MMOs
Ongoing coverage on MMOs.
Latest coverage
No Man’s Sky turns 10 years old and teases a new update called Cosmos
Hello Games is celebrating the 10th anniversary of No Man's Sky by teasing a new update called Cosmos. The studio has released over 40 free updates since the game's initial launch in 2016, transforming it into a beloved multiplayer title. The anniversary trailer also briefly teased the upcoming game Light No Fire.
Square Enix's 88% profit-bump financial report gives me hope for FF14, suggesting the MMO's finally not having…
Square Enix reported an 88.6% increase in operating profit for the fiscal year ending 2027, largely driven by its videogame business and the success of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. The article also notes a recent uptick in players for Final Fantasy XIV, attributing it to improved content and a more accessible difficulty scaling approach, suggesting renewed hope for the long-running MMO.
The MOP Up: Elder Scrolls Online’s Whitestrake’s Mayhem PvP event rages
The Whitestrake's Mayhem in-game event has returned to Elder Scrolls Online, offering bonus rewards for player-versus-player activities until August 12th. The article also rounds up other recent MMO news, including Palworld's player count, SMITE 2's upcoming god releases, and cross-promotions between Helldivers 2 and Warhammer 40,000.
One Shots: Vacationing in the prehistoric nightmare world
This week's community spotlight features screenshots from Dungeons and Dragons Online's Isle of Dread expansion, World of Warcraft's Tournament of Ages event, and Lord of the Rings Online. Players shared their in-game adventures and character moments, highlighting the vibrant community within these MMOs.
WoW developers reflect on Midnight's first season—a world without AddOns, task overload, and Prey
Developers from Blizzard Entertainment reflect on the first season of World of Warcraft: Midnight, acknowledging both successes like player housing and the Prey feature, and challenges such as task overload and the impact of heavily restricted AddOns. The team discusses how the removal of combat AddOns has influenced encounter design, leading to mechanics that rely more on player memorization and communication.
Mecha MMO RF Online Next readies Core World, a new large-scale cross-server PvPvE mode
Netmarble's cross-platform mecha MMO, RF Online Next, is preparing a major update featuring the 10th chapter of its storyline, a new Material Conversion system, and a legendary MAU named Tempest. The headline addition is Core World, a large-scale cross-server PvPvE mode for high-level players where up to 450 participants will compete to defeat the world boss Krator.
Smed’s Reaper Actual corrects display setting bugs and other issues in the wake of its free weekend
Reaper Actual, the early access extraction shooter from John Smedley's Distinct Possibility Studios, has released a patch addressing bugs related to display settings, NPC behavior, and server crashes. The recent free-play weekend saw a temporary increase in player count, reaching a monthly high of 36 players on Steam, though it did not surpass the game's all-time peak. The studio plans to host a town hall on Discord to discuss further development.
Everlast: Undying Tale – Open Beta | Alpha Beta Gamer
Everlast: Undying Tale is an open-world RPG featuring a handcrafted world where players can fight undead forces, explore landscapes, and develop their characters solo or with friends. The game allows players to master sword, bow, or staff, with skills leveling organically through gameplay. Originally designed as an MMO, it shifted to cooperative PvE based on player feedback, and an open beta is currently available.
Bees Join Chainers’ Animal Roster as Four-Day ‘Survivor Swarm’ Event Begins
Chainers has launched "The Survivor Swarm," a four-day in-game event featuring a new playable animal type: Bees. The event, running from August 6th to August 9th, includes both Progression and Mission tracks, offering various rewards. This update follows a recent Reward Pool rework by 51 Games, which adjusted in-game currency payouts and tiers.
More playable species might be coming to Guild Wars 3 later down the line, according to latest developer blog post
ArenaNet has indicated that Guild Wars 3 may receive additional playable species beyond the initial four at launch. The game is being designed with future flexibility in mind, allowing for the addition of new races. While Humans and Kodan are confirmed, the fourth launch race remains unrevealed, and the developer noted that species with extreme body silhouettes might not be feasible.
Vague Patch Notes: The challenge of staying in an MMO
This opinion piece discusses the challenges of consistently creating content for a single Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) game over extended periods, using Final Fantasy XIV as a primary example. The author reflects on the personal toll and potential burnout associated with long-term game coverage, emphasizing the importance of taking breaks and pursuing other interests to maintain passion and content quality.
MetaKing Studios Pulls the Plug on BLOCKLORDS, Rebrands as BLOCKLORE AI Canvas
MetaKing Studios has announced the closure of its medieval strategy MMO BLOCKLORDS, rebranding the studio as BLOCKLORE. The company is shifting its focus to an AI generation tool, described as a node-based canvas for concept art, character consistency, video, and editing. The game, which launched on Steam in March 2026 after over seven years of development and a $15 million raise, had a "Mostly Negative" rating.
CCP teases the Dermestid: EVE Frontier’s newest threat is built for fleets, not solo pilots
CCP Games is introducing a new NPC threat called the Dermestid to EVE Frontier, designed for cooperative fleet hunts rather than solo play. This addition emphasizes the game's focus on multiplayer combat and teamwork, requiring players to organize and strategize to overcome the high-difficulty opponent. The Dermestid's rollout is part of CCP's ongoing effort to keep the EVE Frontier universe evolving with new challenges and events.
Gamigo finally restored Trove’s market and introduced the new minipet questing and progression system
Gamigo has restored Trove's in-game Marketplace, which had been offline since December, allowing players to trade items again. The update also introduces a new 'Tiny Quests' feature where minipets gain experience and earn loot, alongside the Elysian Initiation event offering new rewards.
Kakao mobile MMO Odin Valhalla Rising merges western servers and implements paid server transfers
Kakao has announced that Odin: Valhalla Rising will merge its 24 servers down to 18, combining the US and European servers into six realms. Players who did not transfer their characters before the merge can purchase server transfer tickets when Season 2 arrives in August. To compensate for the inconvenience, login events are currently active.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 575: I’m turning this car around and going back to Mordor
The Massively OP Podcast episode 575 covers several MMO updates, including The Lord of the Rings Online's new expansion reveal, Elder Scrolls Online's revised roadmap, and the launch date for Stars Reach. The hosts also discuss the return of Closers Online, a new ArcheAge MMO, and a listener question about gameplay chunks.
MMOs You’ve Never Heard Of: Eclesiar, Farwoods, and Stalzone
This article rounds up three lesser-known multiplayer games: Eclesiar, a browser strategy MMO with a recent graphics remake update; Farwoods, a graphical MUD focused on roleplaying forest critters, which has returned to open alpha testing; and Stalzone, a PvPvE extraction FPS formerly known as Stalcraft X, which has undergone a name change and received updates including a new coliseum location.
Sci-fi MMO Cinder City is getting a pre-alpha playtest later this month so you can put its RAM hogging requirements to the test
Big Fire Games is holding a pre-alpha playtest for its sci-fi MMO Cinder City from August 14th to 16th, exclusively for US-based players over 16. The game, set in a near-future Seoul, features Cinderknights battling monsters and super soldiers in an open-world PvE environment with dungeons and raids. Initial reports of extreme RAM requirements have been revised, though the exact specifications are still being clarified.
Choose My Adventure: ‘Destiny 2.5’ is for the old diehards, not for me, and that’s pretty awesome
The author reflects on returning to Destiny 2, concluding that the game has evolved into a legacy title primarily for its long-term, dedicated fanbase rather than new or returning players. While appreciating the game's systems and the rewards for veteran players, the author acknowledges they are no longer part of that core community and bids the game farewell.
‘This patch concludes the content we have for Book of Travels’: Might & Delight has sunsetted its tiny MMO
Swedish studio Might & Delight has announced the sunsetting of the online multiplayer component of their tiny MMO, Book of Travels. While servers are being turned off, the game will remain available in a single-player, offline mode for the community. The developers expressed regret that their full vision for the game was not realized but are thankful for the community's support and hope the offline version preserves the game's spirit.
