Underlight is an early fantasy MMORPG, developed by Lyra Studios, LLC. It was released on Mplayer.com originally in March 1998. At the end of 2006, Lyra Studios shut down the original server, and the game has continued under community-owned and operated servers ever since. KoiWare, LLC took on the challenge of managing the game in 2014 and continues to keep Underlight alive to this day.
KoiWare, LLC is an all volunteer team that works to keep Underlight up and running so new players and old can discover and enjoy the game we all love. The founders of KoiWare, LLC are a dynamic team of industry professionals with a proven track record of advancing the client and improving the game.
(Koi-Wish)
I refused to let Underlight die back in late 2013 when I heard about it. I might not have played the follow-up versions much, but there was still a peacefulness about knowing the game was still going. When I heard it was gone, I scrambled to get a team together. I was able to find all the pieces of the puzzle and get them together from hardware and internet, to that first year's early team full of incredible talent in coding, engineers, system administrators, and even our first GM team. Things starting clicking, and I remember sending the first screenshot out to the community on Facebook letting them know WishBringer was in the City and they would all be soon too!
Breathing life into this, and being a part of this project has been a dream come true. I have met some incredible people, made some wonderful friends, lost folks to age and illness, and held our heads up through those tragedies. Underlight is not a game, it's a community of artistic gamers who have a passion for imagination and storytelling. I am proud to be a part of it. I will do what I can to keep it going for many years to come. This is my family, we laugh, we cry... we love, we hate.... and most of all we dream together. Come dream with us.
(Koi-Jor'Kyrin)
For me, Underlight was my safe haven. At the time, I was a teenager who suffered from severe acne and constant depression. It was difficult to make friends in the real world. The dream came to me at the perfect time. I needed something to grasp onto, to escape the dreaded pain on my face. Or the everyday hiding on campus, because my face looked so awful. Underlight was the perfect sanctuary. I could be me without anyone knowing of my suffering. It got me through some of my more difficult times in my life. I experienced so many wonderful outlets: friendships, laughter, sorrow, even romance. I have grown because of the dream.
Now, twenty-two years later, I feel grateful, honored, and humbled to be part of a team that shares the same common goal: We cannot let The City of Underlight die. When we visit the ever-growing list of controllers of dreamers who have passed away, their presents may be gone. However, they are part of the city's fabric, now and forever. They are baked into the very lore of the city. Their names will not be lost. It is the newly awakened who will one dream study and learn of their names alongside their great accomplished feats and teach it to others. --- Again, our common goal: We can't let that fade away. For me, this has been my drive, or to some level, obligation. For me, it is knowing that I am doing everything I can to keep the dream up and maybe just a little bit more.
(Koi-Cricket)
Working to keep Underlight alive means a lot to everyone. It takes a lot of dedication from the entirety of the community to keep the project moving forward. Underlight is not just your typical game, it is a passion for a lot of people, and has been so for many years. Back when I started playing, nearly 20 years ago, I would have never dreamed I would form so many bonds and friendships, but over time, we grew into a family. So what does keeping Underlight alive mean to me? ... everything.
If you'd like to request some information about the team, or just to say hi, please contact us at the address below. Please note, this address is for media inquiries about KoiWare, LLC and Underlight, but not for game support. Please visit the contact page on underlight.com for all your support needs. Thank you for your interest, and happy dreaming!
