MMORPG
Ongoing coverage on MMORPG.
Latest coverage
The Stream Team: Dungeons and Dragons Online’s Trial by Fury
Massively OP's MJ is playing Dungeons and Dragons Online's 'Trial by Fury' quest arc, part one of 'Queen of the Demonweb'. MJ must retrieve an orb from the Demonweb and return it to the War Wizards of Cormyr for study, as Ana is being used as a power source by Llolth.
Go under the sea in Path of Exile: Curse of the Allflame, launching July 24
Path of Exile: Curse of the Allflame, the next major update for the action RPG, is set to launch on July 24th. This expansion introduces a new underwater environment, a new Ascendancy class for the Scion called the Luminary, and revamps to Abyss and Legion content. The update also features new crafting mechanics and significant changes to gem socketing.
Neverwinter adds new confirmation dialogues and updates item boosts as Siege of Neverwinter returns
Neverwinter has received a patch on PC that adds confirmation dialogues for loadout changes and updates character boost packs to item level 85,000. The game also sees the return of the Siege of Neverwinter event and new items added to the battle pass.
Entropia Universe gives all players a free apartment and improves the quality-of-life for Synths
Swedish developer MindArk has announced several updates for the MMORPG Entropia Universe, including a free instanced apartment for all players and significant quality-of-life improvements for Synth characters. Synths now have expanded abilities such as fishing, crafting, and operating vehicles, and the game's storyline has been updated with a new faction called the Umbranoids.
DC Universe Online teases the sidekick system and ally mission systems in development
Daybreak's Dimensional Ink team is developing new features for DC Universe Online, including a sidekick system and an ally mission system. Executive producer Andrew Emerson also detailed ongoing improvements to early game streamlining, such as tutorial skip options and a 'warp to current mission' feature, aimed at improving the experience for new and alternate characters.
Black Desert teases the ‘Deadeye’s sibling’ class due to be revealed at Heidel Ball 2026
Pearl Abyss is teasing a new class for Black Desert, referred to as 'Eddie' or 'Deadeye's sibling,' which will be fully revealed at the Heidel Ball 2026 event. The class is hinted to start with the letter 'G' and share abilities with the Deadeye class, including the use of a pistol. The latest PC patch also includes updates for wild horses, the Yar minigame, monster loot, and class adjustments, while console players can obtain a buff-granting item.
Vague Patch Notes: Long-term content vs. short-term content in MMORPGs
This analysis explores the distinction between short-term and long-term content in MMORPGs, using examples from Final Fantasy XIV, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and Warframe. It argues that both types of content are crucial for player engagement and game longevity, with short-term content providing immediate experiences and long-term content offering sustained engagement.
WoW Factor: World of Warcraft’s content cadence and endgame focus exhausted me – so I escaped
A long-time World of Warcraft player expresses exhaustion with the game's relentless content cadence and endgame focus, despite appreciating Blizzard's efforts to improve content flow. The author found the constant influx of new activities and the treadmill-like nature of seasonal progression overwhelming, leading them to take a break from the MMORPG. They are now looking towards potential future content like WoW Classic Plus for a more manageable experience.
MMORPGs Equinox Homecoming and Pax Dei have both just kicked off free-play demos
Two indie MMORPGs, Equinox Homecoming and Pax Dei, have launched free-play demos. Equinox Homecoming's demo is available until July 21st, while Pax Dei offers a permanent 7-day trial for new players, featuring most of the game's content including building, crafting, and exploration.
Star Citizen’s alpha 4.9 brings new missions, a new fighter craft, and a long list of bug fixes
Star Citizen has released its alpha 4.9 update, introducing new missions, a new fighter craft called the Grey's Market Basher, and numerous bug fixes. The update also includes ship combat UI improvements and refreshed distribution centers. Despite its long development since a 2012 Kickstarter, the game continues to be updated in its alpha state, having raised over $1 billion.
The Daily Grind: Which early MMO did the most to shape your MMO preferences?
This article discusses how early MMORPG experiences, particularly with Final Fantasy XI, significantly shape a player's long-term preferences and dislikes within the genre. The author reflects on how their initial strong reactions to FFXI's design philosophy influenced their subsequent gaming choices and overall playstyle.
Ragnarok: The New World Launches Its Grand Server Opening with a Full Lineup of Celebration Events
Ragnarok: The New World has officially launched its servers, introducing the new Druid class and offering various celebration events and rewards for players. The game emphasizes skill-based combat over traditional power levels and features a flexible growth system. The launch was preceded by a festival featuring performances by Three Man Down, Perses, and global group BABYMONSTER.
Blue Protocol: Star Resonance Season 3 Begins! The new class “Twin Striker” has arrived!
HaoPlay has announced that Blue Protocol: Star Resonance will launch its "Echoes of Ember" Season 3 update on July 16, 2026. This update introduces the new "Twin Striker" class, new dungeons, raid battles, and a "Musician" system for playing music. The season aims to provide a smooth experience for both new and returning players with level boosts and equipment rewards.
Rogue server SWG Legends is working on a 64-bit client for 23-year-old Star Wars Galaxies
The player-run rogue server SWG Legends is developing a significant 64-bit client and infrastructure upgrade for the 2003 MMORPG Star Wars Galaxies. While there is no release ETA, internal testing has begun. The update also teases upcoming content like the August Battle of Restuss, a Halloween event, and a new PvP Arena feature.
Lineage II celebrates its 22nd anniversary with the launch of a special collector’s edition soundtrack vinyl
Lineage II is celebrating its 22nd anniversary with the release of a special collector's edition vinyl soundtrack. The album features 40 tracks from composers Bill Brown, Jamie Christopherson, and Inon Zur, and is available for pre-order or streaming on Spotify.
Pantheon Rise of the Fallen concedes that its mastery system will need more time to bring to PTR
Visionary Realms has announced a delay in bringing the mastery system for Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen to the Public Test Realm due to unexpected complexity in development. The studio plans to release the remaining classes over the next few weeks, with the Wizard class's Elementalist and Spellblade masteries available as a first draft on the current PTR.
A university is offering scholarships to MMORPG players who have completed lengthy grinds
The University of Silicon Valley is offering the Max Achievement Scholarship program, providing up to $5,000 per term for students who have completed significant in-game grinds in MMORPGs like World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV, Guild Wars 2, and RuneScape. The university aims to recognize skills such as persistence and problem-solving demonstrated through these gaming achievements.
Guild Wars 2 delivers its delayed balance patch along with a new promo video
ArenaNet released a delayed balance patch for Guild Wars 2 on a Wednesday due to a hardware failure impacting their network. The patch addresses game balance, particularly for PvP, and also reintroduces cats and other pets associated with the 2025 Extra Life charity drive. A new promotional video highlighting all game classes has also been released.
World Of Warcraft’s Haranir Lore Reveal Has Players Scratching Their Heads
A recent lore reveal in World of Warcraft, concerning the origins of trolls and elves and the introduction of the haranir allied race, has left many players confused. While the in-game narrative suggests trolls and elves are descended from the haranir, this contradicts previously established lore from sources like the World of Warcraft: Chronicle books. Senior quest designer Keith Riley clarified that the in-game vision represents the haranir's perspective and may not be the absolute truth, leaving the ancestry debate open for further discussion.
Kickstarted indie MMORPG SpiritVale officially launches into early access today
The indie MMORPG SpiritVale, developed by Baikun Interactive, has officially launched into early access on PC today, just weeks after successfully completing its Kickstarter campaign. The game is available for $15 on Steam and features seven classes, multiplayer parties, over 35 maps, and core systems like skill progression and loot, with further content planned for the coming months.