MMOs
Ongoing coverage on MMOs.
Latest coverage
SEED Preview – What If EVE Online Was The Sims?
SEED is an ambitious MMO life simulation game that aims to blend the persistent online world of EVE Online with the indirect control of The Sims. Players create Seedlings with routines and commands, build towns from scratch, and manage complex supply chains. The game features player-driven economies and governance, with an emphasis on cooperation and specialization. SEED launches in early access on July 21 for PC via Klang Games' launcher, priced at $30, with a Steam Early Access release planned for later this year.
Destiny 2 shoots to the top of Steam's top sellers as fans of the MMO jump in for the final update, hoping Sony and…
Destiny 2 has surged to the top of Steam's best-sellers list with its final update, Monument of Triumph, drawing in a large player count. This surge in popularity for the nearly nine-year-old first-person shooter has also seen its expansions rank highly on the charts. Players are reportedly hoping this success will encourage Sony to invest more in Bungie and the Destiny franchise.
With Guild Wars 3 announced at long last, here's why its beloved predecessor has survived the test of time
ArenaNet has announced Guild Wars 3, prompting a discussion on the enduring success of its predecessor, Guild Wars 2. Game director Joshua Davis attributes Guild Wars 2's longevity to early design decisions prioritizing horizontal progression and respecting player time, allowing players to return without feeling obsolete. The game's strong art direction, which focuses on cohesive visual storytelling over chasing the latest technology, also contributes to its lasting appeal.
Destiny 2's final update sees the MMO hit its highest Steam playercount in two years
Destiny 2's final update, Monument of Triumph, has led to a significant surge in player numbers, reaching its highest concurrent player count on Steam in two years. The update, released on June 9, saw the MMO peak at over 167,000 players, a substantial increase from its pre-update average. This surge marks a notable resurgence for the game as Bungie concludes its support.
MMOs You’ve Never Heard Of: Cave Crave, Frostrail, and Nightholme
This article rounds up lesser-known multiplayer games, including Cave Crave, a VR spelunking simulator that recently added multiplayer for Meta Quest headsets and plans a PC version. Frostrail, a co-op survival game from Barotrauma developer FakeFish, is set for early access in Q4. Nightholme, a PvPvE extraction title where players transform into beasts, is planning a summer playtest.
Path of Exile 2 player willingly deletes level 100 character to become world first martyr, buffing everyone in the game: 'That was the coolest thing I've seen in a videogame in a very long time'
A high-level Path of Exile 2 player named Carn willingly sacrificed their level 100 character to become the first 'Martyr of the First Edict,' a secret event added by Grinding Gear Games. This act permanently destroyed his character but granted all players an extra skill tree point, a move praised by the player as one of the coolest videogame moments he'd ever seen.
Destiny 2 hasn't had this many players in years: fans flood the servers as final update sends Bungie's MMO off…
Destiny 2 has seen a massive surge in player numbers following the release of the Monument of Triumph update, marking the end of active development for Bungie's MMO. Player counts on Steam have reached levels not seen since the Final Shape expansion, despite the game's previously low average player base. While the servers will remain online, no further updates are planned, leading to speculation and a fan petition for a Destiny 3.
Interview: Fenris Creations CEO Hilmar Pétursson on the future of AI in EVE Online
Fenris Creations CEO Hilmar Pétursson discusses the company's rebranding from CCP Games, its independence from Pearl Abyss, and a new collaboration with Google DeepMind. The interview explores the future of AI in EVE Online, its potential impact on game design, player experience, and internal development processes, as well as updates on EVE Frontier and EVE Vanguard.
PSO2 New Genesis celebrates its fifth anniversary with freebies, music, and events as it tests an in-game LLM chatbot
Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis is celebrating its fifth anniversary throughout June and into the rest of the year with various in-game events, freebies, and new content. Sega is also testing an in-game LLM chatbot called the Conversational Mag, allowing players to interact with their in-game Mag via text.
Mecha MMO RF Online Next drops into our lap on June 16
Netmarble is launching its new mecha MMO, RF Online Next, on June 16th, expanding the franchise that originally debuted in 2004. The game will be available globally on PC and mobile platforms, supporting 16 languages. RF Online Next features a dynamic Biosuit system, large-scale combat tools like MAUs, and real-time action gameplay.
Laid-back MMO Farever preps a huge end-of-June patch with a new region
The MMO Farever is set to receive a significant content update at the end of June, introducing a new region called Ramburg. This patch will also raise the level cap, add new weapons, dungeons, bosses, and activities. Shiro Games also highlighted ongoing work on performance, stability, and bug fixes.
Destiny 2 Player Count Soars Above Marathon’s Highest Ever As Guardians Log On For Final Update
Destiny 2 has seen a significant surge in player count on Steam, exceeding 160,000 concurrent players with the release of its final content update, "The Monument of Triumph." This peak player count is notably higher than the highest recorded for Bungie's upcoming game, Marathon. Despite some technical issues like server queues and error codes, the strong player engagement indicates continued interest in the game and has fueled discussions about a potential Destiny 3.
The Elder Scrolls Online is now Steam Deck Verified after 2 years of tweaking
The Elder Scrolls Online has officially achieved Steam Deck Verified status, meaning it should now run optimally on Valve's handheld PC without requiring user tweaks. This verification comes after two years of development by Zenimax Online to address issues like the mandatory external launcher and default mouse and keyboard controls.
Stars Reach's Raph Koster wants the MMO to be as "wiki-resistant" as possible to keep "the magic more alive"
Raph Koster, lead designer of the upcoming MMO Stars Reach, aims to make the game "wiki-resistant" to preserve a sense of discovery and emergent gameplay. He explains that the game's procedural generation and dynamic systems mean players cannot simply look up strategies, fostering a more organic and evolving player experience. Stars Reach is set to enter early access this summer.
The Guild Wars games have always been set in a world abandoned by the gods, in new MMO Guild Wars 3, you'll see why they left
ArenaNet has announced that Guild Wars 3 will be set 1,200 years before the original game, during the time the gods abandoned the world of Tyria. Studio head Colin Johanson confirmed the MMO will not feature a subscription fee or battle pass, aiming to offer a different player experience. The game is planned to enter beta next year.
Amazon committed to developing Lord of the Rings game, is "evaluating different concepts"
Amazon Games head Jeff Gattis confirmed that the company is still committed to developing a Lord of the Rings game, despite earlier reports of its MMO project being cancelled. He stated that Amazon is evaluating various concepts and is excited about the intellectual property, working closely with Middle-earth Enterprises.
MMO sandbox Mabinogi rolls out an epic two-part storyline this month called Ruins in Twilight
The MMO Mabinogi is rolling out a two-part storyline update titled "Ruins in Twilight" throughout June. Part 1, released on June 11th, introduces a mysterious gate in Dunbarton following a Divine Beast attack, and Part 2, arriving on June 25th, will add new characters and continue the narrative. New arcana talents are also planned for July.
Evening Interviews
Amazon is still interested in developing a Lord of the Rings game, despite the cancellation of a previous MMO project. Separately, the studio Toys for Bob is returning to work on the Spyro franchise after a period focused on Warzone.
Guild Wars 3 won’t feature a subscription or battle passes, Colin Johanson reassures fans
ArenaNet's Colin Johanson has confirmed that Guild Wars 3 will not feature a monthly subscription or battle passes. The upcoming MMO aims to evolve the genre with combat inspired by action games and a focus on player movement, set 1200 years before the original Guild Wars.
Here Are All The Games Announced During Summer Game Fest That You Can Play Right Now
Summer Game Fest has featured numerous game announcements, with many titles offering playable demos or early access versions immediately. Games like 1666 Amsterdam, Montabi, Gnaw, and Palworld are among those highlighted, with various demos and early access periods available on platforms like Steam and Epic Games Store.
