MMOs
Ongoing coverage on MMOs.
Latest coverage
MMOs don't need 'to be 200 hours of unique content' at launch, says industry vet
MMO design veteran Jack Emmert argues that new Massively Multiplayer Online games do not need to launch with an excessive amount of unique content. He suggests that focusing on a strong core experience and a committed live team allows for organic growth based on player desires, contrasting this with the current industry trend of over-scoping.
"We want Destiny 3": Fans respond to Sony sunsetting Destiny 2 with a sequel petition that quickly gets 220k signatures in 4 days, and the MMO's actors are on board
A fan petition for Destiny 3 has garnered over 220,000 signatures in four days following Bungie's announcement of sunsetting Destiny 2. Voice actors from Destiny 2, including Brandon O'Neill (Crow) and Brian Villalobos (Lodi), have publicly supported the campaign for a sequel. Despite the fan and actor enthusiasm, reports suggest Bungie is planning layoffs and has no current plans for a Destiny 3.
'People want MMOs', says veteran designer Jack Emmert, it's the publishers chasing WoW-level scope that…
Veteran designer Jack Emmert believes players still want MMOs, citing the sales of New World as proof, but argues that publishers' pursuit of WoW-level scope and budget leads to failure. He suggests that a more focused vision and reasonable expectations are key to creating successful new MMOs, rather than trying to replicate existing giants.
Hollowed Oath hits $125K crowdfunding as it patches in gamepad support and swimming
Indie MMO Hollowed Oath has surpassed its $100,000 crowdfunding goal, reaching over $125,000 on Kickstarter. Recent updates have introduced gamepad support, a swimming system, and a world map with quest tracking. Future stretch goals include playable Ogres and an item rarity system.
Corepunk devs plan to wipe the entire game next month with ‘The Great Reset’
Artificial Core announced that Corepunk will undergo a full progression wipe on June 25th as part of an update called 'The Great Reset'. This wipe is intended to prepare the hybrid MMO for its 1.0 launch later this year and will be accompanied by a significant content patch, including a 12-player raid and an economy reboot.
Where Winds Meet Trailer Showcases the Gilded Lament, A Ghostly New World Boss
Everstone Studio has revealed the Gilded Lament, a new world boss for the free-to-play action RPG Where Winds Meet, in a trailer for its upcoming expansion, The Imperial Palace. The expansion, launching May 28th for PlayStation 5, PC, iOS, and Android, will also introduce new features like Gauntlets weapon type, homestead customization, animal companions, and a five-player co-op mode.
The MOP Up: Conan Exiles Enhanced has saddles to dye for
This week's MOP Up covers several MMO updates, including saddle dyeing for Conan Exiles, new titles in RIFT, and a dungeon difficulty system for TERA Console. Sea of Thieves' new mode has developer concerns, while War Thunder saw over 1.3 million players during an event. Other news includes updates for World War II Online, DC Universe Online, Fortnite Zero Build, RavenQuest, Myth of Empires: Throne, Fallout 76, MU Pocket Knights, BitCraft, and No Man's Sky.
Lost Ark previews some new cosmetics arriving exclusively to the MMOARPG’s global version this year
Lost Ark is set to receive new, exclusive cosmetic items in its global version in 2026, with Smilegate RPG providing a preview. These dragon-themed cosmetics include gear skins, a draconic mount, and a dragon pet, alongside wallpapers depicting the fight with Kazeros.
One Shots: Indiana Jones and the Nope I’m Out of Here
This week's One Shots features community screenshots from various MMOs, including Equinox Homecoming, Fallout 76, Final Fantasy XIV, Skate, and Star Wars Galaxies Legends. Players shared images ranging from atmospheric in-game locations to humorous glitches and character moments.
RIFT celebrates the return of the great and grand Unicornalia
The MMO RIFT is currently hosting its annual Unicornalia festival, which celebrates unicorns and runs until May 28th. Players can complete daily quests and participate in "Hooves and Horns" events to earn chaos motes, which can be exchanged for a unicorn mount, with options for both light and dark varieties.
I'll never love another RPG like I loved Neverwinter Nights
PC Gamer's Fraser Brown reflects on Neverwinter Nights as a groundbreaking platform for role-playing and modding, highlighting its persistent worlds and the freedom they offered players. Despite the success of other games and the resurgence of tabletop RPGs, Brown argues that no other title has successfully replicated Neverwinter Nights' unique blend of scale, freedom, and role-playing focus, attributing this to capitalism's influence on game development.
PC Gamer's MMO readers are, according to you, fashion-forward healers who like your keybinds, and I couldn't…
This article analyzes reader demographics for PC Gamer's MMO column, 'Terminally Online,' based on reader polls. The data suggests that the readership primarily consists of players who prefer playing healer roles, value in-game fashion as the 'true endgame,' and are generally patient with dungeon run pacing. A significant portion also holds nostalgic views towards classic tab-target MMO mechanics.
Something for the Bank Holiday Weekend – 23/05/26
This week's news includes the end of Destiny 2 development and major layoffs at Bungie, alongside the 10th Warhammer Skulls event. PlayStation State of Play will feature Wolverine, and new titles like Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV and F1 25 DLC were announced. Embracer is splitting, and Sony's single-player games will no longer release on PC.
The Real Beginner’s Guide to EVE Online—Advice From The Capsuleers Who Have Seen It All
This guide offers advice for new EVE Online players from veteran players and developers, emphasizing the importance of community and not fearing failure. Fenris Creations is introducing 'Exordium,' a new starter zone launching in summer 2026, designed to be a safe, PvP-disabled area where new players can learn the game's mechanics and connect with others at a similar skill level.
Starseeker announces June 11 early access, Astroneer promises monthly updates at least through 2026
System Era Softworks announced that its Astroneer spinoff, Starseeker, will launch into early access on June 11th for PC, Steam, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, featuring cross-play and cross-progression. The cooperative multiplayer game will receive monthly updates through at least 2026, with the base game priced under $30 and no microtransactions. Meanwhile, the original Astroneer will also continue to receive monthly updates until at least the end of 2026, culminating in a special 10-year anniversary update.
Dune: Awakening has decided it's 'not an MMO' anymore
Dune: Awakening director Joel Bylos has stated the game is not an MMO, despite its large, connected world and player count. He explained that the game's focus on endgame progression through crafting rather than item levels differentiates it from traditional MMOs. Bylos also referenced his past work on MMOs like The Secret World and Conan: Exiles.
Raven2 confirms the arrival of the Warlord class and a Grand Festival event on May 26
Raven2 will receive a major update on May 26th introducing the new Warlord class and a Grand Festival event. The Warlord is a spear-wielding battlefield commander with control abilities, and players can use a free token to change to this class. The Grand Festival will offer freebies like gear enhancement retries, a unique event dungeon, and a legendary familiar.
Star Trek Online creates a ‘watch list’ to help you track upcoming patches
Star Trek Online studio Cryptic Studios has launched a new 'Watch List' page to inform players about upcoming patches and projects. This initiative aims to increase player awareness of potential game changes, such as buffs or nerfs to consoles, weapons, and abilities like the Boimler Effect, allowing for more informed gameplay decisions.
Destiny 2 is dead: "active development" ends next month after one final update, but Bungie says the MMO will…
Bungie announced that active development on Destiny 2 will conclude with a final update on June 9, effectively sunsetting the MMO. While new content development is ending, the company assures players that Destiny 2 will remain playable and aims to be a welcoming environment for returning players.
Dune: Awakening is "not an MMO" anymore, says the game's director, but it's still "quite complicated" compared to other survival games
Dune: Awakening's game director Joel Bylos has stated that the game is no longer considered an MMO, despite its online multiplayer features and large connected world. He described the game as a complex survival experience that is distinct from traditional MMOs like World of Warcraft. The game is currently in early access on PC with console releases planned for later this year.
