Mini-MMO" Eldegarde Launches on Steam, Rebranding from Legacy: Steel & Sorcery
Published on: 1/23/2026
The fantasy extraction RPG formerly known as Legacy: Steel & Sorcery has officially left Early Access and launched into its full 1.0 version on Steam under a new name: Eldegarde.
Developed by Notorious Studios—a team founded by former Blizzard Entertainment veterans—the game has been rebranded to better reflect its shift toward a broader "mini-MMO" experience. While it retains the high-stakes extraction gameplay that defined its Early Access period, the full launch introduces significant changes designed to welcome a wider variety of players.
From Hardcore Extraction to "Action-Forward" MMO
Originally marketed as a hardcore PvPvE experience, the 1.0 update signals a major pivot. Developers realized during Early Access that while players loved the combat, the "griefing" inherent in full-loot PvP was alienating.
To address this, Eldegarde now offers three distinct ways to play:
PvE Expeditions: A new mode that allows players to explore dungeons, fight bosses, and complete quests without the threat of enemy players. This "safe haven" lets players learn the mechanics at their own pace.
PvPvE Extraction: The classic high-stakes mode where you battle both monsters and other players for loot.
Arena: A pure PvP mode for testing skills without the risk of gear loss.
Launch Content & Features
The game launches with six playable classes: Warrior, Rogue, Hunter, Priest, Wizard, and the newly added Paladin. Each class features unique weapon sets and ability trees reminiscent of classic RPG archetypes. A seventh class, the Witch, has already been teased for a future update.
Other key features in the 1.0 release include:
5 Unique Zones: Diverse environments ranging from verdant fields to sinister crypts.
The Lodge: A personal housing system where players can build functional stations like Forges and Looms to craft gear.
Questing: A robust system featuring 17 "Campaign" questlines that delve into the game's lore, plus over 110 rotating daily and weekly quests.
A New Chapter for Notorious Studios
Chris Kaleiki, founder of Notorious Studios and a former World of Warcraft game designer, described the launch as a "strategic evolution." By balancing the tension of extraction shooters with the progression and social systems of an MMO, the studio hopes to carve out a unique niche in the genre.
Eldegarde is available now on Steam as a buy-to-play title, priced at $24.99.
