City of Titans takes you on a tour of its downtown zone
If there's a constant with superheroes, it's "massive property damage." Wherever villains and heroes clash, buildings grow new holes and Starbucks finds that its total franchise numbers have gone down by one or two. So it's probably best to get a look at what a pristine metropolis looks like before it gets totally wrecked. City […]
Leafling's August new-player overhaul lets players level without fighting
Back in June, our own Fight or Kite columnist Sam raved about a newish indie MMO he'd been playing: Leafling. The pitch was that it's a 2-D action MMORPG trying to tap into old-school 16-bit nostalgia as well all the stuff modern gamers demand. Sam noted that the game did all that and offered PvP […]
RuneScape opens up the Glacor Front and kicks off a month-long Lucky Dip event
The fight against the frosty foe of the Glacor Front is now live. This week's RuneScape update has introduced the second portion of the Elder God Wars dungeon, where players will face off against the frigid Wen's army and the repeatable Arch-Glacor boss that has various adjustable mechanics to let players customize the encounter's level […]
Final Fantasy XIV's Naoki Yoshida reflects on the progress of the game in a new interview
The release date of Endwalker comes ever closer, and that means Final Fantasy XIV fans are eager for every scrap of information available about the game… even if it comes in a terrible forced-slideshow presentation. A new interview with director and producer Naoki Yoshida on Inverse is unfortunately in just such a format, but it also features […]
Massively OP Podcast Episode 337: Desperation is a good look on you
Justin and Bree discuss Guild Wars 2, WoW and the Blizzard scandal, Fallout 76, DokeV and New World at Gamescom, Daybreak, TitanReach, and Into the Echo.
Blizzard offers piles of Hearthstone and World of Warcraft loot to boost subs
If you were among the gamers who thought it was a little thirsty of Blizzard to finally be dishing out long-wanted changes in World of Warcraft just as the effects of a weak expansion, flopped patch, and major scandal were catching up with the game, well, this afternoon's news won't impress you. As part of the […]
TERA PC introduces the area of Baldera as console kicks off another double Vanguard earnings event
PC players of TERA have some new land to explore with the game's most recent update: the land of Baldera, located in the Oblivion Woods. This new region is meant for players who are at least level 70, and features the town of Balderon where new achievements and quests await. The update has also opened […]
Amazon's New World releases latest 'legends' hype trailer
We're just over a week away from New World's last big open beta event before its launch in late September, which means Amazon's still laying tracks for the hype train. The latest entry is actually the second in the studio's "Legends of New World" series, this one focused on the "supernatural and mysterious history of […]
Pearl Abyss shares additional details about the creatures, setting, and gameplay of DokeV
Let's assume that your disappointment in DokeV shifting from MMO to open world action adventure hasn't put the kibosh on your overall curiosity or interest in the game. Then you might be happy to learn that Pearl Abyss has been making the rounds to the gaming press in South Korea, offering a few additional informational […]
Massively on the Go: Monster Hunter Stories 2's biggest problem is too much Pokemon
Since its demo, I've seen people both on social media and other game sites comparing Monster Hunter Stories 2 with the Pokemon series, often praising the former over the latter, especially when discussing Pokemon Sword and Shield. More recently, I've seen people talking how Pokemon Legends Arceus seems like a Monster Hunter game. While I get that Sword and Shield was […]
Guild Wars 2's Festival of the Four Winds is live with new achievements and deprecation for WinXP client
The Crown Pavilion is open once again in Guild Wars 2 today as the Festival of the Four Winds is live, bringing a dash of Cantha flair to the longrunning and revivified ArenaNet MMORPG. As usual, players will be participating in the Queen's Gauntlet, racing in Pavilion Pursuit, and dipping into all the other minigames […]
Choose My Adventure: Club Worlds are the pinnacle of player creativity in Trove
Homestead who? Dungeons what? Player-made items? Don't need 'em. The pinnacle of player creativity in Trove, without any peer or equal, is the Club World excursions I've been on. Seriously, the things people are making are insane. The fact that these things are a thing that isn't lauded openly and brazenly on the game's loading […]
Elite Dangerous Odyssey heralds anti-aircraft turrets in conflict zones and more fixes arriving in Update 7
The next update coming to Elite: Dangerous' Odyssey expansion is nearly here and it plans to bring a sizeable list of updates, fixes, and improvements to the spaceship sandbox. One of the marquee features is the addition of anti-aircraft turrets to conflict zones, adding a new layer of challenge to players who were joining in […]
Considering the 'housing crisis' in MMOs like Ultima Online, FFXIV, and EVE Online
MMORPGs with limited digital real estate for player housing such as ArcheAge and Ultima Online may be hurting rather than helping the overall game, a new piece at Game Developer by Lars Doucet argues. The rush to grab land and the potential for real money investment make all of this a dicey prospect, according to the […]
Hearthstone adds 37 minions with today's Battlegrounds update
If you're still giving Hearthstone your time and eyeballs these days, today's update is one you'll want to pay attention to, as Blizzard is calling it "the biggest Battlegrounds update to date." Battlegrounds, you'll recall, is sort of like the TCG's version of a miniature tourney-style battle royale, where eight players are pitted against each […]
Ashes of Creation shows off mounts and new effects, discusses design work being done for Alpha Two
Remember last month when Ashes of Creation creative director Steven Sharif offered a sterling description of the Terror Bird mount? Well, now you can see that description come to in-game life as the mount was featured as part of the game's August development update stream. The video itself is pretty much a showcase of the […]
Star Wars The Old Republic patches in bug fixes and new looting system today
It's patch day over in the galaxy of Star Wars The Old Republic, with GU 6.3.2 on deck. It's not the most exciting patch ever, but then you probably didn't expect it would be, given that the Legacy of the Sith expansion is still coming later this year. Players should comb the patch notes; there's […]
WoW Classic's upcoming LFG tool boasts a big improvement
While the modern version of World of Warcraft's looking for group tool really got going in the Wrath of the Lich King expansion, many newer players might not know that The Burning Crusade had an earlier — and less robust — LFG system. And it's this system that's coming to WoW Classic later this year, […]
The Daily Grind: Which MMO is the best at respecting your time?
A few weeks ago, in response to our Daily Grind about how many MMOs we've all logged into this summer, one reader replied with a specific game, saying, "It's the only game that respects my time." I don't want to discuss the game but rather that concept because that's important to me too! I "grew […]
Spine is a team-based combat game that promises lots of action and even more cinematic style
So there was a multiplayer team-based title unveiled during this year's Gamescom. It's called Spine and, we're going to be perfectly honest, there is not a lot of information about this one except that it's a thing that is in development and it will be extremely cyberfuture and cinematic and ostentatious. At least if the […]
Realm of the Mad God releases its fully revamped Shatters dungeon
"After years of requests and months of development, the Shatters reconstruction is here at last," heralds the announcement from Realm of the Mad God, a reconstruction effort that readers will recall was hinted at in a roadmap announcement and then tied to the title's largest patch of the year. And now the all-new Shatters dungeon […]
Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem eyes mid-autumn for its next content update, seeks player input on playstyles
Last month, the devs of ARPG Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem laid out some endgame-focused content plans for the game's future while also not really committing to any hard release timing. As of this month's dev report, the folks at Wolcen Studio have begun to narrow down a launch window for the game's next content update. […]
Profane proudly showcases a suit of metal armor and beats the FFA PvP drum once more
Some people like cloth armor, some like leather armor, but some like the big, bulky, and (ideally) secure feeling of metal armor. Unsurprisingly, Profane will feature all of them, and in the game's latest Twitter thread it shows off the initial concept of one such heavy armor piece. The rest of the thread launches into […]
Pokemon Go subreddit goes dark to protest Reddit's stance on COVID disinfo
For once, the Pokemon Go community is protesting someone other than Niantic when it comes to COVID. Earlier this month, Reddit community leaders began agitating for the Reddit administration to tackle the serious and ongoing problem of COVID-related misinformation on the platform. Reddit apparently quarantined one sub, but it wiggled out of doing more with […]
Albion Online cracks down on PvP exploits and exploiters
Sandbox Interactive is cracking down on PvP exploiters in Albion Online, according to a thread on the official forums this morning. Specifically, it's an exploit that involves dueling. "During the duel, the exploiter will use mobility spells to run outside the dueling ring," the studio explains. "The exploiter will then re-enter the ring, but at […]
EVE London is returning with a physical viewing party of the Alliance Tournament on November 6
Fans of EVE Online in the UK or those who are able to travel to London have a little something to look forward to this coming Saturday, November 6th, as the fan-run EVE London event group has announced a return to live events, starting with an in-person viewing party of the the Alliance Tournament 10v10 […]
Director for Riot's Runeterra MMO hints at possible character models and world size on Twitter
Let the rampant speculation and assumption leaping begin: Mark Yetter, the game director for Riot Games' in-development Runeterra MMO, has put out a couple of intriguing bits on his Twitter account that have players and fans checking their chins in thought. We first look towards a tweet from yesterday that offered up an image of […]
Neverwinter answers questions about molding the D&D Bard class to fit its game
It's easy to assume that moving classes in Dungeons & Dragons over to a video game would be easy, but the Bard class is a bit more distinct and challenging. Factor in making that class suitable for an MMO and challenges likely double. Facing that challenge in Neverwinter was the focus of an interview with […]
Q2 2021: What the heck is going on at EG7 and Daybreak and who the heck owns Cold Iron
Last week, we covered the puzzling news that EG7's CEO Robin Flodin has been (at least temporarily?) replaced by Daybreak's Ji Ham, a move that concerned gamers who'd seen Flodin's candor since EG7 bought Daybreak last year as a huge boon for Daybreak and its MMOs. Ji Ham, of course, first surfaced in our reporting […]
Path of Exile addresses game balance, ailments, endgame changes, and more
Path of Exile producer Chris Wilson has been making the rounds on community podcasts, answering such a wide swath of questions that Grinding Gear thought it might be nice to gather up some of his answers and assemble them into their own summary post. That's mighty thoughtful of you, GGG! Thanks! Have a hearty pat […]
Wisdom of Nym: What will Final Fantasy XIV do for melee damage dealers in Endwalker?
This particular role is the easiest one to fill up whenever there's any column about the various roles getting stuff added in Final Fantasy XIV. With four jobs already occupying the melee role and another one slated to come along in Endwalker, there's just more to talk about than there are for other roles. Yes, I think […]
Not So Massively: Diablo II Resurrected is a lot of old school jank in a pretty wrapper
I admit I debated whether I should write this column at all: After all that's happened lately, giving coverage to Blizzard games doesn't feel quite right. But for better or for worse, it is still a big name, and its games are still big news. ARPGs are on of the chief genres covered by the […]
China now limits minors' gaming time to three hours a week, indicates anti-monopoly policies are forthcoming
The Chinese government is introducing a significant crackdown on gaming for minors as state media has reported that children will only be allowed to play games for three hours a week on most weeks; online gaming specifically will be allowed only between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Fridays, weekends, and public holidays. The new […]
Indie MMO TitanReach has apparently suspended development as 'funds have dried up'
I have some bad news for fans of indie MMORPG TitanReach: The game has apparently suspended development thanks to a lack of funding. Australian studio Square Root Studios told players on Discord this morning that it had hoped to use the game's progress in 2021 to induce outside investment, but apparently over the last month, that […]
Fortnite had to disable nearly every emote in the Martin Luther King event area
Perhaps Epic Games assumed the weight and importance of its special area dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would inspire Fortnite players to muster up a little bit of reverence and good behavior, but as it turns out this wasn't the case, as some players took the opportunity to use their selection of emotes […]
Fractured details equipment balance and progression systems coming to its September alpha test
Fractured is on its way to its next alpha testing this fall — sometime in late September, date TBD — and the devs at Dynamight Studios are seeking to touch on all of the many new things that are arriving in the latest build via a series of videos, the first of which narrowed in […]
Interview: Crowfall's Global Conquest update brings 'mega' changes to the world
Today we are being treated to the latest and greatest Crowfall has to offer with Update 7.100, better known as Global Conquest. We're expecting a slew of new features coming fresh out of the oven, including improved rewards, reduced downtime between fights, and even an expanded recruit-a-friend program. The tentpole feature this time around, though, […]
The Daily Grind: Are you partial to specific launch windows for MMOs?
Earlier in August, Nexon CEO Owen Mahoney dropped some cold truth during the company's quarterly investor call, arguing that the "charade of launch timing serves little purpose except this dance with equity analysts." Essentially, his point was that it doesn't matter when games come out because they will make money as long as they're good, […]
MMO Week in Review: WoW is a day late and a dollar short
I remember remarking a few years back during the Daybreak Columbus Nova fiasco that I was genuinely astonished to realize that MMO studio reps were scurrying around the internet scrubbing files that contradicted its ownership claims, but I suppose that was mere child's play compared to this week's revelation that state investigators have accused Activision-Blizzard […]
Sandbox MMO SEED talks cameras and previews its cinematic mode
The three week-long vacation from the dev blogging scene for colony building MMO SEED is at an end, and the game has come back with a surprising amount of dev blogs this time around: namely, just the one. For now. This dev blog is all about the game camera, which notes that the devs at […]
The MOP Up: Genshin Impact puts on a global concert
There's no doubt among fans that Genshin Impact has an amazing soundtrack, so there should be a whole lot of people happy to hear that Maestro Dirk Brossé and the Flanders Symphony Orchestra is putting on a global concert with the score on October 3rd. "The concert will feature Genshin Impact music originally composed and […]
Aura Kingdom's 80th patch introduces The Whipmaster
Gamigo's been busy this week, just not in the games our readers likely wish were getting love. Aura Kingdom has patched in with the studio is calling a "major update" as of yesterday, the game's 80th patch, which rolls out new dungeons, a new mode for Gaia Sanctuary, a touch-up for PvP, and a new […]
The Stream Team: Opening fire on facehuggers and zapping xenomorphs in Aliens Fireteam Elite
The time has come to join the fireteam and try to battle back the xenomorph menace as MOP's Chris heads into Aliens: Fireteam Elite to see what this multiplayer co-op shooter has to offer. The bug blasting starts today at 12:00 p.m. EDT! What: Aliens: Fireteam Elite Who: Chris Neal When: 12:00 p.m. EST on […]
Warframe's latest dev stream highlights the Ghoulsaw weapon, Nidus Prime, and update 30.7 features
Warframe has held yet another info-filled developer livestream that offers a number of interesting previews for fans of the multiplayer action title. Most of the stream focused on a variety of things coming in update 30.7, which will include the return of the Plague Star event that will let players put together the Ghoulsaw weapon, […]
One Shots: Fantasy updrafting
The way I see it, MMORPGs encourage us past our timidity and fear to be bold. So fight that dragon! Get a selfie with an angry skeleton! And jump off a cliff while putting full faith that your fantasy wings will compensate for that extra bagel you had for breakfast! Hikari is soaring above yet […]
The Daily Grind: What inspires you to try an MMO again?
Working around MMOs means that you have a certain amount of impetus and opportunity to try out games you played in the past, often including games that you thought were a bit lackluster before. My personal feelings toward The Elder Scrolls Online, for example, were changed from the game I'd played just before launch; when […]
Massively on the Go: Tricks abound in Pokemon Go for September and Season of Mischief
And you thought Christmas was bad! We're getting ready for Halloween already in Pokemon Go, and not just for the monthly events. The new season starts September 1st, and the Season of Mischief reveal, which was more visual than usual, laid out plans for Mischief Pokemon Hoopa to start off the three month season on […]
Halo Infinite's head of creative explains why gameplay previews weren't available at Gamescom
If you were following along on our Gamescom Opening Night coverage and are a fan or follower of the shooter Halo Infinite, you probably note that the game only had that cinematic introduction to its campaign but no actual gameplay. That's because the devs at 343 Industries are heads-down working to make the game's December […]
Lord of the Rings Online's super-speedy progression server moves into Moria on September 1
After just two months of blitzing through Shadows of Angmar content, Lord of the Rings Online's Shadowfax legendary server will unlock the Mines of Moria expansion on September 1st. Shadowfax was launched alongside its slower cousin Treebeard back on June 30th. The plan for this server was always to offer both faster leveling and expansion […]
New World tells of the sad history of its zombies and phantasms
"Not alive. Certainly not dead. Their existence is a constant agony." No, we're not talking about Waffle House employees here, but rather the Lost of New World. In a new lore video, Amazon explains how a magical fog that flows around the game's island has kept some people living long, long past their expiration date. […]
