Multiplayer
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Morning Postmortems/Retrospectives
This article lists five retro video games that significantly impacted the evolution of multiplayer gaming. It highlights how these titles pioneered or popularized various multiplayer experiences that continue to influence games today.
Hit Horror Extraction Tomb Busters Launches in the West Today, Following 200 Million Downloads in China
Giant Games has launched its co-op horror extraction title, Tomb Busters, in the West on iOS, Android, and PC. The game has already achieved over 200 million downloads and 10 million daily active users in China. Tomb Busters features players delving into tombs filled with traps and creatures inspired by Chinese folklore, with a focus on emergent comedy during multiplayer sessions.
Elite Dangerous confirms June 30 release date for its multiplayer operations and a lighting refresh
Frontier Developments has announced that the new multiplayer operations feature for Elite Dangerous will launch on June 30th. This update includes a ship-based rescue mission called Firestorm Rescue, with adjustable difficulties and potential for bonus rewards. The patch also introduces significant improvements to the game's stellar lighting.
Red Dead Online wasn't a missed opportunity in the eyes of Take-Two's boss, but I'd say it's proof that following the GTA train doesn't guarantee the world
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick defended Red Dead Online's success, citing Red Dead Redemption 2's sales and the online component's longevity. However, the article argues that Red Dead Online's performance should be viewed in comparison to Grand Theft Auto Online, suggesting that simply following GTA's successful model does not guarantee similar results. The piece concludes that while not a complete failure, Red Dead Online serves as a reminder that even successful companies like Rockstar Games can face challenges when replicating past successes.
Myth of Empires: Throne Officially Launches on Epic Games Store
The free-to-play sandbox war game Myth of Empires: Throne has officially launched on the Epic Games Store, allowing more players to join its ongoing seasonal multiplayer conflict. The game supports cross-platform play across Steam, Epic Games Store, and its official launcher, with unified seasonal servers. The developers are also actively working on future seasonal updates and content roadmaps.
Minecraft puts its Java multiplayer test on hold: "The experience wasn't what we wanted"
Mojang has removed the peer-to-peer multiplayer feature from the latest Minecraft Java Edition pre-release, citing that the experience was not up to their standards. While the friends list functionality remains, the developer plans to revisit the multiplayer feature at a later date. The update also includes minor changes to Sulfur Cube and Spike mechanics, and separates chat and command spam server properties.
Destruction AllStars delisted, multiplayer servers shut down
Destruction AllStars has been delisted from the PlayStation Store and its multiplayer servers have been shut down, leaving only the offline Arcade mode playable. Sony has stated that single-player modes will remain accessible until November 25, 2026. The game, originally a PS+ title in 2021, struggled with player numbers, leading to developer Lucid Games introducing bots for matchmaking shortly after launch.
Sony abruptly shuts down online multiplayer game Destruction AllStars
Sony Interactive Entertainment has abruptly shut down the online multiplayer servers for Destruction AllStars, a title that launched during the PlayStation 5's initial window. The game was a PlayStation 5 exclusive.
One Of Sony’s First PS5 Exclusives Is Now Delisted, Multiplayer Shutdown
Destruction AllStars, a PlayStation 5 exclusive originally planned as a launch title, has been delisted from the PlayStation Store and its multiplayer services shut down. While the offline Arcade mode remains playable, the game's premium currency is no longer available. The title, developed by Lucid Games and published by Sony, was a free PlayStation Plus offering for a period after its February 2021 release.
CoD: Black Ops 7 And Warzone Season 4 Release Date And Details
Activision confirmed that Season 4 for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Call of Duty: Warzone will launch on June 4th, bringing new maps, weapons, and limited-time events. Treyarch has released intro cinematics for Black Ops 7's post-launch story, hinting at new operators and potential weapons. While specific multiplayer details are scarce, rumors suggest throwback maps may return, and a new Zombies map is expected in a mid-season update. Warzone will see the return of the Fortune's Keep Resurgence map.
Red Dead Online wasn't a "missed opportunity," Take-Two CEO insists, and has been "immensely successful and long-lasting" despite fans feeling like it lives in GTA Online's shadow
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick defended Red Dead Online, stating it has been "immensely successful and long-lasting" and not a missed opportunity, despite its less extensive content updates compared to Grand Theft Auto Online. He highlighted the success of the Red Dead franchise overall, with Red Dead Redemption 2 being one of the best-selling games of all time.
Morning Multiplex
Several games have received new updates or announcements. 9 Kings has launched its multiplayer mode, while Hela: of Mice & Magic - Friends of the Forest and Knuckle Jet have released demo teasers. Sushiamo has an official announcement trailer, and Tekken 8 features a Yujiro Hanma teaser.
Take-Two forces shutdown of Grand Theft Auto multiplayer modding platform Rage:MP
Take-Two Interactive has forced the shutdown of the Grand Theft Auto 5 multiplayer modding platform Rage:MP after issuing a cease-and-desist order. The Rage:MP team announced a structured shutdown, directing server owners to migrate to FiveM, which Take-Two now recognizes as the only authorized platform for GTA 5 multiplayer modding. Rage:MP will cease operations entirely by August 31.
Take-Two boss refutes Red Dead Online "missed opportunity" allegations, as RDR2 passes a huge sales milestone
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that Red Dead Redemption 2's success, with over 85 million units sold, does not indicate a missed opportunity for its online component, Red Dead Online. Despite Red Dead Online receiving minimal updates since 2021 to focus on Grand Theft Auto 6 and Grand Theft Auto Online, Zelnick considers it immensely successful and long-lasting. Recent financial reports indicate Grand Theft Auto Online generates significantly more revenue weekly than Red Dead Online.
Rockstar Shuts Down GTA Multiplayer Modding EcoSystem RAGE:MP
Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive are shutting down RAGE:MP, a popular community-hosted multiplayer mod for Grand Theft Auto V, as part of a broader effort to consolidate their ecosystem. New servers will no longer be accepted, and public access to the server toolkit has ended, with all services set to go offline by August 31, 2026. RAGE:MP suggests players migrate to FiveM, which is now considered Rockstar's official platform for modding experiences.
Destiny and Warframe Fans Spent a Decade Competing With Each Other — Now They’re United in Saying Goodbye
The long-standing friendly rivalry between players of Destiny and Warframe is coming to an end. Both communities are now looking for ways to commemorate and say goodbye to this decade-long competition.
Dead by Daylight Finally Brings Jason Voorhees to Its Extensive Roster of Killers
Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th is officially joining the roster of killers in Dead by Daylight. Behaviour Interactive released a trailer showcasing his new abilities, including Omnipresent Evil and Improvised Carnage. Jason will be available in the public beta on May 26th and officially on June 16th, coinciding with the game's 10th anniversary.
9 Kings Multiplayer Update Lands as it Crosses 1 Million Sales
The early access rogue-lite 9 Kings has received a major update introducing asynchronous multiplayer, allowing players to compete against others globally. Publisher Hooded Horse also announced that the game has surpassed 1 million sales and will be launching on mobile platforms later this year.
Face off against rivals in 9 Kings' new multiplayer mode
Hooded Horse and Sad Socket have released a new multiplayer mode for their kingdom-building auto-battler game, 9 Kings. This update introduces a competitive asynchronous mode where up to nine players can battle for supremacy, alongside a new ranking system and cosmetic rewards. The game also surpassed one million sales since its early access launch.
Just Cause Studio’s Job Listings Indicate New Project is Live-Service Multiplayer
Job listings for Avalanche Studios indicate their next project is a live-service multiplayer game utilizing Unreal Engine. The studio is seeking experienced personnel for large-scale multiplayer environments and live-service game development. Co-founder Christofer Sundberg suggested the new IP may not be part of the Just Cause franchise.
