The update for the Forgotten Island is now just over 10 days away. Scheduled for release on Wednesday the 22nd, the Forgotten Island was originally introduced as an ultra-high-difficulty area where even high-level players were encouraged to hunt in parties due to the extreme strength of the monsters and a level limit of 45. While high-difficulty hunting grounds like the Fire Valley and Ivory Tower already exist, the Forgotten Island is on an entirely different level.

Beyond these inherent characteristics, the fact that the Forgotten Island is being released just five and a half months after the service launch also contributes to its difficulty. Players have had limited time to level up, resulting in a lower average player level.

Although Lineage Classic differs from the original in terms of leveling speed, a recent poll on the Lineage Classic INVEN community showed that of about 300 participants, only slightly over 11% were level 46 or higher. Playstyles have also shifted; while players in the 2000s would hunt for hours at Internet cafes, the current player base consists largely of working professionals with shorter daily playtimes. Consequently, the average leveling pace is inevitably slower.

While the poll was an open, unverified survey and not perfectly scientific data, the results suggest that roughly 90% of current Lineage Classic players may not even be able to set foot on the Forgotten Island.

As mentioned, the Forgotten Island was an ultra-high-difficulty area where even high-level players could not hunt solo, leading to predictions that low-spec characters who have just reached level 45 will find it virtually impossible to hunt there. This creates a hurdle for average players who play solo, as they must find party members to survive, unlike the 'top Clans' that move in coordinated groups.

Ultimately, if the Forgotten Island is released without changes to its original design, it will likely become a hunting ground exclusively for the top-tier minority, effectively excluding average players. On the other hand, given the early release timing, there is a possibility that the entry level and monster stats will be adjusted to match the average player's current power level.

Additionally, Lineage Classic recently added a new ATS hunting ground called the 'Land of the Forsaken.' This area is restricted to characters between levels 30 and 50 and offers better leveling efficiency than the existing 'Land of Fallen Blessings.' Some suggest that the addition of this area, which allows for rapid growth at lower levels, was a deliberate move in preparation for the Forgotten Island.

The Forgotten Island is a hunting ground known for 'jackpot' drops, including next-generation top-tier weapons like the Ancient Weapons and the spellbooks needed to complete them. With both top-tier and average players on high alert, all eyes are on what the Forgotten Island will look like when it is unveiled on the 22nd.