MMO Week in Review: Calling a Truce
It was a surprisingly huge week for MMORPGs, even setting aside the fact that WoW Shadowlands launches tomorrowday. Guild Wars 2 released Truce, we got our hands on New World's latest alpha content, Pokemon Go announced a massive update, we mused on Crowfall and sandboxes, and LOTRO outlined its 2021 content plans in one of […]
Atlas adds armored docks and an update to trading (which was broken and then slightly fixed)
Grapeshot Studios' pirate-themed survival sandbox Atlas got an update. And then part of it broke. And then that broken part got a hotfix bandage to address some of the problem. Allow us to explain. This past Wednesday saw the game receive a new patch which introduced a new armored dock building and a number of […]
The MOP Up: Conan Exiles forms 'strike team' to attack Xbox One server instability
Life in Conan Exiles is by nature harsh, but Xbox One players have it worse than most thanks to a slew of issues that are plaguing the survival title. While some of these problems have been resolved, Funcom says that "client crashes, Out of Memory crashes, and dashboard issues" still remain. As such, a strike […]
World of Warcraft's pre-patch Scourge event is being used to kill freshly made characters
Well, this seems rather familiar to World of Warcraft players, doesn't it? The two week-long pre-patch event leading into Shadowlands, which sees players turning into or otherwise fighting off the zombie Scourge, has reached its perhaps wholly expected conclusion: wiping out new characters in their starting zones. An image shared by Redditor Superab showcases their […]
Global Chat: Are login rewards actually evil?
What could be evil about game studios giving out daily treats to its players? Settle back, folks, because Going Commando is going to tell you why these systems are actually from Satan's bowels as they head to SWTOR: "Login rewards are a road to resentment and burnout, as I'll feel compelled to collect them every day […]
Phantasy Star Online 2 announces a November 25 campaign to get players prepared for Episode 6
For those playing Phantasy Star Online 2 that worry they're a little behind the curve to get into the upcoming Episode 6 update, fear not: There's a new campaign launching that seeks to boost players to the point they need to be to comfortably access the upcoming release. Players who clear specific quests after November […]
One Shots: Rising sun, setting slaughter
"After a short break from Final Fantasy XIV, I'm back with my /gpose addiction," reader Josh said. Josh, you're breaking our hearts here. We thought we had finally gotten through to you with our six-hour long intervention last time. It wasn't easy to gather together your whole Free Company — several kidnappings occurred and at […]
The Daily Grind: Do you follow the work of specific MMO developers?
If you've been around the MMORPG genre a while, you start to realize that specific developer names pop up again and again. Some of them are super famous, like your Richard Garriotts, your Mark Jacobses, your John Smedleys. Others, not so much. Personally, there are some designers and artists and thinkers in the field I […]
Battle Bards Episode 181: Around the world
Stuck at home? Denied a vacation this year? The Battle Bards are here to help! In seven songs, the cross-continental crew travel all around the world with one pick per continent. Can MMORPGs take us on across the globe with their music alone? Indeed they can! Battle Bards is the world's first, best, and only MMO […]
Ship of Heroes previews new superhero costume options entering the beta
While the devs of Ship of Heroes are certainly busying themselves with putting mission content together, it doesn't mean that they're not keeping an eye on the other important thing: making your character look good. Thus, we have a look at some new costume options. The preview post shares a look at three overall themed […]
World of Warcraft makes good on its new multiboxing policy, confirms delay of endgame grinds until post-launch
Earlier in the month, we reported on a shift in World of Warcraft's multiboxing policy that was going to leverage action against those who use input broadcasting software to mirror keystrokes to multiple game clients. Just in case anyone reading that assumed it was just a vapid threat, consider this Reddit post a warning. Redditor […]
The Stream Team: A Conan Exiles calamity
After working through a level 4 surge in Conan Exiles' Isle of Siptah, Massively OP's MJ couldn't wait to crank it up a notch! Nope, she'll witness a full-blown calamity! A calamity surge, that is. Will it overpower the group? Or will they walk away with some sweet treasures? Tune in live at 2:00 p.m. […]
LOTRO Legendarium: Getting a glimpse of LOTRO's 2021 plans
For a good long while now — years, really — I've joined the chorus of voices that have been asking Standing Stone Games to talk to its fans more and be better about leveraging its communication channels. This week, the studio actually stepped up and delivered the sort of comms that we've wanted for so […]
Star Wars: The Old Republic teases the ominous story of GU 6.2 Echoes of Oblivion
"You do not know the face of true power. But you will, very soon. You will." With these chilling words, Star Wars: The Old Republic teased its fans with the new storyline coming in the Echoes of Oblivion update. BioWare tweeted info drops about the patch from Friday's cantina livestream while also posting a one-minute […]
WRUP: The oral history of WRUP edition
Narrator: It's the story of a column… that is only about what people are planning to play for the weekend. Eliot: The inspiration came to me when I was bored. Narrator: How it became a phenomenon… Eliot: I tend to write a lot from the, uh, uh, uh, uh, um, uh, um, um, um, uh, […]
The Daily Grind: What are you thankful about in your MMO this month?
Creepy Black Spirit stares into your soul and wants to know… what makes you thankful for in MMO gaming right now? Be mindful that if you fail to answer, he will extract the truth from your psyche — and he will not be gentle. Me? I'm thankful to have Shadowlands to play next week, plenty […]
Betawatch: Blankos Block Party begins private beta with a fresh hotfix
You never forget your first… hotfix. What did you think we meant? Blankos Block Party has gone into its first private beta, and that also means that it's put out its first hotfix for players experiencing some issues. Welcome to the beta team; hope you survive the experience. Do kids still get that reference? Eh, […]
Skyforge is playable on the newest console generation via cross-generation play
Were you considering picking up a PlayStation 5, but didn't want to lose your progress in Skyforge? That's… kind of an odd decision, but hey, we're glad you're having that much fun with the game. But you needn't have worried in the first place, as Skyforge is playable on the PS5 as well as the Xbox Series […]
Pokemon Go is reviving some of the COVID enhancements it had earlier rolled back
Well, that was fast! This week, Niantic announced that it was bringing back in-game bonuses – such as buddies giving increased numbers of sendable gifts, increased incense spawns, and at least occasional incubator reductions and one-coin supply kits – after having reduced these very features on September 30th, 2020. Niantic has promised to have these […]
Elder Scrolls Online delays its Undaunted Celebration event
Mark Twain once wrote, "Waiting is such sweet sorrow." Or maybe that was Gandalf. Point is, we want our stuffs now and will throw a hissy fit if that doesn't happen. Well, prepare to hold your breath until your face turns blue and get your kickin' feet ready because Elder Scrolls Online is pushing back […]
Bless Unleashed's latest update adds a new region, new dungeons, Elemental Weapons, and passive upgrades
Players of the PS4 and Xbox One MMORPG Bless Unleashed have themselves some new content to dig in to in the form of the Spear of Salvation update, which introduces a new area with new dungeons as well as a supplement to character progression. The new area is known as the Ivory Dunes, which boasts […]
Superhero MMO Valiance Online apologizes for radio silence, discusses status of beta server
Crowdfunded superhero MMORPG Valiance Online saw a flurry of activity earlier this year when it opened up a beta in conjunction with the online PlayNYC event, along with new videos and previews. Our own impressions of the game found it an interesting setting with definite promise, but certainly not a game close to prime time […]
EVE Online releases its monthly economic report for October
When you were young, did you imagine that grown-up work was all about looking at charts and hearing a man drone on about how the numbers from Region 1 were worse than the numbers from Region 2 but better than the numbers from Region 3? Does that now sound kind of like fun recreation to […]
The Stream Team: A MOP up of AQ3D events
With AQ3D's Mogloween and Friday the 13th events so close to ending, Massively OP's MJ is worried she cannot get close to completing the cosmetic sets she wants. That means it's a rush to do as much as she can today, including clown hunting, fishing, and Mystcroft. Join us live at 2:00 p.m. as MJ […]
Warframe adds new levels, weapons, enemies, and more in the Deimos: Arcana update on PC
The Cambion Drift and its infested environs are expanded in Warframe's latest update on PC. The Deimos: Arcana update adds more to the region with four new underground levels and three new Isolation Vault bounties to take on for rewards. The infestation is expanding in other ways as well thanks to a new enemy type […]
PlanetSide 2 marks eight years with free gifts, double XP, and chapter two of Shattered Warpgate
It's been eight years of PlanetSide 2 and Daybreak Games is keen to celebrate with its anniversary update, which has arrived today for PC players. As a form of celebration, every player can complete a special mission between now and November 30th to earn a platinum version of the NS-45 Pilot and an anniversary Loyalty […]
Elite Dangerous announces plans to adjust mining starting next week as part of greater balance efforts
If you want to get rich quick in Elite: Dangerous, the best thing to do is to start mining. However, there are a lot of players who think that mining lets folks get rich a bit too quick. Frontier Developments agrees, and so the devs will be making some adjustments starting early next week. In […]
Star Citizen talks about the Nomad, the IAE free fly event, and player shenanigans in alpha 3.11
There's a whole gaggle of stuff coming out of Star Citizen today, the headliner of which is the start of the free fly event and its promise of over 100 flyable ships as part of the Intergalactic Aerospace Expo. A post on the game's website explains how it works, the dates when each manufacturer will […]
AdventureQuest 3D previews the first pass of its new system for guilds
When you hang out with someone new in AdventureQuest 3D, you've always had the option to be friends if you think the other person is cool. But what if you know a bunch of cool people and you all want to hang out in the same space? Well, that's what the game's new guild mechanics are […]
WoW Factor: A wild theory for World of Warcraft's Shadowlands
I don't have quite as much as I would have expected to say about Shadowlands so close to its launch. Part of that is, of course, timing; the surprise delay sort of disrupted my normal expected cadence. But another part of that is just that I haven't been in the beta and thus I'm going to […]
Fallout 76 brings you up to speed on the Appalachian Brotherhood of Steel
When December 1st arrives, so will the heavy boots of the Brotherhood of Steel in Fallout 76. The fan-favorite faction from the Fallout series is finally making its way to Appalachia. And if you're wondering why it took the group so long to get there and what it's even about, well, there's a video for […]
New survey points to increase in hate and harassment in online multiplayer games
The behavior of people in online games does not appear to be improving for the better. According to national survey results from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), people are experiencing an uptick in hateful and harassing behavior in their online multiplayer gaming day-to-day. The survey took responses from a nationally representative segment of American players aged […]
ArcheAge Unchained extends its free trial into December
ArcheAge Unchained's free trial program must be doing well for the MMO — or the studio wants to divert attention from other, more shadowy and warcrafty releases — because Gamigo announced this week that it's extending the promotion through December 10th. Originally, the trial for the buy-to-play title was scheduled to conclude on November 16th. […]
World of Warcraft goes on a Shadowlands interview blitz
With only days to go until Shadowlands ushers World of Warcraft players into the afterlife, it's definitely a good time for the studio to drum up hype through interviews. Blizzard seems to be on a tear with these, starting with Assistant Lead Quest Designer Johnny Cash and Art Director Ely Cannon sitting down with VG247 […]
The Daily Grind: Are you sick of being a tankmage in MMOs?
One of the very first gaming terms I ever learned in an online game was bestowed upon me as a teenager in Ultima Online, and that term was tankmage. It was simultaneously a dirty word and a mark of pride: Tankmages, in those early days, were characters running around in full platemail and weapons but […]
The Stream Team: Planting the Icehammer flag in Neverwinter
After defeating the Rime Hound, Massively OP's MJ still needs to ascend Neverwinter's Icespire Peak again to retrieve the Icehammer flag from fallen Rurik Hillhelm so she can plant it at the gates of the frost giant's home. Tune in live at 9:00 p.m. for a trip back up the icy mountain. What: Neverwinter Who: […]
Massively Overthinking: No-thank-you bites in MMO gaming
One of the things I always try to have my kids do is take a no-thank-you bite of new foods. They have to at least try it to be able to politely turn it down. This doesn't work, mind you; my kid who likes everything still eats everything and my kid who likes nothing will […]
War Thunder releases the New Power update, World of Tanks lands on next-gen consoles via backwards compatibility
Both of the big-name vehicular multiplayer combat titles have some big updates for their players. War Thunder has released its New Power update, while World of Tanks Console is touting its backwards compatibility with the newly-launched PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. The New Power update has introduced a visual rehaul for War Thunder, with better […]
Neverwinter is retiring Bonding Runestones and making changes to companions
How well does item level match to actual player power in Neverwinter? Not well enough, at least according to the way developers see it, and that's leading to some changes to the way that companions work. This includes outright removing Bonding Runestones, which never really lined up with stated item levels and will thus be available […]
Pokemon Go announces better distance trading event after all, and it's live today
In our article on the reveal of Pokemon Go's upcoming Go Beyond update and its promised level cap increase, we noted how Niantic refused to acknowledge some press questions while making sure to specifically say "no comment" or "no announcements at this time" for others. We included this because sometimes it's obvious when "we have […]
Wizard101 opens the world of Karamelle and a new story arc in its latest update
I'm going to be honest, the new world that's been added to Wizard101 sounds absolutely delightful. The newest update has introduced the region of Karamelle, with places like the Gumdrop Forest, Sweetzburg, and the Rock Candy Mountains, and creatures like Honey Badgers and Chocolate Moose. We're up to our eyeballs in candied whimsy here, folks. […]
EVE Online is getting some changes to torpedoes with its next update
When you fire a torpedo in EVE Online you would like it to have a notable impact. You are firing at a ship with the intent of causing serious and preferably irreparable damage. So you will probably be happy to know that with the next major update on November 24th XL torpedoes will see a boost […]
Elite Dangerous' free Epic Games Store promo is plagued by access issues
Frontier had a big promotion for Elite Dangerous planned today: It was meant to be fully free on the Epic Games Store, including Horizons, which was recently merged into the base game. That's a markdown from a retail rate of $29.99, clearly primed to attract people not just to the game but to the platform. […]
Aion NA adds the Timeless Terrace, opens a new dungeon, and introduces Glyphs in the Unshackled Fate update
The NA version of Aion has gotten itself some fresh content in the form of the Unshackled Fate update. The centerpiece of the update is the new Timeless Terrace, a level 80 area with a base, ten border areas, and three sanctuaries. Interestingly, monsters in the Timeless Terrace do not respawn normally when killed, only […]
Last Oasis is launching on Xbox Series consoles early in 2021, PC wipe slated for Sunday
Woodpunk survival MMO Last Oasis has had a bumpy ride since its B2P early access rollout last spring, losing the vast majority of its player concurrency since. But now studio Donkey Crew has big plans to expand the game – to a new platform. "Last Oasis will be coming to Xbox One as well as […]
World of Warcraft posts survival guide and profession primer ahead of Shadowlands
We're less than a week away from World of Warcraft's Shadowlands launch, which means Blizzard is running out of days to preview stuff – but it's certainly not running out of previews. The studio today dropped two pieces worth your attention. First, there's a new dev blog up on how professions will work in the […]
New World's latest alpha patch buffs threat and makes high-end combat more challenging
If you caught the big news yesterday, then you already know that Amazon is dropping a big new patch for alpha testers of New World, complete with a new level 58-60 zone and the fishing tradeskill. MOP's Justin toured the new content during the Amazon press event, finding Reekwater to be a properly nasty and […]
Pantheon toasts Brad McQuaid, plans next pre-alpha test, and updates the 'evaluation' build
Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen has delivered its November producer's letter today, and it begins on a sad note as Producer Ben Dean reminds fans that it's now been one year since the genre and the game lost veteran game developer Brad McQuaid. "Visionary Realms itself is a team Brad built," Dean writes. "He brought […]
Vague Patch Notes: Players aren't the only people who should prepare for their MMO to die
There are certain realities that developers need to reckon with that start with acknowledging a certain degree of reality, and one of those bits of reality is acknowledging that the MMO they work on is going to reach the end of life. That doesn't necessarily mean that the game is going to shut down, per […]
Activision-Blizzard lays off more support staff, this time in the Asia-Pacific region
(This piece has been updated with Blizzard's confirmation and an updated headcount of those affected.) UK publication MCV/Develop is reporting today that the global redundancies for Activision-Blizzard are continuing. According to MCV's unnamed insider source, over 100 around 30 employees in the Asia-Pacific region are seeing staffing impacts to their offices, specifically affecting employees who […]
