Player versus Player
Ongoing coverage on Player versus Player.
Latest coverage
ArcheAge Chronicles opens a PvP-centric demo on October 19
ArcheAge Chronicles will feature a PvP-centric demo during Steam Next Fest, opening on October 19th and running until the 26th. Players can engage in Player versus Player combat in the Diamond Shores zone with classes like Warrior, Ranger, Mage, and Berserker, though lifeskills will not be included.
Massively Overthinking: What does a sandbox MMORPG have to do to hook you in the first two weeks?
The Massively OP staff discusses what elements are crucial for a sandbox MMORPG to retain players beyond the initial two weeks. Key factors include confidence in the game's longevity, a persistent world with diverse activities beyond combat, a sense of player mastery, and rewarding exploration without excessive punishment.
"We really had to shift our strategy" - How a decade of lessons made Overwatch the PvP king
Overwatch Game Director Aaron Keller discusses the decade-long evolution of the game's strategy, particularly the shift away from PvE Story Missions to focus on its core PvP strength. This strategic pivot, which took years to refine, has revitalized the game and allowed for new storytelling approaches within the PvP framework. Keller acknowledges past criticisms of villains like Doomfist and expresses a desire for stronger narrative development.
I Only Play Arc Raiders As A PvE Game, But PvE Servers Miss The Point
The author argues that while Arc Raiders is introducing a limited-time PvE server test, this misses the point of the game's core appeal. The threat of player-versus-player encounters, even if rarely engaged with, makes cooperative moments more rewarding. Forcing PvE removes this dynamic, potentially diminishing the experience for players who prefer the option of conflict.
No PvE mode yet, but Arc Raiders is adding "weapon amplification" in Frozen Trail to customize guns for PvP or…
Embark Studios' Arc Raiders is introducing a "weapon amplification" system in its upcoming Frozen Trail update on October 8. This feature allows players to add unique functions and attachments to 15 different weapons, aiming to increase variety in both PvP and PvE gameplay. The system is designed to make more weapons viable and interesting rather than simply increasing the power of top-tier options.
Trove’s Rematch update revamps PvP in the game’s new Battle Mode
The Rematch update for Trove introduces a revamped Player versus Player experience with the new Battle Mode. This mode includes Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, and Bomber Royale across various maps, offering rewards like Battle Coins and crates. The update also adds new PvP leaderboards, progression systems, and banners.
World of Warcraft: Forever players competing over enemies is 'extremely important' to the experience, Blizzard says: 'This is one of those things that we simply must hold the line on'
Blizzard Entertainment senior game designer Josh Greenfield stated that shared enemy tagging will remain a core feature in World of Warcraft: Hardcore, emphasizing its importance to the game's social pillar. While acknowledging potential frustration during peak player times, Greenfield believes this friction is essential for the player experience and can foster social interaction, though the article suggests Blizzard should prepare for potential issues during the launch week.
World of Warcraft follows up BlizzCon with WoW retail and Forever Q&A
Blizzard Entertainment held a developer Q&A following BlizzCon 2026 to address community questions about World of Warcraft retail and World of Warcraft Forever. The discussion covered upcoming faction-specific stories, new class/race combinations, a roguelike mode, transmog restrictions, and content for Wrath of the Lich King Classic. For World of Warcraft Forever, the developers confirmed GDKP will be absent, defended the Skyborn Elves, and stated plans to combat gold selling and RMT.
Bungie is overhauling Marathon from its original extraction shooter vision
Bungie is significantly overhauling its upcoming shooter Marathon, shifting focus from its original extraction shooter vision to include a permanent PvE mode called Symbiosis. This change, along with a move away from strict seasonal schedules, comes amidst ongoing development pressures and recent layoffs at the studio, including some Marathon developers. Parent company Sony remains supportive of the game's future.
Albion Online makes tweaks to Ancient Lands portals to combat camping in PvP zones
Albion Online has implemented changes to its Ancient Lands portals to address player camping in PvP zones. The update reduces the lock time for small portals and increases entry times for medium and large portals, while also making portals appear on the map at all times. Sandbox Interactive plans further adjustments to portal rarity and spawn rates in the future.
Pokemon Champions dev explains why the game isn’t getting single-player modes
Masaaki Hoshino, director of Pokemon Champions, explained that the game will not be receiving single-player modes because the focus is on its competitive multiplayer experience. He believes adding single-player content would detract from the PvP focus and increase match times, which is counterproductive for a competitive game.
Sea of Thieves promises changes to its cash shop that swing the balance back to earnable cosmetics
Sea of Thieves production director Drew Stevens announced upcoming changes to the game's cash shop, set to begin in October with Season 21. These changes will introduce smaller bundles of high-quality items, more brand collaborations, and cosmetics inspired by Rare's back catalog, while in-game currency cosmetics will see a stronger offering. Additionally, a planned experiment will remove a ship's emissary status upon portal hopping to address PvP player utilization.
Dune Awakening promises it’s not abandoning the PvP playerbase despite its small size
Dune Awakening's creative director Joel Bylos acknowledged that the majority of players (80%) prefer PvE content over PvP. Despite this, the development team still plans to consider and implement more structured PvP elements, particularly after the console release, to support the smaller PvP player base.
PSA: Final Fantasy XIV’s PvP Series 11 ends with patch 7.56 on September 8
Final Fantasy XIV's eleventh Player versus Player series will conclude with the release of Patch 7.56 on September 8th. Players have until this date to earn rewards from the current PvP series, after which their rank will reset with the start of Series 12. Unclaimed rewards may be available from a PvP vendor later.
Gamigo has begun public testing for Trove’s expanded PvP modes with a whopping 35 maps
Gamigo has launched public testing for expanded Player versus Player (PvP) modes in the game Trove, featuring a total of 35 maps. The update, titled 'Trove: Rematch!', introduces a new Battle Mode that includes Capture the Flag, Team Deathmatch, Deathmatch, and Bomber Royale, alongside rebalanced matchmaking and stat scaling.
Fractured Conquest schedules a September 3 playtest after cutting the July one short
Fractured Conquest, a PvP-focused version of Fractured Online, has scheduled a new playtest for September 3rd after its July 23rd test was cut short. The upcoming 24-hour test will focus on core game systems, network stress, updated visuals, and bug fixes, with sign-ups available on the game's website.
Dark Souls creator Hidetaka Miyazaki has good news for anyone worried about PvP in The Duskbloods: he sucks at it too, and you don't "have to be great at PvP in order to win"
FromSoftware director Hidetaka Miyazaki revealed that he is not particularly skilled at PvP combat in games, including The Duskbloods. He assured players that a high level of PvP proficiency is not required to win, as the game will offer customization options and companion characters to assist players who prefer a less intense combat experience.
From Pirate Nation’s Ashes: Booty Wars Sets Sail With Brutal PvP Combat
Booty Wars, a new player-versus-player focused game, has been announced by a former community member of Proof of Play following the studio's shutdown. The game will not be a sequel to Pirate Nation and will feature a new NFT collection and gameplay mechanics, distinct from the previous title's infrastructure and tokens. Details regarding the blockchain and further gameplay are expected soon.
WoW Classic players gang up to ban infamous PvP slayer on Twitch, immediately regret it after realizing they no longer…
Players in World of Warcraft Classic attempted to ban a notorious PvP player known as Redridgeguy from Twitch, only to realize this made it harder to track his in-game activities. Redridgeguy was known for killing hundreds of Alliance players daily from inaccessible locations. His Twitch ban has led to increased frustration among players as his movements are now concealed.
Old School RuneScape highlights PvP boot camp and LAN party, talks up its origins and writing
Old School RuneScape is highlighting community events including a PvP Bootcamp and a LAN party streamed event. The game's narrative designer discussed writing and quests, while the creative director shared the origins of the 2007 server that launched the game and its growth through player feedback.
