MMORPG
Ongoing coverage on MMORPG.
Latest coverage
MMORPG Throne and Liberty transitions from Amazon Game Studios to NC (formerly NCSoft)
NC (formerly NCSoft) will take over global publishing duties for the MMORPG Throne and Liberty from Amazon Game Studios, aiming to consolidate it into a single online service by Q4 2026. FirstSpark Games, an NC subsidiary, is collaborating with Amazon on the transition, ensuring player accounts and assets remain unchanged across platforms like Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox. NC stated this move allows them to directly support the game and shape its future.
RIFT brings back the Legion of Corpses battle pass for a ‘rerun’
RIFT has brought back its Legion of Corpses battle pass for a limited time rerun until November 2nd. Players can progress through the reward tracks by completing daily and weekly quests, with subscribers having access to additional missions. The rerun includes rewards such as a Corpse Lord mount and Voidless Tegulisk. Additionally, RIFT recently implemented a character naming purge for inactive accounts, requiring players to log in by September 11th to secure their names.
Amazon will cease publishing Lost Ark and Throne & Liberty, sending them back to Smilegate and NCsoft
Amazon Game Studios will cease publishing the MMORPGs Lost Ark and Throne & Liberty in the West. Operations for Lost Ark will transition back to Smilegate in early 2027, while Throne & Liberty will move to FirstSpark Games / NCsoft in Q4 2026. This change follows Amazon's earlier layoffs and scaling back of its community teams.
The Daily Grind: What sparked an MMO gaming renaissance for you?
This article discusses what sparks a player's return to MMORPGs after experiencing burnout. It poses the question of whether trying a new game, excitement over new developments, or a break from a title is the primary catalyst for renewed interest in the genre.
WoW 12.1 is finally here, and there's a brand new talent tree and instance type
World of Warcraft patch 12.1, titled Curse of Ula'tek, is now live, introducing the new Lair instance type and the Venomous Abyss raid. The update adds an all-new talent tree with effects like Venomwalking, a new dungeon called Altar of Fangs, and new rotations for existing dungeons. Player housing features have been expanded with shareable Blueprint codes, and players can now place pets in their homes.
Crimson Desert Trailer Celebrates All the New Features and Content Added Since Launch
Pearl Abyss has released a trailer highlighting the numerous features and content added to Crimson Desert in the five months since its launch. Updates include over 120 new pets and mounts, new mini-games, housing and skill improvements, and combat-focused additions like Re-blockades and boss rematches. The company also plans to release its first paid DLC in the third quarter of the year.
The Stream Team: Shattering evil dragons in Guild Wars 2
Massively OP's MJ Guthrie will be streaming Guild Wars 2, focusing on a plan to defeat the evil dragon Kralkatorrik by resonating a giant crystal with the creature. The stream is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, August 11th, 2026.
Nexon will host MapleStory Fest 2026 in LA on October 17 – tix go on sale Thursday
Nexon will host MapleStory Fest 2026 on October 17th at The Hill at Universal City in Los Angeles. The annual event for the MMORPG MapleStory will feature community activities, game updates, and special announcements. Tickets go on sale August 13th.
AdventureQuest 3D’s latest questline tries to cure vampires and werewolves
AdventureQuest 3D has launched a new questline titled 'Uncovering Local Mysteries' that tasks players with finding a cure for vampirism and lycanthropy. Players can start the quest by speaking to the Herbalist Vere in Amityvale and may earn in-game rewards. Artix Entertainment also announced the winners of their Umbral vs. Celestial screenshot contest.
Kakao Q2 2026: ArcheAge Chronicles hits early access this year as Kakao centers MMOs and older gamers
Kakao has announced that ArcheAge Chronicles will launch in early access in Q4 of this year, with ArcheAge S and Chrono Odyssey slated for 2027. The company is refocusing on its core MMORPG competitiveness and is also researching games for players aged 50 and older, expecting tangible results by Q3 of next year.
In a fascinating use of free will, Old School RuneScape player spent 4,304 hours catching 275,196 shrimp and 257,064 anchovies to max out his fishing skill in the worst way possible
A dedicated Old School RuneScape player named Bosby has achieved level 99 in the fishing skill by exclusively catching shrimp and anchovies, a process that took 4,304 hours over two years. Despite the highly inefficient method, Bosby completed the grind, catching over 500,000 fish in total. Developer Jagex acknowledged the player's unique accomplishment.
NCsoft Q2 2026: Lineage Classic is booming as NCsoft pours money into Guild Wars 3
NCsoft reported a 38% revenue increase in Q2 2026, largely driven by the booming popularity of Lineage Classic in Korea and ad revenue from the JustPlay mobile app. Despite a decline in Guild Wars 2 revenue from its Q1 peak, it remains up year-over-year. NCsoft is investing an additional $85 million into ArenaNet for the development of Guild Wars 3, which is slated for alpha and beta testing in 2027.
Choose My Adventure: EverQuest Legends is off to a clunky, slow, and intriguing start
The author shares their initial, clunky, and intriguing experiences with EverQuest Legends, a re-release of the original MMORPG. Despite not being a long-time fan, they find the game's slow pace and tactical combat surprisingly engaging, though progression feels arduous. The article discusses the player's choice to play a Kerran Bard/Warrior and seeks community input on whether to continue with the character.
Old School RuneScape player hits 99 fishing by just catching shrimp and anchovies. Jagex approves
An Old School RuneScape player, Robert 'Bosby', has achieved level 99 in Fishing by exclusively catching shrimp and anchovies over two years and three months. This accomplishment, totaling over 500,000 fish caught and 4,304 hours played, was officially recognized by Jagex.
Guild Wars 2’s Code of Creation update brings Visions of Eternity to an end on September 15
ArenaNet has announced that the final update for Guild Wars 2's Visions of Eternity, titled Code of Creation, will launch on September 15th. This update will conclude the current story arc with six chapters, introduce new explorable maps, a meta-event, a fractal, a raid, and a new mastery. The studio also confirmed an 18-month content gap before future expansions, during which Guild Wars 3's beta will be available.
Square Enix sees big lifts in Q1 2027 profits thanks to game sales and Final Fantasy XIV Evercold’s reveal
Square Enix reported a significant increase in operating income and profits for the first quarter of its 2027 fiscal year, largely driven by sales of HD games and its MMORPG sector. The launch of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and the reveal of the Final Fantasy XIV expansion Evercold were key contributors to the financial boost.
World of Warcraft brings a new zone, new housing updates, and a new prey season with Curse of Ula’tek
World of Warcraft: Midnight has released the Curse of Ula'tek content update, introducing the new Coiled Isle zone with group events, curse surges, a new dungeon, and boss lairs. The update also brings significant housing additions, including new neighborhood endeavors, blueprint saving, pet beds, and new house levels. Additional features include Discord and Battle.net integration, the start of a new prey season on August 18th, UI updates, and class balancing changes.
The Daily Grind: What’s your favorite non-MMO survival sandbox?
This article asks readers for their favorite non-MMO survival sandbox games, contrasting them with the grind often found in MMORPGs like Runescape. The author expresses a preference for exploration over grinding, seeking recommendations for games like Valheim that offer a different experience.
The Stream Team: Braving Project Gorgon’s brain bug cave for the mantis in a hat
Massively OP's MJ Guthrie is venturing into the brain bug cave in Project Gorgon to help a giant mantis named Azalak. In exchange for information about the brain bug creator, MJ must complete a favor for Azalak, which involves finding Commander Ferrows. The stream will cover this quest and other games like Guild Wars 2 and Return to Moria.
Eorzea everywhere: Why Final Fantasy 14 Belongs on Nintendo Switch 2
This article argues that the Nintendo Switch 2 would be an ideal platform for Final Fantasy XIV, offering a portable experience without compromising performance or controls. The author highlights how the game's controller-friendly design and touch functionality make it well-suited for the Switch 2's capabilities, allowing players to fit the MMORPG into busy lives.
