https://massivelyop.com MMORPG news and opinions Mon, 17 Apr 2023 14:47:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://massivelyop.com/2023/04/17/the-cycle-frontier-issues-the-howlerbusters-challenge-through-april-30/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/04/17/the-cycle-frontier-issues-the-howlerbusters-challenge-through-april-30/#respond Mon, 17 Apr 2023 23:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=435747 One of the many features that Yager hyped for the third season of The Cycle: Frontier was the addition of a flying monster known as the Howler. Now that this season has been released and players are likely familiar with this new threat, it’s time for them to take on the Howlerbusters Challenge. Between now […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/04/17/the-cycle-frontier-issues-the-howlerbusters-challenge-through-april-30/feed/ 0 https://massivelyop.com/2023/04/17/leaderboard-is-an-overlay-map-essential-in-oarpgs/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/04/17/leaderboard-is-an-overlay-map-essential-in-oarpgs/#comments Mon, 17 Apr 2023 17:00:40 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=435879 Is an overlay map critical to your experience in OARPGs? Blizzard apparently doesn’t think so, as it’s not planning on implementing one in Diablo IV in spite of the fact that it’s a pretty time-honored tradition in action RPGs and roguelike games that are about map-crawling and loot-collecting. The news was confirmed by Blizzard’s Rod […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/04/17/leaderboard-is-an-overlay-map-essential-in-oarpgs/feed/ 14 https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/30/wizard101-players-are-already-ruining-the-fun-of-its-recent-rate-my-stitch-feature/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/30/wizard101-players-are-already-ruining-the-fun-of-its-recent-rate-my-stitch-feature/#comments Thu, 30 Mar 2023 16:30:05 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=433295 Sharing glamorous looks is arguably a large part of the fun in MMOs, so when KingsIsle decided to encourage that in Wizard101 with the in-game Rate My Stitch feature, we were pretty jazzed. Unfortunately, the problem with most MMO systems is other people, and players were reportedly manipulating ratings to climb the fashion leaderboard by […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/30/wizard101-players-are-already-ruining-the-fun-of-its-recent-rate-my-stitch-feature/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/29/wizard101s-rate-my-stitch-update-adds-a-fashion-studio-and-rating-system/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/29/wizard101s-rate-my-stitch-update-adds-a-fashion-studio-and-rating-system/#comments Wed, 29 Mar 2023 16:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=432889 Wizard101 fans are in for a treat today as the Rate My Stitch game update goes live: KingsIsle is introducing a cheeky new system that allows players to create and save outfits, model their outfits, rate other folks’ outfits, and play around in a new fashion studio. There’s even a leaderboard. A fashion leaderboard. Given […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/29/wizard101s-rate-my-stitch-update-adds-a-fashion-studio-and-rating-system/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/28/skyforge-kicks-off-season-8-of-pantheon-wars-for-pc-and-playstation-players/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/28/skyforge-kicks-off-season-8-of-pantheon-wars-for-pc-and-playstation-players/#comments Tue, 28 Mar 2023 22:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=432676 PvP’ing players of Skyforge who are on PlayStation and PC, your time to shine has arrived: The eighth season of Pantheon Wars is now online, bringing fresh battles every second Sunday for the chance at oodles of rewards. Season 8 of the PvP affair promises argents for each victorious battle and a huge prize pool […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/28/skyforge-kicks-off-season-8-of-pantheon-wars-for-pc-and-playstation-players/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/22/ea-is-sunsetting-another-trio-of-online-games-from-the-battlefield-ip/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/22/ea-is-sunsetting-another-trio-of-online-games-from-the-battlefield-ip/#comments Wed, 22 Mar 2023 23:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=431988 Prepare to say farewell to a whole ‘nother slew of online games and a whole ‘nother reason to support widespread game preservation. Though technically these aren’t MMORPGs, they’ll suffer the same fate, as EA announced yesterday that it’s sunsetting Battlefield 1943, Battlefield: Bad Company 1, and Battlefield: Bad Company 2 in December, removing them from […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/22/ea-is-sunsetting-another-trio-of-online-games-from-the-battlefield-ip/feed/ 6 https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/13/wizard101-is-getting-a-fashion-event-while-pirate101-hires-devs-for-new-playable-content/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/13/wizard101-is-getting-a-fashion-event-while-pirate101-hires-devs-for-new-playable-content/#respond Mon, 13 Mar 2023 23:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=430407 If your Wizard101 character looks a little threadbare and out-of-style, then you’re going to want to brush up its wardrobe for a fashion event that’s in the works. KingsIsle said that it’s getting close to “Rate My Stitch,” a feature where players can submit their outfits for voting by the community. “If you participate in […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/13/wizard101-is-getting-a-fashion-event-while-pirate101-hires-devs-for-new-playable-content/feed/ 0 https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/10/dauntless-begins-gauntlet-season-3-raises-banked-weapon-xp-and-reruns-the-silver-sword-quest/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/10/dauntless-begins-gauntlet-season-3-raises-banked-weapon-xp-and-reruns-the-silver-sword-quest/#respond Fri, 10 Mar 2023 22:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=430280 Regular followers of our Dauntless coverage were already familiar with several of the multiplayer RPG’s upcoming features, but now Slayers can actually experience many of them this week, as the latest patch features another Gauntlet season, new cells, and more. The marquee feature is Gauntlet Season 3, which brings back several modifiers and adds two […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/10/dauntless-begins-gauntlet-season-3-raises-banked-weapon-xp-and-reruns-the-silver-sword-quest/feed/ 0 https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/22/new-world-patches-in-legacy-of-crassus-event-nerfs-bizarro-bobblehead-cats/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/22/new-world-patches-in-legacy-of-crassus-event-nerfs-bizarro-bobblehead-cats/#respond Wed, 22 Feb 2023 14:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=427738 Early this morning, Amazon rolled out New World’s patch 1.8.3, kicking off the Legacy of Crassus event, which my brain keeps translating as Uncle Crassius, which does all sorts of weird things to my headcanon for this game. This Crassus, of course, is a Roman big bad whose mean ol’ cyclopes are trying to murder […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/22/new-world-patches-in-legacy-of-crassus-event-nerfs-bizarro-bobblehead-cats/feed/ 0 https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/17/leaderboard-do-you-prefer-first-person-or-third-person-perspective-while-gaming/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/17/leaderboard-do-you-prefer-first-person-or-third-person-perspective-while-gaming/#comments Fri, 17 Feb 2023 17:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=426900 Quantic Foundry, the team behind the Gamer Motivation Model and the modern gamer profiling test, put out a dev blog at the end of January homing in on first- vs. third-person perspective. According to the model, which is based on thousands of surveys of gamers, our preference for camera perspective is somewhat predictable, and it […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/17/leaderboard-do-you-prefer-first-person-or-third-person-perspective-while-gaming/feed/ 34 https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/09/diablo-ii-resurrected-preps-ladder-season-three-new-rune-words-and-sundering-charm-improvements/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/09/diablo-ii-resurrected-preps-ladder-season-three-new-rune-words-and-sundering-charm-improvements/#respond Thu, 09 Feb 2023 20:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=426054 Diablo Immortal isn’t the only Diablo game catching Blizzard’s attention this week: Diablo II Resurrected has dropped a full preview of what to expect from Ladder Season Three, which arrives on February 16th. “Our first two Ladder Seasons for Diablo II: Resurrected showed just how adept your adventurers were at saving Sanctuary, racing to be […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/09/diablo-ii-resurrected-preps-ladder-season-three-new-rune-words-and-sundering-charm-improvements/feed/ 0 https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/27/welp-new-worlds-leaderboard-test-ends-with-a-bellyflop-thanks-to-war-mercenary-mechanics/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/27/welp-new-worlds-leaderboard-test-ends-with-a-bellyflop-thanks-to-war-mercenary-mechanics/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2023 19:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=424238 Testing is meant to break things and not go to plan, but the devs of New World had a pretty big stumble as the game continued testing its leaderboard system with a war event yesterday, and it’s all thanks to how the game arranges teams with mercenary players. In a normal war situation, the team […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/27/welp-new-worlds-leaderboard-test-ends-with-a-bellyflop-thanks-to-war-mercenary-mechanics/feed/ 8 https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/19/new-world-promises-more-programmatic-content-as-leaderboards-hit-the-pts/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/19/new-world-promises-more-programmatic-content-as-leaderboards-hit-the-pts/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2023 15:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=422984 As the broader Amazon layoff of 18,000 people across the company’s global workforce begins to reverberate across the tech industry, Amazon Games Studio’s MMOs are apparently continuing to hum along – and that includes New World. The New World team has apparently shuffled its community team, as Community Manager Luxendra introduces a new “public face” […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/19/new-world-promises-more-programmatic-content-as-leaderboards-hit-the-pts/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/05/vague-patch-notes-embracing-limited-time-content-modes-in-mmos/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/05/vague-patch-notes-embracing-limited-time-content-modes-in-mmos/#comments Thu, 05 Jan 2023 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=421181 Today’s column was inspired by a discussion in work chat about limited-time game modes – specifically, the idea of something like that in World of Warcraft. Not something as ultimately pointless as the palimpsest paean to elitists as the whole “Season of Mastery” nonsense, but actual time-limited challenge modes. Create an alt on an ironman […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/05/vague-patch-notes-embracing-limited-time-content-modes-in-mmos/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/05/leaderboard-what-was-the-best-new-mmo-of-2022/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/05/leaderboard-what-was-the-best-new-mmo-of-2022/#comments Thu, 05 Jan 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=416630 The downside of making both old and new games be eligible for MMO of the Year is that it can be pretty hard for brand-new MMOs to compete with the very best MMOs that already have years of content under their belts. And while we happened to pick a new MMO for our GOTY, our […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/05/leaderboard-what-was-the-best-new-mmo-of-2022/feed/ 10 https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/04/overwatch-2s-limited-time-battle-for-olympus-game-mode-brings-a-clash-of-the-gods-in-ffa-deathmatch/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/04/overwatch-2s-limited-time-battle-for-olympus-game-mode-brings-a-clash-of-the-gods-in-ffa-deathmatch/#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2023 17:30:54 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=421104 The characters of Overwatch 2 are already regular humans with some god-like power and strength, but the Battle for Olympus game mode arriving on Thursday, January 5th, is placing several characters into a more literal pantheon of gods and goddesses – namely, the Greek pantheon, if the mode’s title wasn’t a big enough clue. Battle […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/04/overwatch-2s-limited-time-battle-for-olympus-game-mode-brings-a-clash-of-the-gods-in-ffa-deathmatch/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/04/leaderboard-what-was-the-most-overrated-mmo-of-2022/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/04/leaderboard-what-was-the-most-overrated-mmo-of-2022/#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=415782 A funny and incredibly predictable thing happens in the comments of our Most Underrated award every year: Somebody, usually several somebodies, informs us that in fact, what we think is underrated is actually overrated. A few years of that and we decided to make it a whole thing: It’s time for us to vote on […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/04/leaderboard-what-was-the-most-overrated-mmo-of-2022/feed/ 19 https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/03/leaderboard-whats-the-most-vulnerable-daybreak-mmo-in-2023/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/03/leaderboard-whats-the-most-vulnerable-daybreak-mmo-in-2023/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=415773 Picture this: It’s 2015. Sony just sold off SOE, and it reformed as Daybreak and began purging games, hard – around 20 to date, to say nothing of all the layoffs, canceled in-production games, deception about the acquisition of Standing Stone, and then the weird takeover of EG7 (and that’s without even mentioning the Columbus […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/03/leaderboard-whats-the-most-vulnerable-daybreak-mmo-in-2023/feed/ 9 https://massivelyop.com/2022/12/20/pirate101-and-wizard101-highlight-a-charity-speedrunning-event-for-the-holidays/ Tue, 20 Dec 2022 23:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=419385 While the newsletters coming out of both Wizard101 and Pirate101 might be kind of thin in terms of new content is concerned, they both still have something worth noting: a charity speedrunning event that’s going on right now in both MMOs. From now until January 1st, players are challenged to top the leaderboards of five […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/12/11/the-mop-up-archeage-attempts-to-end-the-year-on-a-high-note/ Sun, 11 Dec 2022 21:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=417726 This past week, ArcheAge’s devs talked about the game’s December plans and how the sandbox fantasy MMO is going to close out the year. “We are looking forward to making a variety of updates, a new equipment tier and adding additional skill points. On top of that, we’d also like to show you some quality […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/12/05/blade-and-soul-adds-a-new-demonsbane-dungeon-an-auto-hunt-area-and-a-holiday-treasure-trove-this-week/ Mon, 05 Dec 2022 19:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=417339 This Wednesday, December 7th, is bringing a new update to Blade & Soul, and despite some of the holiday cheer that it’s partially bringing, the whole patch’s subtitle – Dark Awakening – seems pretty grim. Then again, considering the centerpiece of the new Chimera Lab section of the Demonsbane dungeon, the subtitle is probably more […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/20/blade-and-soul-warns-against-windwalk-race-cheaters-and-hands-out-achievement-bug-recompense/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/20/blade-and-soul-warns-against-windwalk-race-cheaters-and-hands-out-achievement-bug-recompense/#comments Sun, 20 Nov 2022 19:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=415239 Blade & Soul is only on week two of its Great Windwalk Race and already people are trying to cheat in the activity, forcing the devs to rmove impossible leaderboard times in both weeks one and two and threaten permanent bans against accounts that continue to cheat. As of right now, those who are found […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/20/blade-and-soul-warns-against-windwalk-race-cheaters-and-hands-out-achievement-bug-recompense/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/03/massively-overthinking-would-you-do-hard-mmo-content-without-rewards/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/03/massively-overthinking-would-you-do-hard-mmo-content-without-rewards/#comments Fri, 04 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=388520 Are you here for the challenge or here for the shinies? That’s the core question the MOP team and audience is tackling this week in Massively Overthinking. I’ve been overthinking this question for years; many endgame fans will tell you they’re there for the challenge right up until you propose that their rewards won’t be […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/03/massively-overthinking-would-you-do-hard-mmo-content-without-rewards/feed/ 26 https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/21/leaderboard-has-the-gaming-community-beaten-nfts/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/21/leaderboard-has-the-gaming-community-beaten-nfts/#comments Fri, 21 Oct 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=410698 I have to give this article in Bloomberg a lot of props for being something you don’t see very often: a piece touting the gaming community as doing something unambiguously good. “How Gamers Beat NFTs” is a nice thing to see, especially as the piece details the many ways that players have risen up with […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/10/21/leaderboard-has-the-gaming-community-beaten-nfts/feed/ 15 https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/19/world-of-tanks-details-a-new-7v7-mode-kicks-off-a-new-event-and-readies-the-return-of-the-waffentrager/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/19/world-of-tanks-details-a-new-7v7-mode-kicks-off-a-new-event-and-readies-the-return-of-the-waffentrager/#comments Mon, 19 Sep 2022 21:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=406043 World of Tanks players are going to be seeing some new things coming to the battlefield, most notably a new 7v7 competitive mode known as Onslaught. This new mode pits two teams against one another in Tier X battles where players can capture points to engage special abilities, take on certain roles complete with role […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/19/world-of-tanks-details-a-new-7v7-mode-kicks-off-a-new-event-and-readies-the-return-of-the-waffentrager/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/05/fractured-online-details-the-mechanics-and-rewards-of-guild-vs-guild-seasons/ Tue, 05 Jul 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=394893 Ah yes, the guild vs. guild competitive scene. It’s something of an expected and routine feature of PvP sandbox MMORPGs, and the in-development Fractured Online will be no less different as the folks at Dynamight Studios have shared some vital intel on its own take on seasonal conflict. Seasons in this game work pretty similarly […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/30/runescapes-legacy-of-zamorak-arrives-july-4-old-school-runescape-answers-more-player-questions/ Thu, 30 Jun 2022 19:00:17 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=394638 Last week, Jagex dropped a teaser trailer for the Legacy of Zamorak content update arriving to RuneScape, but now we’ve got even more information about this update, including a release date of Monday, July 4th, promising that the update will feature the MMORPG’s “most dynamic dungeon ever” in the form of the Zamorakian Undercity. What […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/24/elder-scrolls-onlines-upcoming-livestream-will-be-all-agog-over-billy-boyd-and-the-character-brahgas/ Fri, 24 Jun 2022 18:30:28 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=393529 Have you been having fun with the Tales of Tribute TCG in The Elder Scrolls Online’s High Isle chapter? Maybe you’ve liked the game, enjoyed trying to climb the leaderboard, or maybe you’ve been delighted by actor Billy Boyd’s turn as the NPC Brahgas. If that last point is you, then you’ll definitely want to […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/21/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-high-isle-chapter-officially-arrives-to-console-players/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/21/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-high-isle-chapter-officially-arrives-to-console-players/#comments Tue, 21 Jun 2022 17:30:58 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=393180 At last, it’s time for console fans of The Elder Scrolls Online to see what PC players have been experiencing themselves. The High Isle chapter has gone live for PlayStation and Xbox, opening up the Breton land of the Systres Archipelago and its many dangers and intrigues. Ideally without the somewhat bumpy release. For those […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/21/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-high-isle-chapter-officially-arrives-to-console-players/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/02/the-elder-scrolls-online-offers-a-video-overview-of-high-isles-tales-of-tribute-ccg/ Thu, 02 Jun 2022 17:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=390678 You’ve probably read the deep-dive and maybe even watched actor Billy Boyd talk up the tutorial NPC for the in-game CCG Tales of Tribute coming to The Elder Scrolls Online in the High Isle chapter, but maybe you’re more of a visual learner. If that’s the case, then you’ll want to check out the game’s […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/15/diablo-2-resurrecteds-2-4-patch-balances-classes-and-preps-the-ladder-system/ Fri, 15 Apr 2022 15:30:51 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=383640 If you’re still poking around Diablo II Resurrected, then this week is going to be good to you, as patch 2.4 is live as of last night. It lays the groundwork for the competitive ladder system, which technically doesn’t kick off until April 28th. Expect four different modes, including classic, hardcore classic, expansion (with Lords […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/12/fractured-online-lays-out-its-2022-roadmap-and-plans-ahead-of-launch/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/12/fractured-online-lays-out-its-2022-roadmap-and-plans-ahead-of-launch/#comments Tue, 12 Apr 2022 18:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=383034 With Fractured Online’s indefinite closed beta underway, developer Dynamight has released a new roadmap that should take testers and backers all the way through winter 2022, when the game is still expected to launch. During the remainder of spring, players can look forward to additional beta content including leaderboard, localization for French and German, and […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/12/fractured-online-lays-out-its-2022-roadmap-and-plans-ahead-of-launch/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/23/everquest-iis-level-agnostic-progression-server-kael-drakkel-is-open-for-play/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/23/everquest-iis-level-agnostic-progression-server-kael-drakkel-is-open-for-play/#comments Wed, 23 Feb 2022 16:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=376488 EverQuest II’s latest “lore and legend” progression server, Kael Drakkel, is live as of this week for subbers. First announced a month ago, the server is essentially a level-agnostic alternative server with the game’s first seven expansions. Instead of leveling madly to keep up with the meta, players will start at the level 90 cap […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/23/everquest-iis-level-agnostic-progression-server-kael-drakkel-is-open-for-play/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/16/everquest-activates-its-64-bit-client-while-everquest-ii-tests-lore-and-legend-server/ Wed, 16 Feb 2022 16:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=375401 No matter where you look in the EverQuest world these days, something huge is happening. Daybreak announced that the OG Norrath just got its long-promised 64-bit clients and servers, bringing EverQuest up to spec with modern computers. “Significant effort was put into preparing the game for this moment so we’re very excited for this smooth […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/27/valves-gaming-on-the-go-steam-deck-launches-february-25-will-you-buy-it/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/27/valves-gaming-on-the-go-steam-deck-launches-february-25-will-you-buy-it/#comments Thu, 27 Jan 2022 19:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=372448 Get ready to never move off of the couch again because Steam’s handheld gaming computer is less than a month away from release. Valve announced this week that the Steam Deck will release on February 25th, with players able to slap down a $5 deposit right now to reserve their unit. “On February 25th, we […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/27/valves-gaming-on-the-go-steam-deck-launches-february-25-will-you-buy-it/feed/ 18 https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/21/leaderboard-what-types-of-items-do-you-buy-in-mmo-cash-shops/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/21/leaderboard-what-types-of-items-do-you-buy-in-mmo-cash-shops/#comments Fri, 21 Jan 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=371068 Over the weekend, I used up some of the currency sitting on my Lord of the Rings Online account, and I want to talk about this. While LOTRO’s cash shop is expensive and poorly organized, it has one feature that I love: a freakin’ favorites section, so I can keep track of the stuff I […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/21/leaderboard-what-types-of-items-do-you-buy-in-mmo-cash-shops/feed/ 26 https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/21/everquest-iis-kael-drakkel-alt-ruleset-server-is-level-agnostic-launching-february-22/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/21/everquest-iis-kael-drakkel-alt-ruleset-server-is-level-agnostic-launching-february-22/#comments Fri, 21 Jan 2022 14:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=371604 One of the near-future releases teased in EverQuest II’s roadmap earlier this week was the promise of a new alternate ruleset server. As of last night, we’ve finally got details on just what it will entail. It’s called Kael Drakkel, a “lore and legend” server that focuses on the first seven expansions and pretty much […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/21/everquest-iis-kael-drakkel-alt-ruleset-server-is-level-agnostic-launching-february-22/feed/ 9 https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/07/leaderboard-whats-the-most-vulnerable-daybreak-mmo-in-2022/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/07/leaderboard-whats-the-most-vulnerable-daybreak-mmo-in-2022/#comments Fri, 07 Jan 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=364851 It’s time for another annual tradition: examining Daybreak’s prospects. We started back in 2015, when Sony cast off SOE and it was reshaped as Daybreak… and purged games and staffers in the process. Subsequent years have brought the total to somewhere around 20 closed games, with multiple studio spinoffs, the pickup of Standing Stone, the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/07/leaderboard-whats-the-most-vulnerable-daybreak-mmo-in-2022/feed/ 20 https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/05/leaderboard-what-was-the-best-new-mmo-of-2021/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/05/leaderboard-what-was-the-best-new-mmo-of-2021/#comments Wed, 05 Jan 2022 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=368944 The downside of letting both old and new games be eligible for MMO of the Year is that it’s so hard for brand-new MMOs to compete with the very best MMOs that already have years of content built up. That demands a separate poll where we can isolate just the new MMOs and decide which […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/05/leaderboard-what-was-the-best-new-mmo-of-2021/feed/ 23 https://massivelyop.com/2021/12/22/leaderboard-what-was-the-most-overrated-mmo-of-2021/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/12/22/leaderboard-what-was-the-most-overrated-mmo-of-2021/#comments Wed, 22 Dec 2021 19:00:41 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=365366 As our veteran readership will remember, one of our core MMORPG awards every year is our award for the most underrated MMO – an MMO that is doing everything right but somehow isn’t getting the hype, money, love, or player attention it deserves. It happens. And every dang year, the comments of that award are […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/12/22/leaderboard-what-was-the-most-overrated-mmo-of-2021/feed/ 27 https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/24/mu-onlines-mobile-companion-app-introduces-a-new-minigame-and-kicks-off-events/ Thu, 25 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=364050 Having a companion app for an MMO is a pretty handy thing, especially if you’re a player of MU Online, as the game’s MU Lite companion app lets players get currencies from AI auto-playing and combat repetition features. Now, users of the app can take up a new feature: a minigame called Muun Defense, which […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/10/elyon-takes-down-its-halloween-decorations-and-brings-up-a-leaderboard-event/ Wed, 10 Nov 2021 20:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=362032 It’s always a little sad when Halloween decorations are taken down, but it’s also understandable since we’re moving through the month of November. To that point, Elyon has put away its pumpkins and bats, but it has also brought up a new leaderboard event that runs until November 24th, which challenges players to complete various […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/08/13/crowfall-plans-a-new-system-for-initiating-sieges-shares-another-roadmap-of-content-updates-and-additions/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/08/13/crowfall-plans-a-new-system-for-initiating-sieges-shares-another-roadmap-of-content-updates-and-additions/#comments Fri, 13 Aug 2021 15:30:23 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=349605 Crowfall’s ACE Q&A livestream for the month of August has come and gone, and the devs are looking ahead to the RvR MMO’s next major update. This new patch for the game will introduce a handshake system for initiating keep and castle sieges, which should hopefully prevent players defending a location from logging in en […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/08/13/crowfall-plans-a-new-system-for-initiating-sieges-shares-another-roadmap-of-content-updates-and-additions/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2021/07/15/path-of-exiles-battle-royale-mode-returns-for-weekend-fun/ Thu, 15 Jul 2021 20:45:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=345005 Do you miss Path of Exile’s 2018 April Fools’ joke battle royale mode made real? Or did you miss out on it completely as I regrettably did? Either way, if you’ve been yearning to play it, then today’s your lucky day — and a good start to the weekend! That’s because Path of Exile: Royale, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/24/warhammer-return-of-reckoning-begins-its-ranked-season-2-next-week/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/24/warhammer-return-of-reckoning-begins-its-ranked-season-2-next-week/#comments Thu, 24 Jun 2021 16:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=341929 Warhammer Online’s Return of Reckoning rogue server has been teasing its second ranked season over the last few weeks, and now it’s almost here. Come June 28th, the summer season leaderboards are live, as are their rewards – everything from armor and mounts to trophies and cloaks. The season-accompanying patch also buffs matchmaking and the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/24/warhammer-return-of-reckoning-begins-its-ranked-season-2-next-week/feed/ 2 https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/08/dauntless-adds-a-reward-cache-primal-behemoths-reworks-to-war-pike-mechanics-and-trials-goals/ Thu, 08 Apr 2021 23:00:43 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=330781 The multiplayer monster slaying RPG Dauntless has had a pretty sizeable update that applies adjustments to a variety of the game’s systems, whether it’s for the war pike, for trials, or even for the Hunt Pass. One of the marquee features of this update is the addition of a reward cache, which runs about the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/22/ecclesia-online-offers-dubious-diablo-thrills/ Mon, 22 Mar 2021 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=328046 There’s a new Diablo-esque MMO on the market — but you may want to approach this one with caution. Ecclesia Online is billing itself as an isometric fast-paced RPG, and according to its Reddit thread, it went into open alpha testing on March 19th. However, a lot of the former information about this game has […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/10/leaderboard-are-you-hyped-for-wow-burning-crusade-classic/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/10/leaderboard-are-you-hyped-for-wow-burning-crusade-classic/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2021 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=324367 I don’t think I’ve ever seen people fight over the details of a classic server as hard as they do for WoW Classic. Dipping into the comments of our WoW Factor and Casually Classic columns shows an incredible array of opinions on the right way to move Classic forward and the motivations behind those preferences. […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/10/leaderboard-are-you-hyped-for-wow-burning-crusade-classic/feed/ 16 https://massivelyop.com/2021/02/25/leaderboard-so-is-rift-next/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/02/25/leaderboard-so-is-rift-next/#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2021 15:00:23 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=324589 Gamigo, which just bought the studio behind Wizard101 and Pirate101, cleaned house yesterday, purging multiple MMORPGs that it acquired during its past acquisitions of Aeria Games and Trion Worlds. Defiance (both halves), Twin Saga, and Eden Eternal are all on the chopping block, slated for sunset at the end of April. These were all tiny […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/02/25/leaderboard-so-is-rift-next/feed/ 82 https://massivelyop.com/2021/02/24/diablo-iii-puts-follower-revamps-and-gear-set-changes-on-pts-tomorrow/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/02/24/diablo-iii-puts-follower-revamps-and-gear-set-changes-on-pts-tomorrow/#comments Wed, 24 Feb 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=324429 While most fans are likely still thinking about the future (or the remastered past) of the franchise, Diablo III is still doing its thing, and the latest thing it’s doing will be arriving to the game’s PTS tomorrow, February 25th, with a testing focus on a follower system revamp, solo leaderboard tweaks, and some gear […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/02/24/diablo-iii-puts-follower-revamps-and-gear-set-changes-on-pts-tomorrow/feed/ 4