The Stream Team: Going on a post-holiday Heist 'shopping' spree in Path of Exile
Not only does Massively OP's MJ dislike shopping, but it can sometimes feel like highway robbery thanks to exorbitant pricing. So, what better way to spend Cyber Monday than by spending it "shopping" in Path of Exile's Heist with some five-finger discounts? That she can afford! Join us live at 8:00 p.m. for this post-holiday […]
Craftopia's latest update introduces new weapons and skills, crafting automation, and a washing machine
Yes, a washing machine is now in Craftopia. We're sure you've all been eager to hear that. This new item allows players to wash enchantments off of items to allow them to be stacked, and its addition is just one part of the crafting sandbox's latest update. Of particular note is the addition of a […]
Frozen Flame adjusts some in-game locations, strengthens the Curse, and adds a vendor stall
The multiplayer survival RPG Frozen Flame, which readers will recall was crowdfunded earlier this summer and entered closed beta in September, has once again updated with a few changes of note. The Dragon Cemetery and the Quarry have both gotten some visual upgrades, with continued work on the Titan Heights area also coming down the […]
PSA: Remnant From the Ashes releases its complete edition with both DLCs packed in
If you were curious about Remnant: From the Ashes after reading our brief jaunt through the game in Choose My Adventure (and were able to see through your white-hot indignant rage at the use of "MMO" in that article's title), then now seems about as good a time as any to hop in as the […]
Soul's Remnant is a 2-D platforming MMORPG 'passion project' that has entered a limited-time open alpha
For those who are fans of more colorful and visually flat (as in two-dimensional) MMORPGs, then you might be interested in a little something called Soul's Remnant. This charming-looking title is the "passion project" of solo developer Chaomoon, who has been working on the title since April of 2016, with 99% of the dev work […]
Ship of Heroes' latest video talks mission creation and likely 2021 launch
How do they make the sausage when the sausage is an MMORPG? Generally, gamers are quickly made to regret that question, but Heroic Games is giving a peek into the factory anyway with the finale for its Ship of Heroes mission-creation video series. "We previously covered how the mission design is created when the mission's […]
Wolcen team teases first Chronicle, Bloodtrail, with Diablo III-esque seasons
In the months following its release, the developers of Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem pursued an aggressive schedule of fixes and balance changes, an initiative dubbed the "Second Dawn," but since Second Dawn's completion, they've been quiet. That silence has at last been broken by the announcement that the game's first Chronicle, Bloodtrail, is coming Soon™. […]
Mortal Online 2's beta stress test falls short of world record levels but still yields useful results
Just in case you were curious, the beta launch of Mortal Online 2, which sought to break a world record, didn't: Star Vault's CEO Henrik Nyström confirmed in an update post that concurrency numbers only hit about 2,000 players at peak despite over 40K keys being sent out. It's not all sad trombone noises, however. […]
Fallout 76 drops Fractured Steel trailer for already launched Steel Dawn update
Last week, Bethsoft surprise-launched Fallout 76's Steel Dawn update after accidentally dropping it on Xbox. So you can already play it on basically every platform known to man except your phone and the Switch, and you're probably already immersed in the lore. But the rest of the marketing campaign pushes onward as planned, apparently, as […]
WildStar's devs and fans love on the game two years after its demise
This past weekend saw a special and sad date for WildStar fans, as November 28th marked the two-year anniversary of the game's closure. Some of WildStar's former developers and community emerged to hold up a torch of remembrance for the scifi MMORPG, including lead developer Chad Moore and composer Jeff Kurtenacker. In fact, Kurtenacker had […]
Elite: Dangerous' latest game balance update ramps up pay for bounties and solo combat missions
Earlier in the month, Elite: Dangerous announced plans to make a number of balance changes starting with mining. The next step forward in balance is being taken later today, with a focus on bounties and solo combat missions. Specifically, bounties will see payout increases that are four times as much for the highest paying ones […]
Wisdom of Nym: Analyzing the last pre-patch Final Fantasy XIV producer's letter
Well, it looks like we've got no actual new information on the next expansion. I'm not sure how to feel about that. I mean, sure, I didn't really expect to hear about it when this live letter had other things on its mind, but at the same time it felt plausible. Are we really going […]
SWTOR and Star Wars Galaxies players memorialize the life of Darth Vader actor David Prowse
The Star Wars universe has lost another of its icons: David Prowse, the British actor who filled the very large shoes (though not the voice) of Darth Vader in the original film trilogy. He was 85. The news brought forth players in multiple Star Wars MMOs to pay tribute to the actor. On SWG Legends, […]
First impressions of World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, part two: Endgame experience
Once you get to max level in World of Warcraft, the game changes. This should not be a surprise, as it has been the case in every prior expansion and it's kind of a given that it's the case for this one as well. And that is still kind of a messy way to structure […]
Lands of Kehliel is a competition-focused PvP open world MMORPG headed to Kickstarter soon
PvP sandbox games can be pretty competitive by their very nature, but what if competing against others was the ultimate point of your MMORPG play time? That's what the upcoming Lands of Kheliel by Hitwave Studios is looking to create: "the first MMORPG that focuses in on competition and personal skill." Players start off in […]
Destiny 2 narrative designer confirms a gay relationship between two of the game's NPCs
For players of Destiny 2 that have been paying attention to a number of narrative clues, this information is likely nothing more than a confirmation, but for everyone else, it was indeed made plain by narrative designer Robert Brookes that Saint-14 and Osiris are gay and "always have been." The revelation was part of an […]
World of Warcraft offers up free character transfers in order to alleviate burgeoning populations
Unless you're hiding somewhere in a satellite far removed from the majority of the MMORPG world, you probably know that there are a lot of people playing World of Warcraft: Shadowlands. So many people, in fact, that the devs are offering up some free character transfers in order to address what is being called an […]
Star Citizen debuts new $600 gunship at this year's Intergalactic Aerospace Expo
Just in case you weren't aware, this past Saturday, November 28th, was RSI day at Star Citizen's Intergalactic Aerospace Expo, the in-game event that also doubles as a free fly demo and potential ship sales booster. And it certainly appears that ship sales have indeed been boosted by the debut of the RSI Perseus, a […]
The Daily Grind: Do you actually like noob zones in MMORPGs?
I think there's a widespread grumpiness for MMORPG tutorials. Either they're so pointless and easy that you're bored, or they deluge you with too much information that you won't actually need for many more levels and will surely have forgotten by then. Or worse, they don't tell you the things you really do need to […]
MMO Week in Review: Into the Shadowlands
So if you were all but holding your breath to see whether Blizzard was going to pull off World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, you can exhale now: It's live, it wasn't a huge trainwreck, and so far even the skeptics are pleased with how it plays. Read on to catch up with the very best of […]
Starbase showcases development updates and impressive player creations
This week in Starbase has been yet another busy one in terms of progress, as the latest forum post points to a variety of updates being worked on including the return of class nine and ten asteroids, continued work on factory systems like 3D printers, further work on easy building mode, improvements to ore distribution, […]
The MOP Up: Shadow Arena pings instead of pongs
Pearl Abyss' Shadow Arena got a lot more friendly this past month thanks to an improved ping system and the addition of login rewards. "The ping system has been updated for Trio mode, allowing the maximum distance that players can use pings to be greatly increased," the studio said in a press release. "Even players […]
Iron Harvest 1920 adds new game mode, plans story DLC for December
Multiplayer RTS Iron Harvest 1920's latest patch has added a new competitive mode, Drop Zone, which can be played in all PvP modes as well as skirmish versus AI. In Drop Zone, players compete to claim air drops that appear at random points on the map, earning points for each drop they claim. It's a […]
Jukebox Heroes: The best of Ashen Empires' soundtrack
Originally inspired by the Ultima series, Dransik came out in the early 2000s as an isometric MMO that rode the rails of indie gaming as hard as it could. Gradually, the title rebranded itself as Ashen Empires but still remained a pretty hardcore and old school title that relished its niche status. Ashen Empires doesn't […]
Old-school hardcore MMORPG Reign of Darkness issues $100K Kickstarter, free demo
Remember Reign of Darkness? We covered its early access arrival back in 2019; it's a medieval grimdark MMORPG being developed by one person that styles itself as a game that "hearkens back to when players had to play a game to figure things out with a short learning curve," where players engage in old-school tab-target […]
One Shots: The life of fish people
Indentured servitude is something that Final Fantasy XIV likes to introduce to its players, such as poor Scott, who discovered that he's in for a two-month stint of doing fetch quests for fish people. Oh my cod, he's gonna flounder. Just looking at this picture raises so many questions that I hope the game can […]
The Daily Grind: What's the best method for delivering MMO quests?
I have long held that among the many (many) things World of Warcraft codified in the big book of MMORPG "rules" is the quest system, which certainly seemed like a step up at the time, given how messy MMO questing was back in the early days of MMOs. The question marks, the pop-up quest text, […]
Make My MMO: Star Citizen offers a free-fly while Elite Dangerous is just free
It's been a weird couple of weeks for MMO crowdfunding: Book of Travels teased a big update coming next week, Valiance Online and Titan Reach resurfaced, Star Citizen expanded its developer base and relished in its free-fly event, Zenith delayed its alpha, and Elite Dangerous is free on the EGS. Finally, Pantheon shared the sad news that […]
Elite Dangerous hosts an AMA about Odyssey, player numbers, and future adjustment plans
In an effort to open lines of direct communication, the devs of Elite: Dangerous had an AMA on the game's forums recently, covering practically the entire spectrum of player matters, from the upcoming Odyssey expansion to mechanic changes and nearly everything in between. Here are a few of the highlights: Ship interiors for Odyssey, as stated […]
Destiny 2 further delays Trials of Osiris as invisibility exploit runs rampant
One of Destiny 2's most popular event modes has been conspicuously absent ever since the online shooter released its Beyond Light expansion earlier this month. Players had hoped that the weekend Trials of Osiris would return soon — and Bungie had promised to bring them back for Thanksgiving weekend — but plans change and the […]
The Stream Team: Escaping the Dual Universe tutorial trap
It's been some time since Massively OP's MJ tried (and failed) to stake her claim in Dual Universe — she couldn't even escape the tutorial world! Now, she's added new RAM to her computer help things run smoother and she's looking forward to finally checking out her friends' bases. Tune in live at 2:00 p.m. […]
Global Chat: Shadowlands impressions from the community
With one of this year's biggest releases out this week, we've taken to the mean streets of Blogtown to see what MMO gamers are saying about World of Warcraft: Shadowlands. What's the word out there? Read on to find out! Kamalia thought that the first day seemed rather quiet: "The Maw is, of course, unsettling […]
Hearthstone's community is in open revolt over the new reward system
It's been an ugly month in Hearthstone's neck of the woods — and it's only getting worse. Community outcry over what it's seeing as stingy and greedy business tactics with the game's revised reward structure and new its Tavern Pass system are sparking riots and protests pretty much anywhere that Hearthstone and its studio rears […]
WRUP: Reasons you should not punch a goat edition
Goats are our friends. Goats provide milk which may be turned into soft and delicious cheeses. It's really more unusual to think of reasons why you would want to punch a goat, as the goat has almost certainly done nothing to harm you. Goats have long memories and the allegiance of Bin-Y'thak, the Crow of […]
The Daily Grind: Is RuneScape part of your MMO gaming history?
Several times on the podcast we've marveled at how there is this bizarre disconnect between the apparent huge popularity of RuneScape and how little engagement it seems to drive. In trying to understand this phenomenon, we've mused about how many younger gamers may have cut their teeth on this game back when it was a […]
The Stream Team: Completing Warframe's The Glassmaker
Last time, Massively OP's MJ investigated the first three crime scenes that Glassmaker left behind in Warframe. Tonight, her goal is to finish the final episodes and solve the mystery. Tune in live at 8:00 p.m. for the conclusion of The Glassmaker series. What: Warframe Who: MJ Guthrie When: 8:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, November 27th, 2020 […]
Betawatch: Blue Protocol's players share its closed beta goodness
If you're anything like me… well, I'm so sorry. This must be hellish for you. Also, you're really looking forward to the upcoming Blue Protocol, which is still in beta testing in Japan and has recently benefited from some players showing off the game in its current form. So that sounds fun, yes? Yes. Other […]
Whatever happened to Darkfall's Rise of Agon and New Dawn?
Hey, whatever did happen to those Darkfall community spin-offs? It has been a while since we've touched base with these dueling projects, so let's see what is going on with both of them this year. Darkfall: Rise of Agon celebrated its three-year anniversary this past May and hosted several patches since then. Some of the […]
Monster Hunter World celebrates the upcoming Monster Hunter film by bringing Milla Jovovich in-game
So the general plot of the upcoming Monster Hunter film is an isekai story — a bunch of military folks are somehow sucked into the world of big angry monsters through some reason or another. That's sort of what's happening to the film's star Milla Jovovich in Monster Hunter World, as she's being brought into […]
MMOs You've Never Heard Of: 4Story, Wing of Misadventure, Legendarium Online, Apsis Online, TwoKinds
Welcome back to another quick roundup of some MMOs and MMO-adjacent titles you've probably never heard of. Please, by all means, go down into the comments and tell us that this title is fake news because actually you have heard of one of these. Be that guy! Everyone loves that guy! 4Story: Wow, remember Papaya […]
Ultima Online's New Legacy will introduce family surnames and heraldry
In September 2020, Ultima Online studio Broadsword announced something new for the 23-year-old MMORPG: New Legacy, which is basically a shard for newbies with a simplified ruleset and proper onboarding for the game's complex systems. The studio has stressed that it's not a fresh start or classic server but rather a new style of server […]
The Stream Team: Black Knight Friday quests in AQ3D
It's Black Knight Friday in AQ3D, and Artix Entertainments promises it's the darkest one yet! There are new quests, a new cosmetic trove, and – of course — deals. Massively OP's MJ may not be into shopping, but she's definitely into both AQ3D and deals, so she's diving right into the darkness. Join us live […]
Shroud of the Avatar discusses butchery, artifact salvage, and Release 84 adjustments
As is very often the case with Shroud of the Avatar, things are changing, since the game is still in development. This week's update newsletter has a host of details about what's changing, from butchery to artifact salvage to combat. In-game butchers will get to enjoy new animal processing recipes that replace old meat recipes […]
World of Warcraft explains the Threads of Fate system in Shadowlands
The basic flow of zones in World of Warcraft: Shadowlands is fixed. You start out in Bastion and finish up in Revendreth by following the main story, and if you choose to do the main story again, it'll go the same way. But that's an if indeed, because the Threads of Fate system that has […]
Dauntless posts an in-depth dev blog about the Slayer's Path progression system and gear reforging
Dauntless is changing how the game is played wholesale with its Reforged update, replacing Pursuits and Patrols with the Hunting Grounds and adjusting how characters and equipment progress. Those progression systems were the focus of a rather beefy dev blog that talked about the new Slayer's Path and the new reforging mechanic. Character progression will […]
Desert Oasis: So, is the PlayStation 5 an upgrade for Black Desert on console?
Way back in August, I did a first impression of Black Desert for the PlayStation 4. It was a solid game, but I couldn't stick to it. The game just isn't as good on consoles. It ran sluggishly and it felt slower on a controller. And I'm not really a console player at heart. I […]
First Impressions of World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, part one: Story and leveling
In a lot of ways, the problem with talking about World of Warcraft is the same problem when you try to talk about The Simpsons. At this point, its longevity and cultural spot exists as such a defining facet of its existence that the only real thing you can compare it to is itself, and […]
Mortal Online 2 celebrates its arrival to beta with an attempt to break a world record
Today will mark the transition of Mortal Online 2 from alpha to beta and the game is doing it in the biggest possible way: by going for a world record for the most players logged in to a single uninstanced server. The attempt, and the beta itself, will begin at 3:00 p.m. EST, and while […]
Final Fantasy XIV drops a trailer and previews the content of patch 5.4, Futures Rewritten
The next major patch for Final Fantasy XIV is launching on December 8th, just a little under two weeks from today. Unsurprisingly, that also means a new trailer for the patch, which we've helpfully included just below if you want a visual glance at things. And there's a lot in this patch, so if you […]
XLGAMES founder Jake Song shares a few lore and gameplay details for ArcheAge 2
The news on ArcheAge 2 has been, admittedly, pretty thin, but that's likely a result of the fact that we've only learned of its existence this past September and work on the game has likely made its first steps. That said, we've gotten a few more details out of XLGAMES' Jake Song during this year's […]
