MMOs
Ongoing coverage on MMOs.
Latest coverage
5 promising games recently cancelled by Microsoft
Microsoft has recently cancelled several promising game projects, including 'Odyssey,' 'Everwild,' 'Perfect Dark,' 'Contraband,' and 'Project Blackbird,' as part of a broader cost-cutting strategy under new CEO Asha Sharma. These cancellations have led to studio closures and significant layoffs, with former employees expressing disappointment over the loss of potentially exciting titles and the shift away from riskier, ambitious projects.
WoW's got the right to close private servers—but in this industry layoff hellscape, I also feel like I'm watching the MMO genre's future get snuffed out
While Blizzard Entertainment has the legal right to shut down World of Warcraft private servers, the author laments the loss of innovation and creativity they represent, especially in an industry plagued by layoffs and a lack of new MMOs. The article suggests that these servers, despite their legal status, have influenced official game developments like World of Warcraft Classic and Season of Discovery, and their closure highlights broader issues within the game industry.
Star Citizen begins Alien Week, talks alpha 4.8’s tech issues, and considers changing alpha 4.9’s release schedule
Star Citizen is celebrating Alien Week with new spacecraft and community events. The developers are addressing technical issues in alpha 4.8, which caused widespread problems, and are considering adjusting the release schedule for alpha 4.9 to avoid repeating past mistakes. Discussions are ongoing about whether to delay the update or remove some features to ensure a smoother launch.
Final Fantasy 14 boss Yoshi-P has "many game ideas" tucked away that he'd like to do something with, one being a "game design that combines AI and servers"
Naoki Yoshida, producer of Final Fantasy 14, has revealed he has numerous game ideas he wishes to develop, including one that combines AI and servers. Despite the challenges in the current game industry, Yoshida expressed excitement and has no plans to retire soon, continuing to work on Final Fantasy 14 and potentially other projects.
WoW's quest to add variable difficulty to just about everything continues in Midnight patch 12.1's Mythic…
World of Warcraft: Midnight patch 12.1 will introduce Mythic+ world bosses through instanced lairs, offering variable difficulty settings up to Mythic 15-25 player groups. While this adds new challenge, the article notes a potential loss of the traditional MMO world boss appeal. The patch also includes new story quests, a talent tree, a dungeon, delves, and a raid.
Review: 33 Immortals’ Idea Is Stronger Than Its Execution
33 Immortals offers an appealing concept of immediate raid access for players, but its execution falls short due to repetitive maps, unbalanced difficulty, and a lack of player connection. While the core multiplayer functionality works well, the game's incentives for replayability are weak, and success often relies heavily on group coordination, particularly in the early Inferno stages. The game is available on Xbox Series X and PC.
The new RPG for Sword Art Online feels shockingly close to the legendary anime, and the demo is topping Steam Next Fest…
The Steam Next Fest demo for Echoes of Aincrad, an upcoming action RPG based on the Sword Art Online anime, is performing well, ranking third in popularity. While the game impressively captures the look and feel of a full-dive MMO, the demo's combat and world design show cracks, with attacks feeling staccato and enemies lacking depth.
Cambria Update Introduces Demonic Power System, Regional Servers, Strongboxes
Cambria has released Patch v0.2.0, introducing a new Demonic Power system to its Dungeons mode, which resets with each descent and influences risk-reward decisions. The update also adds regional servers in Poland, India, and the Central US to reduce latency, along with new loot sources like Strongboxes and various gameplay enhancements. While some features are temporarily disabled for rework, the patch aims to revitalize the medieval fantasy MMO experience for both new and veteran players.
Canceled Project Blackbird May Have Been Perfect Replacement For Destiny, Insider Says
Insider reports suggest Microsoft's canceled action-RPG MMO, Project Blackbird, could have been a successful replacement for Destiny 2. Developed by the ZeniMax team, the game was reportedly canceled in mid-2025 due to financial reasons, despite positive internal feedback. Its cancellation is seen as a missed opportunity for Xbox to fill a void in the live-service market.
Aion 2 is an MMO for character creation enthusiasts, and it has the looks to back it up
Aion 2, the long-awaited sequel to the original MMO, is shaping up to be a sprawling game with a strong emphasis on character creation and customization. Developers at NCSoft highlighted the deep character customization tools, extensive cosmetic options for wings and pets, and a world 36 times larger than the first game. The game also features genuinely cooperative combat mechanics where player skills can synergize.
Dungeons and Dragons Online opens Terror of Demogorgon preorders and launches new Duergar race
Dungeons and Dragons Online has opened preorders for its upcoming expansion, Terror of Demogorgon. Players who preorder will gain immediate access to the new Duergar race and the Duergar Mindcleaver enhancement tree. Update 80 also introduces changes to spell DCs and teleportation mechanics.
Business and Finance
In the past fiscal year, PC gaming platform Steam accounted for over 20% of Capcom's total revenue, nearly double the share generated by PlayStation. The article also touches on the nature of live service games, comparing them to hidden MMO subscriptions.
Guild Wars 3 mission statement: no pay-to-win, no subscription fees - "The lines between an MMO and a live-service game have blurred"
ArenaNet studio head Colin Johanson released a mission statement for Guild Wars 3, emphasizing a commitment to no pay-to-win mechanics and no subscription fees, instead opting for a buy-to-play model. The statement also addresses the blurring lines between MMOs and live-service games, aiming to innovate the genre by respecting player time and offering meaningful progression without excessive barriers.
[S2 Preview #9] Myth of Empires: Throne Reveals New Seasonal Talents and Prayer Pillar Locations for Season 2
Myth of Empires is previewing its upcoming Season 2, titled 'War of the Eight Princes,' which will introduce a new seasonal progression system with four new talent sets focused on resource management, siege weapons, environmental adaptation, and sustained control. The update also reveals the locations of three strategic Prayer Pillars on each map, which will offer increased Violet Dawn Essence conversion for guilds that control them, but will also become targets for rival factions. The developers also confirmed that the official launch date and time for Season 2 will be announced tomorrow.
'World of Warcraft Camelot' is a mysterious new branch of the MMO that Blizzard fans are convinced is the first real evidence of a remixed WoW Classic
A new version of World of Warcraft, codenamed 'World of Warcraft Camelot,' has been discovered on Blizzard's servers, leading players to speculate it's an enhanced 'WoW Classic Plus' version. This discovery coincides with Blizzard inviting streamers to their offices under NDA and follows a pattern of accidental leaks through internal server updates.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 569: Luke, it is your Destiny 2
The Massively OP Podcast episode 569 covers Guild Wars 3 news, Blizzard's action against a World of Warcraft emulator, EVE Online's Cradle of War expansion, and the conclusion of Destiny 2's story. Hosts Bree and Justin also discuss neural interfacing with MMOs and share listener emails.
Stars Reach’s alpha updates with fog, underwater effects, and proper chat bubbles
Playable Worlds has released an alpha update for the upcoming MMO Stars Reach, focusing on stability improvements and visual enhancements. The patch introduces new fog and underwater rendering effects, along with updated chat bubbles and an improved skill UI. The game is slated for early access release this summer.
MMOs You’ve Never Heard Of: Runeward Online, Polity, and Misa Online
This article highlights lesser-known multiplayer online games, including Runeward Online, a blend of RPG and bullet hell shooter from FatHatCat. Polity, a colony sim MMO, has received a significant update after a period of stalled development. Misa Online, an indie MMORPG from Misa Games, is selling pre-alpha access with promises of PvE and PvP content.
Extraction MMO Warborne Above Ashes kills all future development, servers to stay online
Qooland Games has announced the cessation of all future development for their PvP extraction MMO, Warborne Above Ashes, less than a year after its launch. The developers cited serious operational and business challenges as the reason for the decision. While content updates will stop, the game's servers will remain online with all existing content available.
MMO Week in Review: Guild Wars’ Orr, Elder Scrolls’ U50, and EVE’s Cradle of War
This week's MMO news roundup covers Guild Wars 3's monetization and setting, Elder Scrolls Online's new difficulty settings, EVE Online's Cradle of War expansion, and Blizzard's lawsuit against a World of Warcraft emulator. It also touches on Destiny 2 entering maintenance mode, Camelot Unchained's early access, and the ongoing discussions around the Lord of the Rings MMO and industry layoffs.