Standing Stone Games
Standing Stone Games business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
LOTRO’s Latest Expansion Is Out Now, Nearly 20 Years After The Game Launched
The Lord of the Rings Online has launched its latest expansion, The Wolves of Mordor, nearly 20 years after the game's initial release in 2007. The expansion introduces three new regions, new skills, and companions with unique personality traits. It is available in multiple editions ranging from $40 to $130.
LOTRO Legendarium: Looking back at the Mordor expansion
This retrospective review of the Lord of the Rings Online Mordor expansion, released in 2017, highlights its divisive reception. While the expansion aimed to continue the narrative after the destruction of the One Ring, players found its gameplay mechanics, including the 'shadow' debuff and dense mob encounters, to be a grindy chore. Despite some visual interest and later tuning, the expansion is ranked low among LOTRO's content.
Lord of the Rings Online goes on a media blitz for its upcoming Wolves of Mordor expansion
Standing Stone Games is preparing for the upcoming release of The Lord of the Rings Online: The Wolves of Mordor on October 28th. Recent developer livestreams have detailed progress on the Bullroarer test, adjustments to the survival instincts system, and teased future content for 2027, including legendary servers and 20th-anniversary celebrations. Previews of new zones like Nan Ogel and solo instances have also been released.
LOTRO Legendarium: Looking back at Gondor’s phantom expansion
This article examines the history of Gondor's content in Lord of the Rings Online, which was released in stages between 2014 and 2017 rather than as a single expansion. This period was marked by financial struggles and a leadership shakeup at developer Turbine, leading to rumors of the game entering maintenance mode. Despite these challenges, the content eventually formed a cohesive, albeit 'phantom,' expansion, which is considered a positive outcome compared to the game's potential shutdown.
Dungeons and Dragons Online’s Update 82: The Court of Strahd brings a new limited-time event
Dungeons and Dragons Online has released Update 82, titled The Court of Strahd, which introduces a new limited-time event. In this event, players will hunt special enemies for bonus rewards as Strahd, with his new ally The Caller, expands the Mists. The update also includes adjustments following a recent balance pass on game classes and mechanics.
Dungeons and Dragons Online walks you through its new Court of Strahd event
Dungeons and Dragons Online is launching a new event called Court of Strahd, featuring a vampire ally named The Caller. Players will use special lanterns from the Order of the Guardians to hunt down The Caller and his minions, with a choice between normal and skull lanterns offering different reward structures and a permadeath-like challenge.
MMO Week in Review: RuneScape 4, Aion 2
This week's MMO news includes Jagex announcing RuneScape 4, which will operate alongside existing titles. Aion 2 officially launched globally, while Lord of the Rings Online delayed its fall expansion. New World's fate was lamented, and Throne and Liberty confirmed its transition back to NCsoft in November.
LOTRO Legendarium: Looking back at Helm’s Deep
This retrospective examines the Helm's Deep expansion for Lord of the Rings Online, released in 2013. While the expansion introduced significant changes like trait trees and the controversial epic battle system, its landscape and story elements are praised for their connection to the source material and overall quality, despite the mixed reception of its core mechanics.
Dungeons and Dragons Online unleashes its Night Revels event, adds cantrips, and makes sweeping enhancement tree changes
Dungeons and Dragons Online has released Update 81.4, bringing back the Night Revels in-game event with new rewards and higher challenge levels. The update also introduces cantrips for certain classes, providing a basic DPS tool and spell point regeneration. Significant balance changes have been made to damage reduction, enhancement trees, two-handed weapon attacks, magic masteries, and the Reaper challenge difficulty mode.
Lord of the Rings Online welcomes back the Halloweeny Harvestmath festival
The Halloween-themed Harvestmath festival has returned to Lord of the Rings Online and will run until November 2nd. Update 49.7 also includes 160 level-up packages for Wolves of Mordor pre-orders and adjustments to the new neighbor system.
Lord of the Rings Online delays Wolves of Mordor, sweetens pre-order packages
Standing Stone Games has delayed the release of the Lord of the Rings Online expansion, Wolves of Mordor, by one week to October 28th. The studio is also enhancing pre-order packages, including the Ultimate Fan Bundle, by adding a level 160 Valar boost and other in-game items in response to player feedback.
LOTRO Legendarium: Making friends in LOTRO’s new neighbour system
Standing Stone Games has released the new neighbour system for Lord of the Rings Online, ahead of the Wolves of Mordor expansion. This feature allows players to recruit and interact with various NPCs, engaging in daily quests and building relationships. However, the implementation is criticized for being unintuitive, lacking clear documentation, and feeling like a half-baked first pass that requires significant refinement.
Lord of the Rings Online showcases the ‘alternative advancement’ system of survival instincts
The Lord of the Rings Online: Wolves of Mordor expansion introduces a new 'Survival Instincts' system, offering zone-specific skills and account-wide progression for end-game content. Standing Stone Games detailed the system in a dev blog, highlighting its potential for future growth and player choice. The Buried Treasure event is also returning for a limited time.
Dungeons and Dragons Online continues to test Update 82 with UI scaling and ‘lucky loot’
Standing Stone Games is continuing to test Update 82 for Dungeons and Dragons Online on the Lamannia server. This update includes a major balance pass, a new UI rescaling feature, and a 'lucky loot' system that enhances random drops based on player luck.
Lord of the Rings Online: Wolves of Mordor targets October 21 launch, pushes out pre-orders and neighbour system
Standing Stone Games announced that the next expansion for Lord of the Rings Online, Wolves of Mordor, is set to launch on October 21st. The expansion introduces new zones, a survival system, and were-wolves to Mordor, alongside a new neighbor system for player housing. Pre-orders are available in three editions: Standard, Collector's, and Ultimate.
MMO Week in Review: Destiny 2’s revival, Aion 2’s stress test
This week's MMO news covers Destiny 2's revival with unvaulted content, Aion 2's stress test, and Ultima Online's 29th anniversary. Dune Awakening launched on consoles, Elder Scrolls Online discussed experimental features, and Microsoft continued layoffs. World of Warcraft Forever is impressing players, while other news includes The Division 2, Marathon, Warframe, and various other MMO updates and discussions.
LOTRO Legendarium: Looking back at Riders of Rohan
This analysis looks back at the 2012 expansion 'Riders of Rohan' for Lord of the Rings Online, highlighting its strong promotional efforts and thematic connection to the films. While it introduced popular elements like war-steeds and expanded the game world, the feature proved divisive due to its handling and technical issues, particularly with server lag.
Dungeons and Dragons Online welcomes you into the Court of Strahd next month
Dungeons and Dragons Online is launching its Court of Strahd event on October 14th with Update 82. This spooky in-game event will task players with combating the Darklord and his associate, the Caller, offering various rewards. Update 82 also includes significant changes to weapon combat, Reaper difficulty, enhancements, and monster resistances.
Lord of the Rings Online prepares to put you in the friend zone with its Neighbour system
Standing Stone Games is detailing the new Neighbour system for Lord of the Rings Online: Wolves of Mordor, which will be implemented before the expansion's release. This system enhances the game's housing features by introducing four distinct neighbours with unique personalities and gift preferences, allowing players to build relationships and unlock special adventures.
Lord of the Rings Online subscription rate hikes set to finally hit next month
Standing Stone Games will increase the subscription rates for Lord of the Rings Online's multi-month plans starting October 14th. The three-month sub will rise to $14, the six-month to $13, and the 12-month to $12, while the one-month price remains $15. Players can lock in current rates through December 31st, 2027, by subscribing before October 13th.
