Asheron's Call · in your browser
How to play Asheron's Call today
Pick a world, log in with your account there, and you're in Dereth usually under a minute. No client, no launcher, no game files.
An unofficial, free and open-source fan project.
- Free
- Nothing to install
- Your existing account
- Windows, Mac & Linux
Last updated
The easiest way to play Asheron's Call in 2026 is webAC, an unofficial, free client that runs in your web browser. Turbine's official servers closed on 31 January 2017, but community servers still run the game. Open playwebac.com, pick one of those worlds, and log in with your account there. There's no client to install and no 1.4 GB of game files to download first, and it works on Windows, Mac and Linux.
The game lives on through community-run servers. Most run ACE (ACEmulator) and recreate the game as it was at the end of retail. Some go further back: classic servers in the Dark Majesty era, and AC1999, the game as it launched on 2 November 1999.
Ways to play
| webAC (browser) | Original client on Windows | Original client on Mac or Linux | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you install | Nothing | The end-of-retail client, ThwargLauncher and the game files | The same, inside Wine, CrossOver or a Windows virtual machine |
| Download up front | None: game data streams in and your browser caches it | About 1.4 GB of game files | About 1.4 GB, plus Wine or a virtual machine |
| Classic and 1999 worlds | The same client loads each era's data | Classic worlds need that server's classic files (some a patched client); AC1999 needs the original 1999 client | As on Windows |
| Plugins | No Decal, but webAC has its own VTank-style automation window and a Virindi Views-style plugin bar, plus Splitpea on AC1999 | Decal, VTank, UtilityBelt and the rest | Decal inside a Windows virtual machine |
| Setup | Open a web page | Several downloads and installs | Those, plus Wine or a virtual machine |
| Cost | Free | Free | Free with Wine or VMware Fusion; CrossOver and Parallels are paid |
Already set up with the original client and attached to your Decal plugins? Keep it: ThwargLauncher and each server's own setup guide cover that route. webAC is for everyone else: returning players who want to look around, new players, and anyone not on Windows.
Play in your browser
- Open playwebac.com in a current Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari on a desktop or laptop. Phones and tablets aren't supported.
- Pick a world from the list. Classic and 1999 worlds are marked, and each shows its player count. Not sure? See which world to pick.
- Log in with your account on that world, or make one: many worlds create it the first time you log in.
- Create a character and press Enter. You're in Dereth, usually under a minute after opening the page.
Common questions
Is Asheron's Call still playable?
Yes. Turbine's official servers closed on 31 January 2017, but community-run servers keep the game going. The busiest worlds have several hundred players online on a typical evening; see the server list.
Do I need the original CDs or the game files?
Not with webAC. It streams the game data it needs as you play and your browser caches it, so there is no 1.4 GB download up front. The original client needs its installer plus 1.4 GB of patched game files.
Is Asheron's Call free?
Yes. webAC is free and open source, and the servers on the community list are free to play.
Do I need a new account?
Use the account you have on the world you play. Many worlds create your account the first time you log in. Reefcull and Harvestbud ask you to register on their website first, and the launcher links there.
Which server should I start on?
The server guide suggests a world for each taste: the end of retail with lots of players, no bots, the classic era, the 1999 original or something new.
Can I use Decal or VTank?
No Decal, but webAC has its own VTank-style automation window and a Virindi Views-style plugin bar, plus Splitpea on AC1999. Follow each server's rules on automation: some worlds don't allow it.
I get a black screen or a DirectX error when I enter the world
Those errors come from the original Windows client. webAC needs no DirectX, Decal or launcher. If it says your browser lacks WebGL 2, update the browser or turn on its hardware acceleration setting.
Is it safe?
Nothing is downloaded or installed: webAC runs inside your browser's sandbox. Your login goes over an encrypted connection to webAC's relay, which passes it to the world's server and never logs or stores it. The code is public on GitHub.
What makes webAC different?
It plays the existing community worlds with the account you already have there, with no client, game files or installs, and it covers the end of retail, the classic era and the 1999 launch from the same browser tab.