Earlier today, Fen Research introduced a major update to their official website, adding a dedicated news section for players. Fans of the game can now visit brightershores.com/news to stay up-to-date with the latest Brighter Shores announcements, updates, and patch notes. This new addition is a welcome change for the community, as it provides an easily accessible hub for official information—alongside fan resources like our own site!
The update has sparked some lively discussion in one of the Brighter Shores Discords. A question asked of FenSamuel, Community Manager, was whether the website might eventually feature an official forum. Samuel quickly put the idea to rest, replying, "Won't happen, sorry!"
The reason behind this decision seems to lie in the upcoming Online Safety Act, a UK law designed to protect children online. When another user referenced the now-retired RuneScape forums, Samuel clarified, "Unfortunately, they weren't subject to the new UK laws coming into place this year. Such a shame." He later pointed out the same challenges also prevent the creation of an official Brighter Shores Discord server, saying, "Why do you think we don't have an official Discord… 😐"
The Online Safety Act, while well-intentioned in its aim to safeguard children, has drawn criticism for placing heavy restrictions on online spaces. For developers like Fen Research, compliance with the legislation appears to create barriers to hosting community-driven platforms such as forums or Discord servers. This has understandably disappointed fans, as many agree these platforms could greatly enhance communication between players and developers. Samuel summed up the issue with his final comment: "Oh, if the laws weren't coming into effect, I would 100% make an official space for discussion. But they are, so rip dream."
While the addition of the news section is a great step forward, it's bittersweet knowing that the current legal landscape limits more interactive community options. Nonetheless, the Brighter Shores playerbase continues to show its resilience and passion, fostering discussion and creativity through unofficial platforms.
