# Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
**Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning** is an open-world action role-playing game developed by Big Huge Games and 38 Studios and published by [Electronic Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/electronic-arts) in February 2012 for PC, PlayStation 3, and [Xbox 360](https://www.edgepedia.org/xbox-360)[1](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/postmortem-i-kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-i-) • [2](https://s204.q4cdn.com/701424631/files/doc_news/2012/02/1/646686.pdf). It was the only release of the collaboration between the two studios, earned a Metacritic rating of 81, and became a cautionary industry case when both companies closed in May 2012, three months after launch[1](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/postmortem-i-kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-i-) • [3](https://www.embracer.com/releases/thq-nordic-acquires-the-kingdom-of-amalur-ip/). A remaster, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning, followed in 2020 under [THQ Nordic](https://www.edgepedia.org/thq-nordic)[4](https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/56567/kingdoms-of-amalur-re-reckoning-switch).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | February 2012, published by Electronic Arts; PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360[1](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/postmortem-i-kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-i-) • [2](https://s204.q4cdn.com/701424631/files/doc_news/2012/02/1/646686.pdf) |
| Developers | Big Huge Games (Baltimore) with parent studio 38 Studios (Providence)[1](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/postmortem-i-kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-i-) |
| Creative leads | R.A. Salvatore (world and story), Todd McFarlane (art), Ken Rolston (creative design director)[5](https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2012/02/09/creating-world-the-secret-history-video-game/ZQ76u1NWDupftBXklDrcMP/story.html) |
| Reception | Metacritic rating of 81[3](https://www.embracer.com/releases/thq-nordic-acquires-the-kingdom-of-amalur-ip/) |
| Aftermath | 38 Studios and Big Huge Games closed in May 2012; financed in part by a loan from the state of Rhode Island[1](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/postmortem-i-kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-i-) |
| Remaster | Re-Reckoning, developed by Kaiko, released September 2020 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC; Switch version March 16, 2021[4](https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/56567/kingdoms-of-amalur-re-reckoning-switch) |
| Expansion | Fatesworn, released December 14, 2021, raising the level cap to 50[6](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlQE2OKH5j0) |
## Premise and gameplay
The player is the Fateless One, a hero resurrected from the dead with no thread in Fate's tapestry, in a world where the Fateweavers have predicted doom for all living creatures and the Tuatha, a group of rogue elves, threaten mortal life[7](https://eaassets-a.akamaihd.net/eahelp/manuals/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-manuals_PC.pdf) • [4](https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/56567/kingdoms-of-amalur-re-reckoning-switch). Because the hero has already died, they can modify the threads of fate and change the destiny of those around them[8](https://www.pcgamer.com/kingdoms-of-amalur-the-reckoning-review/).
Character customization covers gender, race, patron god, name, and appearance, with races such as the Almain and Varani granting different starting bonuses to skills like Alchemy and Blacksmithing[7](https://eaassets-a.akamaihd.net/eahelp/manuals/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-manuals_PC.pdf). A distinctive system lets players reallocate all their points at any time by paying characters called Fateweavers, removing the usual commitment of an RPG build[9](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2012/feb/07/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-review).
**Combat as the centerpiece.** The developers deliberately built the game around action combat after surveying the open-world RPG field and finding no title that led in combat while meeting expectations for story, progression, and exploration[1](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/postmortem-i-kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-i-). Reviewers consistently identified this as the game's strength: GameSpot called the battles exciting enough to hold up in a pure action game, and RPGFan compared the fast, dynamic system to God of War rather than to any RPG[10](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-review/1900-6349636/) • [11](https://www.rpgfan.com/review/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning/). Players equip two weapons on separate buttons, from swords and bows to staves, and can chain melee attacks into ranged ones and magic spells[4](https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/56567/kingdoms-of-amalur-re-reckoning-switch) • [11](https://www.rpgfan.com/review/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning/).
The same reviews marked the limits. [PC Gamer](https://www.edgepedia.org/pc-gamer) judged that great combat and mountains of loot could not compensate for a generic world design and familiar story over the 30-plus hours needed to finish the game[8](https://www.pcgamer.com/kingdoms-of-amalur-the-reckoning-review/). GameSpot described questing as a game of "chase the waypoint," running toward goals without caring why[12](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-review/1900-6349784/). The world is divided into large regions separated by loading screens, which felt restrained next to Skyrim's seamless world, released only months earlier[4](https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/56567/kingdoms-of-amalur-re-reckoning-switch).
## Development history
The project began at Big Huge Games under the name "Crucible," published by THQ, which bought the studio outright; the game was renamed "Ascendant" as key features changed. When THQ ran short of money it sold the studio to [Curt Schilling](https://www.edgepedia.org/curt-schilling)'s 38 Studios, with days left before the studio would have closed. The project became "Mercury," then received its final name, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning[1](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/postmortem-i-kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-i-). In five years the studio was bought and sold twice and the project changed name and core features three times[1](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/postmortem-i-kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-i-).
38 Studios assembled a prominent creative team. The fantasy author R.A. Salvatore spent five years writing a history of the world spanning millennia, then handed the story to writing teams in Providence and Baltimore; [Todd McFarlane](https://www.edgepedia.org/todd-mcfarlane), creator of the Spawn comic, oversaw 15 aspects of the game's visual and audio design; and Ken Rolston, lead designer of [The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-elder-scrolls-iv-oblivion), became creative design director[5](https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2012/02/09/creating-world-the-secret-history-video-game/ZQ76u1NWDupftBXklDrcMP/story.html). The game was Big Huge Games' first open-world RPG, after the studio switched from real-time strategy games[1](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/postmortem-i-kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-i-) • [13](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/-i-kingdoms-of-amalur-i-postmortem-in-i-game-developer-i-april-2012-issue).
Development was strained. Preproduction was too short, tools and pipelines were built while content production was already underway, and the team made "too much game" without resolving content density early[1](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/postmortem-i-kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-i-). In July 2010, about a year into development, five of the most senior studio managers left; remaining staff filled the leadership gap[1](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/postmortem-i-kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-i-). Before release the game recorded about 300,000 pre-orders[5](https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2012/02/09/creating-world-the-secret-history-video-game/ZQ76u1NWDupftBXklDrcMP/story.html).
## Project Copernicus and the collapse
Reckoning was planned as the first step toward Project Copernicus, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game set in the same universe, which 38 Studios developed in parallel[5](https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2012/02/09/creating-world-the-secret-history-video-game/ZQ76u1NWDupftBXklDrcMP/story.html) • [14](https://www.hgpauction.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/38-Studios.pdf). It never shipped. Rocky initial sales, mismanagement, and poor luck closed both 38 Studios and Big Huge Games in May 2012, three months after Reckoning's release; the game had been financed in part by a loan from the state of [Rhode Island](https://www.edgepedia.org/rhode-island)[1](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/postmortem-i-kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-i-). The companies' assets, including the Amalur intellectual property, Project Copernicus materials, and sequel rights to Reckoning, were later auctioned[14](https://www.hgpauction.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/38-Studios.pdf).
## Re-Reckoning and Fatesworn
THQ Nordic acquired the Kingdoms of Amalur IP from 38 Studios LLC in 2018[3](https://www.embracer.com/releases/thq-nordic-acquires-the-kingdom-of-amalur-ip/). The remaster Re-Reckoning, developed by Kaiko, arrived in September 2020 on [PlayStation 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/playstation-4), [Xbox One](https://www.edgepedia.org/xbox-one), and PC, and on [Nintendo Switch](https://www.edgepedia.org/nintendo-switch) on March 16, 2021[4](https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/56567/kingdoms-of-amalur-re-reckoning-switch). Reviewers of the remaster noted that it preserved the original's dated design, including the absence of a combat target lock, while Grant Kirkhope's score drew praise[4](https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/56567/kingdoms-of-amalur-re-reckoning-switch).
The expansion Fatesworn was announced for 2021 and released on December 14, 2021, for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 at a price of $19.99 / €19.99 / £17.99. It adds a new storyline and region, Chaos Realm dungeons across Amalur, new weapons and armor, a raised level cap of 50, and a new soundtrack by Grant Kirkhope[6](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlQE2OKH5j0) • [15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeFJgW1c19o). A Fate Edition bundles the base game with the expansion[15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeFJgW1c19o).
## References
1. [Mike Fridley (2013). Postmortem: Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. Game Developer.](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/postmortem-i-kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-i-)
2. [EA and 38 Studios ship Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (press release, February 2012)](https://s204.q4cdn.com/701424631/files/doc_news/2012/02/1/646686.pdf)
3. [THQ Nordic acquires the Kingdom of Amalur IP. Embracer Group.](https://www.embracer.com/releases/thq-nordic-acquires-the-kingdom-of-amalur-ip/)
4. [John Rairdin (2021). Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning Review. Nintendo World Report.](https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/56567/kingdoms-of-amalur-re-reckoning-switch)
5. [Hiawatha Bray (2012). The secret history of 'Kingdoms of Amalur'. The Boston Globe.](https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2012/02/09/creating-world-the-secret-history-video-game/ZQ76u1NWDupftBXklDrcMP/story.html)
6. [Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning - Fatesworn Release Trailer. THQ Nordic, YouTube.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlQE2OKH5j0)
7. [Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning PC manual. Electronic Arts.](https://eaassets-a.akamaihd.net/eahelp/manuals/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-manuals_PC.pdf)
8. [Kingdoms of Amalur: The Reckoning review. PC Gamer.](https://www.pcgamer.com/kingdoms-of-amalur-the-reckoning-review/)
9. [Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning review. The Guardian.](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2012/feb/07/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-review)
10. [Kevin VanOrd (2012). Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Review. GameSpot.](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-review/1900-6349636/)
11. [Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Review. RPGFan.](https://www.rpgfan.com/review/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning/)
12. [Kevin VanOrd (2012). Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Review. GameSpot.](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-review/1900-6349784/)
13. [Kingdoms of Amalur Postmortem in Game Developer April 2012 Issue. Game Developer.](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/-i-kingdoms-of-amalur-i-postmortem-in-i-game-developer-i-april-2012-issue)
14. [HGP Auction: Lot 3, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning and Project Copernicus assets.](https://www.hgpauction.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/38-Studios.pdf)
15. [Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning - Fatesworn Release Date Trailer. GameSpot Trailers, YouTube.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeFJgW1c19o)
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