MMOs
Ongoing coverage on MMOs.
Latest coverage
Betawatch: Soul’s Remnant wins over MMO fans as Guild Wars 3 talks playable humans
Soul's Remnant has launched to positive reviews and strong player counts, defying initial expectations of a slow start. Meanwhile, Guild Wars 3 continues to discuss its playable races, Stars Reach went dark before its early access launch, and Dune: Awakening is testing its single-player mode.
Old School RuneScape began when a dev 'found the 2007 server in their desk drawer:' 13 years later, it's setting subscriber records for the long-lived MMO
Old School RuneScape, a 2013 fork of the original RuneScape, has achieved record subscriber numbers, surpassing even the original game's peak in 2007. Creative director Kieren Charles revealed that the 2007 server build was found in a desk drawer, and the game's development is now heavily community-driven through player votes. Jagex senior communications manager Danni Amos also contributed insights into the game's origins.
Papaya Play’s revived Closers Online is now open for name pre-registration until August 18
Papaya Play has opened name pre-registration for the revived MMO Closers Online until August 18th. Players with a Papaya Play account can pre-download the PC client and reserve up to six character names. The publisher is also planning quiz events and community activities to build hype for the game's relaunch, with pre-registration offering in-game rewards like a unique costume and a character boost.
Massively on the Go: Pokopia just feels like a more single-player Animal Crossing
Pokopia, a Pokemon-themed building game, offers robust single-player content with a compelling story and extensive building options, surpassing Animal Crossing in these aspects. However, its multiplayer features feel underdeveloped and largely skippable, serving more as a catch-up mechanic than a collaborative experience. While fun for solo players or those with dedicated building friends, the game struggles to deliver the engaging multiplayer MMO experience many players desire.
Amazon’s MMO run will be coming to end sooner than thought
Amazon Game Studios is ending its Western publishing operations for the MMOs Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty. Smilegate will take over Lost Ark in early 2027, while FirstSpark Games/NCSoft will manage Throne and Liberty starting in Q4 2026. This marks a significant shift for Amazon's ambitions in the MMO publishing market, following the shutdown of New World and the cancellation of other projects.
Cambria Rolls Out Essina’s Draw With Nightly Prize Pools Reaching $200,000
Cambria, a browser-based MMO developed by Tempest Labs, has launched a new daily check-in feature called Essina's Draw. This mechanic allows players to earn tickets for a nightly prize pool that can reach up to $200,000, with rewards split among winners to encourage broader participation. The feature aims to increase player engagement by offering a low-stakes way to participate outside of the game's core risk-based gameplay.
‘This is not what you signed up for’: Ashes of Creation boss, sued by his own counsel, issues warning to industry
Steven Sharif, the head of Intrepid Studios and creator of Ashes of Creation, is facing a lawsuit from his own attorneys, Withers Bergman LLP, for alleged nonpayment of over a million dollars in fees. Despite this legal trouble, Sharif issued a statement to investors and publishers, warning them about ongoing legal disputes and asset protection related to the game's development. He also addressed fans and former staff, acknowledging the difficult situation and expressing a shared desire to simply play the MMO.
Amazon is severing ties with two other MMOs
Amazon is transferring publishing rights for the MMOs Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty to other companies. This move indicates a shift in Amazon's strategy for its involvement in the massively multiplayer online game market.
Amazon Will Soon Be Out Of The MMO Business Entirely
Amazon Game Studios is exiting the massively multiplayer online (MMO) business entirely, handing over Western operations of "Throne and Liberty" and "Lost Ark" back to their original developers, NC and Smilegate, respectively. This move follows the earlier shutdown announcement for their own MMO, "New World," and the cancellation of a "Lord of the Rings" MMO. Amazon had previously published and operated these live-service titles in the West.
Cozy mini-MMO Palia celebrates its third birthday with free plushies
Palia, a mini-MMO developed by Singularity 6, is celebrating its third anniversary with in-game rewards for players. Despite not officially leaving beta, the game is offering a free "Happy Palia Third Anniversary Plush" to all players who log in before the end of Patch 0.206. The game has seen significant success, with its Royal Highlands expansion and recent Beauty and the Beach update contributing to its popularity.
Amazon to rescind its publisher role on Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty by early 2027
Amazon Game Studios will cease its publishing roles for the MMOs Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty by early 2027, returning them to their respective developers, Smilegate and NC. This transition marks a shift for Amazon away from third-party MMO publishing as they focus on other ventures like Amazon Luna and first-party development.
Amazon drops Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty
Amazon is ending its publishing deals for the MMOs Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty in Western markets. NCSoft will take over publishing for Throne and Liberty near the end of 2026, while Smilegate will do the same for Lost Ark in early 2027. This move signifies the end of Amazon's significant ambitions in the MMO publishing space, following earlier shifts away from big-budget game development.
Amazon are getting out of the MMO game, handing control of Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty to developers, but it won't all be smooth for players
Amazon Game Studios is exiting the global publishing of MMOs, handing over control of Lost Ark to Smilegate and Throne and Liberty to FireSpark Games. While Amazon will cease live service operations for Lost Ark in early 2027, some player data like chat history and friend memos will be lost. This transition aims to align global updates with Korean releases for Lost Ark and is expected to be less disruptive for Throne and Liberty. The move comes as Amazon shifts its focus away from external publishing and internal MMO development.
Amazon gives up on MMOs, hands Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty to the original devs instead of shutting them down like…
Amazon Game Studios is stepping away from live operations for the MMOs Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty, handing control back to their original developers, Smilegate and FirstSpark Games/NC, respectively. This transition is set to occur in early 2027 for Lost Ark and Q4 2026 for Throne and Liberty, aiming for a smooth handover with minimal disruption to players on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Crimson Desert has done so well it'll be getting a DLC this year, with more details coming sooner than I expected…
Crimson Desert has achieved significant commercial success, selling approximately 2.11 million copies and generating substantial revenue for developer Pearl Abyss. The company has announced that a DLC for Crimson Desert is currently under development and scheduled for release this year, with more specific details expected in the third quarter of 2026.
SEED’s early access adds territory claiming, kicks off an event, and wrestles with market issues
The colony-building MMO SEED has received its first major early access content update, introducing territory claiming, a resource scanner, and other adjustments. An in-game event tasks players with crafting donation boxes to repair a space station, running for six weeks. Developer Klang Games is also addressing issues with the in-game trading market, which is currently suffering from transaction freezes and bugs.
One of the first Animal Crossing speedrunners spent 4,300 hours catching shrimp in an MMO "just to see if I…
An Old School RuneScape player named Carter 'Bosby' Larson has completed a 4,300-hour grind to reach Fishing level 99 by exclusively catching shrimp and anchovies. The achievement, spanning over two years, was recognized by developer Jagex. Larson stated the experience was worthwhile due to the people he met and the personal challenge of seeing a long-term, albeit unusual, goal through to completion.
Razer Naga V3 Pro Announced With Swappable Side Plates and 50K Sensor | Invision Game Community
Razer has announced the Razer Naga V3 Pro, an updated version of its MMO gaming mouse featuring swappable magnetic side plates for different genres like MMOs, MOBAs, and FPS games. It boasts a new Razer Focus Pro 50K Optical Sensor Gen-3, Optical Mouse Switches Gen-4, and the HyperScroll Tilt Wheel Gen-2, with battery life up to 155 hours on HyperSpeed Wireless and 280 hours on Bluetooth.
Stars Reach gets ready to ‘go dark’ for a week prior to its early access launch
Playable Worlds is preparing for the early access launch of its space sandbox MMO, Stars Reach, on August 18th. The team thanked players for their participation in a recent stress test and emphasized that the launch build will be an alpha, with the goal of player input shaping the final game. Despite facing numerous challenges including turnover, COVID-19, budget constraints, and the loss of two developers, the company persevered with $40 million in funding to bring the ambitious indie title to fruition.
MMOs You’ve Never Heard Of: The Holdouts, Truxton Extreme, and Godius Eternal War
This article rounds up several lesser-known multiplayer games, including The Holdouts, a solo/co-op third-person shooter from Ruckus Games; Truxton Extreme, a newly launched vertical scrolling shooter; and Godius: Eternal War, a re-release of a 1999 RvR MMORPG that experienced server issues post-launch. Playtests for The Holdouts are underway, while Godius: Eternal War is offering an in-game event to thank players for their patience.
