NovaRO — The Legendary Server Gravity Shut Down
Renewal (PC)
Closed July 4, 2023 — Gravity lawsuit settlement
PC
Published by: Community-run (closed)
Release: 2015–2023 (7+ years)
NovaRO was, for years, one of the biggest Ragnarok Online private servers in the world — a mid-rate Renewal server with a massive community. It ended abruptly: Gravity filed a trademark/copyright lawsuit in 2022, NovaRO ignored the summons, Gravity won a default judgment, and NovaRO closed on July 4, 2023 as part of a settlement.
The shutdown timeline
- May 2022 — Gravity files suit in California alleging trademark infringement and unauthorized item sales
- July 2022 — Gravity wins default judgment after NovaRO ignores the summons
- June 2023 — NovaRO announces closure under the settlement
- July 4, 2023 — NovaRO shuts down after 7+ years
Where NovaRO players went
The NovaRO shutdown sent thousands of players searching for a new home. Many moved to other Renewal servers; others took a break and came back to the scene later. It also served as a warning across the private-server community about the legal risks of running unlicensed RO servers.
🎮 From your RO fans at RAW — When a giant like NovaRO falls, players look for a stable, community-run home that understands the scene. rAthena-AI World (RAW) is built for exactly those players: Full Renewal, transparent community governance, and a feature no server has — AI NPCs that remember you. How to Connect →