WAKFU: The Guardians is a video game developed and published by ANKAMA GAMES between 2009 and 2011. Initially playable on a web browser, it introduced young teens to massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) while serving as a transmedia link with season 1 of the "WAKFU" animated series, created by ANKAMA. Also known as WLG, the game allowed players to embody an Eliatrope and replay episodes of the series. After several years of existence, the official servers were shut down in 2014. It was in that same year that the ASHES collective was formed by Krayth and Kyosset. They were joined by Starlight in 2015.
Together, they set out to restore this game with great precision: the goal was to preserve this French video game heritage and offer it for free to nostalgic players eager to relive a cherished part of their childhood. After two betas in 2016 and 2019, the full restoration of the game was announced for April 10, 2021, through a trailer viewed over 20,000 times. On the day of the release, thousands of players reunited to rediscover the beautiful and enchanting Emrub, the Eliatrope island.
Due to the appropriation of ANKAMA's content by certain pirates, private servers often have a bad reputation; they allow illicit profits for those running them. However, ASHES's story is different: the game is offered for free, and since it is no longer maintained by ANKAMA, the collective members felt they were not unfairly competing with the company but were ready to cease operations if requested. Following the successful launch and ASHES's integrity and transparency in their work, ANKAMA co-founder Anthony ROUX stated on Twitter:
This was the first private server to be authorized by ANKAMA. In total, over 8,000 accounts were created, and hundreds of thank-you messages were posted by players on Discord. Numerous events were held, and the community reformed. Today's adults became yesterday's kids again... a priceless reward for years of hard work.
Sadly, in November 2023, and to everyone's surprise, Starlight unilaterally decided to leave the team and shut down the server, much to the dismay of the community and the other collective members. The rest of the team committed to reopening a new server and developing its sequel, The Guardians 2. Louky, a beta tester in 2019, joined the team to start this new endeavor. Today, WAKFU: The Guardians has returned once more, and the project continues!
