Understanding Paragon Ownership
The question "How owns Paragon?" is a bit more complex than a simple one-sentence answer, as the ownership of the game and its intellectual property has evolved over time. For many gamers, Paragon evokes memories of its time as a popular free-to-play action MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena). However, the original Paragon is no longer available.
The Original Paragon: Epic Games' Venture
The first iteration of Paragon was developed and published by Epic Games. Launched in 2016, it was a significant project for Epic, aiming to bring a unique third-person perspective and a focus on action combat to the MOBA genre. Players invested time and sometimes money into their accounts, purchasing skins, heroes, and other in-game items.
However, despite its dedicated player base, Paragon struggled to gain the widespread traction Epic Games had hoped for. In early 2018, Epic Games made the difficult decision to shut down the original Paragon. This announcement was met with disappointment from its community. The official servers for Paragon were officially closed down in April 2018.
The Legacy Lives On: Paragon's Assets and Open Source
While Epic Games shut down the game, they didn't simply disappear the intellectual property entirely. In a move that surprised many, Epic Games decided to release many of Paragon's assets, including hero models, environments, and animations, for free. This was done specifically to allow developers to use these assets in their own projects, fostering a new wave of game development inspired by Paragon's unique aesthetic and mechanics.
This generous act meant that the visual and foundational elements of Paragon were not lost. Many independent game developers have since utilized these assets to create their own games, often with a focus on recreating or evolving the Paragon experience. This has led to several community-driven projects and new games that bear a strong resemblance to the original Paragon.
Key Takeaways on Original Paragon Ownership:
- Developer/Publisher: Epic Games
- Status: Discontinued (servers closed April 2018)
- Asset Release: Many in-game assets were made freely available for developers to use.
The Rise of Predecessor and Other Fan-Made Projects
Following the closure of the original Paragon, a significant movement emerged from the community to revive the game. One of the most prominent projects to rise from this was Predecessor. Developed by a company called Omeda Studios, Predecessor is not a direct continuation or reboot owned by Epic Games, but rather a game built from the ground up, heavily inspired by Paragon's gameplay, heroes, and art style. Omeda Studios has been working diligently to capture the essence of Paragon while introducing their own innovations.
It is important to clarify that Omeda Studios owns Predecessor, not the original Paragon intellectual property. They have licensed some assets indirectly through Epic's initial release and have created their own distinct versions of heroes and environments. Predecessor has been in various stages of development and testing, aiming to bring back the beloved MOBA experience.
Other community-led projects and games have also utilized the freely released Paragon assets to create their own experiences. While these projects may share similarities and evoke nostalgia for the original Paragon, they are independent creations and their ownership lies with their respective development teams.
Clarifying Ownership of Paragon-Inspired Games:
- Predecessor: Owned by Omeda Studios.
- Other Fan-Made Projects: Ownership lies with their respective independent development teams.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Paragon Ownership
How can I play the original Paragon game?
Unfortunately, you cannot play the original Paragon game as developed and published by Epic Games. The official servers were shut down in April 2018, and the game is no longer available for download or play.
Who owns the intellectual property of the original Paragon?
Epic Games still owns the intellectual property of the original Paragon. However, they have made a significant portion of its in-game assets publicly available for use by other developers.
Is Predecessor the same game as Paragon?
Predecessor is not the same game as the original Paragon. It is a new game developed by Omeda Studios that is heavily inspired by Paragon's gameplay and art style, using some of the original assets and creating new ones. Omeda Studios owns Predecessor.
Why did Epic Games release Paragon's assets?
Epic Games released many of Paragon's assets to foster creativity within the game development community. They wanted to give developers the tools to build new and exciting experiences, some of which could be inspired by or even directly utilize elements of the original Paragon.
