overall "Mixed" technical state, has positioned Iverian Wars as a cautionary tale about the current state of free-to-play MMORPG relaunches.

The game's relationship with its own history has become a source of particular shame among fans. Many feel betrayed by a product that not only fails to improve upon its predecessor but actively regresses in multiple areas. The combination of technical failures, questionable monetization, and gameplay that doesn't meet modern standards has created a perfect storm of negative reception that threatens to overshadow any initial curiosity about the Iverian revival.

For those interested in experiencing the controversy firsthand, Iverian Wars' Steam page remains accessible. However, potential players are strongly advised to review the latest patch notes before investing significant time or money, as the current state suggests substantial improvements will be necessary for the game to find its footing in the competitive MMORPG market.