The Stream Team: The Tide Turns is the real finale of DDO's pirate saga
Massively OP's MJ may have said that last time was the last time for DDO's pirate saga. However, today is the real last time! The finale quest, The Tides Turn, will wrap up the pirate adventure that MJ and the crew have been working through. And what a finale it will be! Just as House […]
Massively Overthinking: Do MMO players secretly just want 'another WoW'?
Last week, there was a provocative discussion on the MMORPG subreddit about the genre. I don't want to get tangled up in the whole argument about failed MMOs and why people play the successful MMOs that aren't World of Warcraft, but I do want to home in on the overall premise: "I've become thoroughly convinced […]
Trove introduces Deep Dragon mounts to console players in latest update
If you're the sort of Trove console player who likes to chase hard-to-find materials to put together an extremely shiny mount, then you're going to have an absolute blast with the game's latest update, which has introduced three Deep Dragon mounts to go after. And honestly, who doesn't want to ride around on a blocky […]
EverQuest launches Valentine's event, PlanetSide 2 begins Outfit Wars playtest, DCUO readies Update 110
It's the Daybreak Games News Bundle! Because it just makes sense to pool smaller stories together, we're going to outline several little updates made to EverQuest and EverQuest II, PlanetSide 2, and DC Universe Online. Which also means it's bullet list time! First, EQ has kicked off Erollisi Day 2021, which is all outlined in […]
Activision-Blizzard Q4 2020: Activision's revenues are up QoQ and YoY as Blizzard MAUs drop again
We've simply got to stop meeting like this exactly every three months. Yes, it's time for another round of Activision-Blizzard dissembling in the form of the company's investor report and conference call. Welcome to Q4 2020! It's been a weird couple of years for the company as 2019 saw mass layoffs, the Blitzchung boycott, a weak BlizzCon, […]
Multiplayer survival RPG Frozen Flame updates enemies, shares some music, and offers a demo on Steam
It's been a little while since we looked in on Frozen Flame, and lo and behold, there's been a couple of notable things going on with the in-development multiplayer survival RPG. One of the first major updates is… well, an update, which has tweaked the attack behavior of the Cursed to make them "more menacing […]
Skyforge launches on Nintendo Switch today with time-limited cosmetics
The time has finally arrived for Skyforge to venture onto a new console in the form of the Nintendo Switch. The game is live today on the platform, allowing everyone access to the game in semi-portable form as you take on the role of one of the game's many immortal deities fighting to defend your planet. […]
Magic Legends begins selling discounted cosmetics bundle ahead of open beta
If for some reason you're angling to buy cosmetics for a game that hasn't released yet – and let's be real, MMO players are known for doing just that – then you're going to want to peek at PWE's Magic Legends reveal today. The company is apparently selling a new Planeswalker Bundle for the game, […]
EVE Online commemorates the Massacre at M2-XFE with data and an in-game monument
We can now officially put a new marker on the annals of EVE Online history. The Massacre at M2-XFE, which was already shaping up to be a historic battle from initial reporting, has gotten a full and final report from CCP Games, outlining just how immense this fight ended up being with data and details. […]
Obituary: ZeniMax Media founder and CEO Robert A. Altman has died
I'm sorry to report that the founder and CEO of ZeniMax Media, Robert A. Altman, has apparently passed away. He was 74. The news came directly from Bethesda's Twitter account, where staff shared one of Altman's recent memos to the teams urging them to take time to care for themselves during the pandemic. We are […]
Preview: Dauntless' Frost Escalation will force you to fight frigid foes and frostbite
I've said before that I respect and love how Dauntless keeps trying to bring something new to the table with its major updates, and the Frost Escalation, which should be live as you're reading this, is most certainly no exception. I was granted the opportunity to preview this new content with PR manager Andy Burt […]
Enter to win a Star Trek Online PC Alliance Reborn bundle from PWE and MOP
Star Trek Online's House Reborn has been a huge hit for the game, as the 11-year-old MMORPG is seeing a boost in concurrency as players flock back to the game to celebrate its anniversary. If you're among them, you're definitely going to want to enter today's giveaway to get your captains properly outfitted! PWE has […]
Vague Patch Notes: If this MMO was so good, why didn't it succeed?
Your mission today, should you choose to accept it, is to participate in an experiment. I want you to write up a nice long piece about all the things WildStar did that were, in fact, really good. Suggested areas of focus include the housing mechanics of the game, the art style, and the uniqueness of its […]
MMO Business Roundup: Improbable's defense contracting, Amazon Games' internal support
Welcome back to another roundup of MMO and MMO-adjacent industry news! Improbable: Back in January, CNBC did a big story on Improbable, the massive Herman Narula-led company backed by companies from SoftBank to NetEase that's working on SpatialOS with a goal of rescuing the MMO genre from "nuclear winter." Apparently, the company saw another year […]
Star Citizen outlines work on a 'community favorite' ship, hacking, weapons, and Orison landing zone
Feels like we sort of just did this, doesn't it? Sure enough, now that we're just into the month of February and the last report pooled progress from November and December of last year, Star Citizen has made sure to keep pace on its monthly updates by releasing January's report. Here are some of the […]
Sea of Thieves' first season has arrived with a new voyage type and LTM
Season one of Sea of Thieves' new business-and-content model has officially arrived today. Here's hoping this take lasts long than that whole "three live teams working on constant content" thing. Today's release includes the new permanent voyage type, a new limited-time event, better arena comms, new cash-shop loot, performance tweaks, and bug fixes. Season one is […]
Elite Dangerous players are apparently being duped into indentured servitude
An Elite Dangerous player and member of the altruistic Fuel Rats group has uncovered what appears to be an insidious scheme while responding to a seemingly routine call for help. Fans of the MMO will know that the Fuel Rats are a group of players in Elite who volunteer their services to help those who […]
BioWare shuts down talk of Mass Effect multiplayer, says 'it was just really hard'
There are a whole lot of people really excited to see BioWare bust out that Mass Effect legendary edition on May 14th — myself included. But when it does arrive, we know for sure that there will be one much-requested feature completely missing from the all-in-one bundle: multiplayer. According to Game Informer, BioWare evaluated the […]
Bluehole MMO Elyon shows off the new Slayer class
Do you ever get the feeling that two-handed sword classes in MMORPGs are less about actual swordplay and more about putting on glamorous light shows using a blade the size of a Boeing 747 wing? Because that's exactly the vibe I got when I watched the reveal of Elyon: Ascent Infinite Realm's latest class. "It's […]
The Daily Grind: Are there any live MMOs that seem too old for you to try?
It's easy to overlook the sheer weight of age involved with live MMOs. Sure, it's easy to say that intellectually there's no reason you can't start on Final Fantasy XIV right now even if you've never played before, but you also can't help but be aware that doing so means jumping into an existing game with […]
The Stream Team: Finally to the SWTOR Mandalorian flashpoint
After working through the rest of the new Mandalorian story in SWTOR, Massively OP's Larry and MJ have made it to the point of doing the flashpoint, The Spirit of Vengeance. And flashpoints are what you, the audience of Choose My Alignment, has been asking for. So what happens next is surely all your fault! […]
Starbase works on 'easy build mode,' lets avatars throw punches, and tweaks non-mineable asteroids
It's yet another look at the hyper-granular advancement of space-based building sandbox Starbase, which has put out another couple weeks' worth of progress notes. Let's get all caught up, shall we? Week 2 of 2021 includes the first version of "easy build mode" for ships being added to testing, which hopefully should make putting together […]
Wild Terra 2 plans to add in the map as it promises a growing team for development in Early Access
The team currently developing Wild Terra 2 – which just rolled into early access last week – is small. Quite small, in fact; it currently consists of four people, and the latest dispatch from the development team notes how challenging it was to bring the game to early access with such a small team behind it. […]
Final Fantasy XI previews more Voracious Resurgence and Odyssey content coming in February
If you thought that after the last round of content in Sheol: Gaol in Final Fantasy XI you weren't being sufficiently challenged, the game's February version update is almost here to help refute that assumption. While the last round of opponents were there to get players accustomed to how the content would work, the new batch […]
Albion Online's new Patch 13 adds the Use All button, updates Avalonian mobs, and refreshes the meta
There's been a nice big patch applied to Albion Online, bringing a bundle of new updates to some of the sandbox MMO's existing content and earning it the subtitle of the Rise of Avalon Balance Patch, which is a whole lot zippier than calling it Patch 13. As that subtitle suggests, Patch 13 has applied […]
EverQuest Online Adventures' rogue server project, EQOA: Return Home, is still chugging along
Back in 2019, we covered a heartwarming story about EQOA: Return Home, a player-run emulator for EverQuest Online Adventures, which readers will recall was one of the many online titles SOE killed off during the purge of 2012. At the time, the players were hunting both for coders and for former players with strong memories […]
Dauntless announces the removal of aethersparks progression currency from the in-game store
If you've been following the Slayer's Path in Dauntless, particularly at the higher end of the scale, you know how important aethersparks are. For those who aren't familiar, they're a currency that lets players create an aetherheart and reforge their weapon to make their character stronger. Up to this point, players could either earn aethersparks […]
Blankos Block Party adds new props, improves shooting and racing, and brings build mode quality-of-life
Blankos Block Party, the creative sandbox MMO with blockchain connections that recently began open beta, has put out a new update that brings a few notable improvements to the colorful creative universe. One of the headline features is some new building props, with puffy blocks, railings, spaceship and nautical items, and some new terrain hexes […]
Snag an Echo of Soul loot-hoovering Blue Ciskai minipet in honor of The Blue update
Echo of Soul made headlines in 2020 for its brief-lived Steam Blue version, which folded back into the version that Gamigo has been faithfully running for years, Echo of Soul Phoenix. Most recently, the active Gamigo version welcomed players from the closed title with an update called, appropriately, The Blue. That 3.0 update expanded the […]
Desert Oasis: Having a blast with Black Desert's new Nova class
Thanks to the quarantine, it's been a pretty long while since I've gone out and enjoyed some coffee at a cafe and a beer at a bar. But of all things that I've missed, goin' out with the goilz tops the chart. I miss those unpredictable nights, the heavy drinking, and having to hold their hair […]
Darkfall: Rise of Agon is expanding its paid dev team and launching in Asia
Here's some big news for fans of the Darkfall saga: The last Darkfall version still standing, Darkfall: Rise of Agon, is headed to a launch in Asia. MMO players will recall that Darkfall's original studio, Aventurine, closed down back in 2016, turned over the remnants of the game to a pair of player-organized teams. New […]
Perfect Ten: A guide to podcasts for your favorite MMOs
Clearly, your Tuesday schedule every week should have a big fat "LISTEN TO MASSIVELY OP PODCAST" written at 4:00 p.m. EST right on it. But once you've experienced that blissful hour of news analysis and Justin's slow descent into senility (as well as the excellent bi-weekly Battle Bards podcast), what is there left to fill […]
Final Fantasy XIV combines Valentione's Day and Little Ladies' Day into one event this month
We realize that the event on the mind of every Final Fantasy XIV player's mind right now is the announcement showcase happening on Friday, but another event is right around the corner on February 10th. Is it Valentione's Day? Is it Little Ladies' Day? Turns out it's both, smooshed together into one mega-event with decorations varying […]
Black Desert Mobile starts Path of Glory Season 3, Black Desert PC hands out lots of chocolate
Do you crave glory, or do you crave chocolate? Well, if you play both Black Desert Mobile and Black Desert on PC, you can have both thanks to the latest content updates for each version of the MMO. Why choose one or the other, anyway? In BDO Mobile, Season 3 of Path of Glory has […]
Posting record 2020 revenues, EA recommits to the Star Wars franchise that made it $3B
It's been an EA day today as reactions to the company's Q3 FY21 financial report continue to collect around the industry, largely because the company had a banner year with record revenues left and right. It pulled in $2.4B for the quarter and $5.96B in net bookings for the year, an increase of 15% and […]
Genshin Impact's new Xiao character is live today for Lunar New Year
As promised, Genshin Impact has officially released version 1.3, which was set to bring a new character and a Lunar New Year event among other things. Now that the update is live, there are some patch notes to scour for some more details. On the subject of the Lunar New Year event, aka the Lantern […]
Phantasy Star Online 2's new Luster class slashes and shoots its way into the action
Ready to reroll in Phantasy Star Online 2? There's a new scion class in town, and it seems ideal for players who can't quite sit still. The Luster class fights only with gunblades but has the option to switch between three different combat styles with it. These styles offer defensive, AOE, or close combat DPS. […]
Magic Legends will launch with three worlds to explore
If you're coming to Magic Legends without much prior knowledge of the card game, you might not know that the franchise is set in a multiverse of diverse locales. Cryptic is aiming to capitalize on this flexibility by rolling out different settings over time. The studio announced this week that when it launches, Magic Legends […]
The Daily Grind: What do you want out of your MMO guild?
One of the best questions that I've seen MMO guilds ask upon interviews with new recruits is, 'What do you want to get out of this guild?" It's a great question because it gets to the heart of whether or not the player and the guild is compatible. If a player is looking for one […]
The Stream Team: Jackal vs. the Ox as Lunar New Year launches in Guild Wars 2
Massively OP's MJ was all set to throw herself into getting the rest of Guild Wars 2's mounts, but then Lunar New Year had to launch and derailed her. How could she ignore a fun festival happening around her? She can't! So she'll be focusing on her jackal acquisition as well as enjoying the event. […]
Siege Survival: Gloria Victis announces an updated prologue demo for the Steam Game Festival
For those who have been following the development of Siege Survival: Gloria Victis, the standalone survival and resource management game set in the world of Gloria Victis, there's about to be a big shift forward for the game according to the devs. Specifically, an updated prologue demo is due to release soon, ensuring it'll be […]
Ultima Online has a string of narrative events rolling out all spring
Ultima Online's latest newsletter is live, with a look at what's coming in the new future and some teases for New Legacy. For example, Publish 110 is in development and expected to hit the live shards in March. Don't expect gobs of new content, though, as this update sets the stage for future rollouts, with […]
World War II Online's 2021 roadmap includes bomber loadouts and halftracks
The conflict in World War II Online — also called Battleground Europe — doesn't seem to be any closer to a resolution than it did two decades ago. Of course, that's really good news for the game's players, who love engaging in period battles on land and air. There's going to be a lot more […]
Massively OP Podcast Episode 307: Blackwood barges into town
Justin and Bree discuss Elder Scrolls Online Blackwood, Fallout 76, Star Trek Online, Magic Legends, the GameStop stock thing, and Amazon Game Studios' mess, with adventures in WoW Classic, LOTRO, SWG Legends, and ESO, plus a mailbag topic on questing vs. grinding.
The Stream Team: House Reborn for Star Trek Online's 11th anniversary
Today Star Trek Online turns 11 years old — that certainly calls for a celebration! Along with anniversary activities (go go party pistol!), the next episode of the Klingon story has arrived. House Reborn includes two new episodes, and Massively OP's MJ can't wait to play through them. Join us live at 3:00 p.m. to […]
Battleborn has officially shut down completely
We're sorry to inform you that if there were things you still wanted to do in Battleborn, you have missed your chance. Like, completely. As had been announced prior, the game's servers have completely shutdown as of January 31st… and this shutdown is complete enough that even the single-player version of the game is no […]
The Division 2 adds Resident Evil-themed outfits with the newest patch
Have you ever been happily playing The Division 2 and thought that what you really want to be doing is enjoying the sweet murmuring cries of zombies from a Resident Evil game as you mow them down? Well, then… you could just play one of those games. There are lots of them available no matter […]
Fortnite's new LTM pits players against the Mandalorian and each other for a Beskar Umbrella
What are you willing to go through for a unique umbrella in Fortnite? Are you willing to face off against one of the toughest bounty hunters in a galaxy far, far away? Then you're ready for the Mando's Bounty LTM, the latest limited-time mode in the battle royale shooter. Here's how it works: Players will […]
Guild Wars 2's Lunar New Year events are set to go live today
So we've got some good news and bad news. The good news is that Guild Wars 2 is going live with its Lunar New Year patch today. The bad news it had an "unexpected technical problem" and is being held back for what will hopefully be only a brief pause while that's fixed. "The annual […]
Destiny 2 just revealed Season of the Chosen and a full roadmap through May
As promised, Bungie's brought the goods for Destiny 2 today by way of Season of the Chosen, launching next week on February 9th and running through mid-May with the requisite new content and loot, though of course the best stuff is reserved for season pass holders. "In Season 13, Guardians will jump into the Battlegrounds, […]
