https://massivelyop.com MMORPG news and opinions Fri, 09 Feb 2024 18:12:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://massivelyop.com/2024/02/09/q4-2023-nexon-krafton-and-roblox-all-posted-soaring-revenues-in-2023/ https://massivelyop.com/2024/02/09/q4-2023-nexon-krafton-and-roblox-all-posted-soaring-revenues-in-2023/#comments Fri, 09 Feb 2024 19:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=479133 Welcome back to another MMO business roundup – this one all about financials for some of the companies we keep an eye on ’round here. ROBLOX Roblox’s fortunes have been bizarre over the last few years as the company has been making tons of money – and spending it all and then some. According to […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2024/02/09/q4-2023-nexon-krafton-and-roblox-all-posted-soaring-revenues-in-2023/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2024/02/08/tencents-tarisland-drops-a-video-guide-to-its-ranger-class/ https://massivelyop.com/2024/02/08/tencents-tarisland-drops-a-video-guide-to-its-ranger-class/#comments Thu, 08 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=479060 While some upcoming MMOs keep info behind closed doors, Tarisland is making all kinds of public effort to pump up the community for this year’s launch. A day after posting a video about the MMO’s business model and economy, Tarisland pushed out a guide to its trap-using, ranged DPS Ranger class. The class overview of […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2024/02/08/tencents-tarisland-drops-a-video-guide-to-its-ranger-class/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2024/02/07/tarisland-discusses-its-business-model-and-in-game-economy-in-a-new-video/ https://massivelyop.com/2024/02/07/tarisland-discusses-its-business-model-and-in-game-economy-in-a-new-video/#comments Wed, 07 Feb 2024 17:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=478900 Tarisland has airdropped in a new video about its economy this week, but the downside is that the video is a bit vague when it discusses economic activity. It talks a great deal about how its sold items will not be meant to grant any sort of in-game advantage, for example, but it remains vague […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2024/02/07/tarisland-discusses-its-business-model-and-in-game-economy-in-a-new-video/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2024/02/05/star-citizen-devs-offer-additional-information-about-alpha-3-23s-possible-features/ https://massivelyop.com/2024/02/05/star-citizen-devs-offer-additional-information-about-alpha-3-23s-possible-features/#comments Mon, 05 Feb 2024 17:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=478563 The return of Star Citizen’s weekly video digests already highlighted a couple of features for alpha 3.23, but there’s now the usual weekly Star Citizen Live broadcast that grants even more information about the patch and its planned features. Naturally the devs discussed the EVA updates and interaction button updates, noting that a later update […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2024/02/05/star-citizen-devs-offer-additional-information-about-alpha-3-23s-possible-features/feed/ 9 https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/29/maplestory-kr-begins-beta-testing-adjustments-to-the-meso-economy-that-stir-worries-among-na-fans/ https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/29/maplestory-kr-begins-beta-testing-adjustments-to-the-meso-economy-that-stir-worries-among-na-fans/#comments Mon, 29 Jan 2024 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=477351 Mesos make the MapleStory world go ’round being the primary in-game currency that they are, but apparently a few faucets for those shiny gold coins are going to be closed off in the Korean version of the MMORPG, which is causing some players of the NA version to wring their hands. A patch currently in […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/29/maplestory-kr-begins-beta-testing-adjustments-to-the-meso-economy-that-stir-worries-among-na-fans/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/26/guild-wars-2-divulges-its-new-plan-for-legendary-rune-compensation-in-the-next-patch/ https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/26/guild-wars-2-divulges-its-new-plan-for-legendary-rune-compensation-in-the-next-patch/#comments Fri, 26 Jan 2024 15:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=477096 Legendary relics! No, ArenaNet is not calling you old; it’s heralding the new craftable coming in its third big chunk of the Secrets of the Obscure arc in Guild Wars 2. “Our next major release for Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure isn’t far away, and when it arrives you’ll be able to craft […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/26/guild-wars-2-divulges-its-new-plan-for-legendary-rune-compensation-in-the-next-patch/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/21/fae-farm-fixes-pausing-and-multiplayer-bugs-reduces-decor-material-costs-and-buffs-moth-value/ https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/21/fae-farm-fixes-pausing-and-multiplayer-bugs-reduces-decor-material-costs-and-buffs-moth-value/#respond Sun, 21 Jan 2024 23:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=476327 Multiplayer cozy life RPG Fae Farm is set to launch another update this week, and once more this one is mostly about fixing bugs and adjusting features, which might be a letdown for those hoping for new content updates but could also be a boon to those who are hoping for a smoother experience. One […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/21/fae-farm-fixes-pausing-and-multiplayer-bugs-reduces-decor-material-costs-and-buffs-moth-value/feed/ 0 https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/18/palia-will-reduce-its-beta-release-cadence-but-not-its-content-quantity-in-2024/ https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/18/palia-will-reduce-its-beta-release-cadence-but-not-its-content-quantity-in-2024/#comments Thu, 18 Jan 2024 15:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=475942 Singularity 6 is apparently back from holidays and ready with some downer news for Palia. The studio’s dev update essentially begins by admitting to players that it cannot keep up with a cadence that pushed out nine patches and 15 hotfixes in five months. It’s reducing that to one big patch a month, ideally with […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/18/palia-will-reduce-its-beta-release-cadence-but-not-its-content-quantity-in-2024/feed/ 10 https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/17/amazon-explains-how-it-balances-new-worlds-economy-faucets-and-sinks-in-latest-video/ https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/17/amazon-explains-how-it-balances-new-worlds-economy-faucets-and-sinks-in-latest-video/#respond Wed, 17 Jan 2024 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=475782 Who wants to talk about money?! Amazon does, and the economy is indeed the subject of this week’s Forged in Aeternum video for New World. Amazon’s Patrick Smedley, Joel Clift, and Tony Morton deep-dive the last three months of the MMO’s in-game economic health and what they’re doing to study it (mostly data and player […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/17/amazon-explains-how-it-balances-new-worlds-economy-faucets-and-sinks-in-latest-video/feed/ 0 https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/16/fractured-onlines-duping-and-hard-drive-downtime-turns-into-24-hour-rollback/ https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/16/fractured-onlines-duping-and-hard-drive-downtime-turns-into-24-hour-rollback/#respond Tue, 16 Jan 2024 14:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=475573 Fractured Online is dealing with yet another round of chaos this week. Readers will recall that a duping-related downtime this weekend was compounded by a borked hard drive hosting the game. It kept the MMO offline the better part of yesterday, and Dynamight Studios did ultimately clean out a reported 23M duped gold, only 6M […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/16/fractured-onlines-duping-and-hard-drive-downtime-turns-into-24-hour-rollback/feed/ 0 https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/16/tibia-inspired-mmo-ravendawn-launches-today-without-the-nfts-of-its-sister-game/ https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/16/tibia-inspired-mmo-ravendawn-launches-today-without-the-nfts-of-its-sister-game/#comments Tue, 16 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=475593 Those looking for a new MMO launch to start the year or a spiritual successor to one of the genre’s oldest titles may want to pay attention to Ravendawn. This top-down 2-D pixelart MMO, inspired by Tibia, went into 1.0 release today with eight swappable classes, a player-driven economy, a political system, open-world housing, and […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/16/tibia-inspired-mmo-ravendawn-launches-today-without-the-nfts-of-its-sister-game/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/15/throne-and-liberty-details-rank-resets-and-economy-updates-happening-in-its-january-17-server-merging/ https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/15/throne-and-liberty-details-rank-resets-and-economy-updates-happening-in-its-january-17-server-merging/#comments Mon, 15 Jan 2024 21:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=475535 Players of the Korean version of Throne & Liberty already knew that a server merge was coming this week, but now the game’s official site has offered additional details related to several major resets that will happen with the condensing, primarily for those who are rising in PvP ranks or using the game’s auction house. […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/15/throne-and-liberty-details-rank-resets-and-economy-updates-happening-in-its-january-17-server-merging/feed/ 2 https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/09/tarislands-latest-crafting-overhaul-proposal-doubles-down-on-prioritizing-pve-drops-over-crafted-gear/ https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/09/tarislands-latest-crafting-overhaul-proposal-doubles-down-on-prioritizing-pve-drops-over-crafted-gear/#comments Tue, 09 Jan 2024 18:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=474677 Tencent is back in Discord today with continuing updates on everything it’s doing to make Tarisland more palatable for the western market, not that it’s expressly phrasing it that way. Today’s focus is all about crafting. Crafting, Tencent says, is complicated. And its loudest fans don’t like complicated, apparently. “We have learned that some players […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/09/tarislands-latest-crafting-overhaul-proposal-doubles-down-on-prioritizing-pve-drops-over-crafted-gear/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/09/casually-classic-12-quality-of-life-improvements-coming-with-cataclysm-classic/ https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/09/casually-classic-12-quality-of-life-improvements-coming-with-cataclysm-classic/#comments Tue, 09 Jan 2024 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=474500 I’m in a very strange place in relation to the upcoming Cataclysm Classic. I kind of didn’t want this expansion to happen at all for the Classic servers, and confirmation of its existence at last year’s BlizzCon made me audibly groan. Yet I do want my Wrath Classic Shaman to continue her adventures, and I am slowly warming […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/09/casually-classic-12-quality-of-life-improvements-coming-with-cataclysm-classic/feed/ 10 https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/03/ark-survival-ascended-rolls-back-official-servers-over-a-new-duping-exploit/ https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/03/ark-survival-ascended-rolls-back-official-servers-over-a-new-duping-exploit/#respond Wed, 03 Jan 2024 19:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=473938 Just like how there was always that kid who ruined the neighborhood swimming pool by peeing in it, online games suffer when exploiters do their dirty business in everyone’s playground. Because of this, ARK: Survival Ascended blew its whistle, got everyone out of the pool servers, and enacted an eight-hour rollback. “With the deployment happening […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2024/01/03/ark-survival-ascended-rolls-back-official-servers-over-a-new-duping-exploit/feed/ 0 https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/28/vague-patch-notes-the-ever-changing-costs-of-playing-an-mmorpg/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/28/vague-patch-notes-the-ever-changing-costs-of-playing-an-mmorpg/#comments Thu, 28 Dec 2023 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=473395 It was a pretty big deal back when I had first started working at original Massively when the trend started, and I can still remember the main catalyst. Dungeons & Dragons Online suddenly announced that the game was switching from its subscription business model to a free-to-play model, with some restrictions on play for free […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/28/vague-patch-notes-the-ever-changing-costs-of-playing-an-mmorpg/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/27/the-soapbox-the-problem-with-mmo-hoarding/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/27/the-soapbox-the-problem-with-mmo-hoarding/#comments Wed, 27 Dec 2023 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=466529 I remember a number of years ago, in an article for a game I can’t recall, an MMO developer discussed how an early build of his crafting game allowed for unlimited bag space. On paper, it sounded great, but the problem was that it allowed players to hoard to the point that they didn’t need […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/27/the-soapbox-the-problem-with-mmo-hoarding/feed/ 11 https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/20/pax-dei-ponders-a-box-price-with-sub-monetization-balanced-with-a-free-trial-and-possible-game-time-tokens/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/20/pax-dei-ponders-a-box-price-with-sub-monetization-balanced-with-a-free-trial-and-possible-game-time-tokens/#comments Wed, 20 Dec 2023 15:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=472587 Where does the developing sandbox MMO Pax Dei stand on monetization? “Well, we’re sorry to say […] we haven’t figured it all out — yet,” opens the game’s latest dev blog about the topic. All the same, studio Mainframe Industries appears to have at least a fairly solid sense of how it wants to earn […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/20/pax-dei-ponders-a-box-price-with-sub-monetization-balanced-with-a-free-trial-and-possible-game-time-tokens/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/15/tarisland-addresses-genderlocking-and-pay-to-win-boosts-raiding-over-crafting/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/15/tarisland-addresses-genderlocking-and-pay-to-win-boosts-raiding-over-crafting/#comments Fri, 15 Dec 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=471989 Following Tarisland’s second closed beta, Tencent has resurfaced with another dev blog exploring player feedback – and what the company aims to do about it in terms of adjusting the game prior to launch. The big news here is that Tencent is finally and fully obliterating the gender lock that is so deeply unpopular. “We […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/15/tarisland-addresses-genderlocking-and-pay-to-win-boosts-raiding-over-crafting/feed/ 18 https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/12/hyperspace-beacon-swtors-strange-and-fascinating-journey-through-2023/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/12/hyperspace-beacon-swtors-strange-and-fascinating-journey-through-2023/#comments Tue, 12 Dec 2023 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=470742 There’s a shot right at the end of Empire Strikes Back that’s always struck me as the most profound in the entire franchise. The good guys spent a bulk of the movie getting slammed around and beaten up, yet they haven’t surrendered hope. This is communicated in the shot of Luke and Leia looking out […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/12/hyperspace-beacon-swtors-strange-and-fascinating-journey-through-2023/feed/ 11 https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/07/eve-online-begins-its-four-day-long-vanguard-fps-mode-test-today/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/07/eve-online-begins-its-four-day-long-vanguard-fps-mode-test-today/#comments Thu, 07 Dec 2023 15:30:04 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=470770 It’s time to experience EVE Online from a different perspective: from inside of the skull of someone with a gun. For at least the fourth time. The EVE Vanguard “first strike” test has begun, running from today, December 7th, until Monday, December 11th, for those who are subscribers to the sandbox. “Frenetic, dynamic, and socially […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/07/eve-online-begins-its-four-day-long-vanguard-fps-mode-test-today/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/06/the-stream-team-a-first-look-at-the-wagadu-chronicles/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/06/the-stream-team-a-first-look-at-the-wagadu-chronicles/#comments Thu, 07 Dec 2023 00:55:32 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=470694 A unique new new MMORPG with a sizable roleplay, crafting, farming, and player-driven economy emphasis just opened its doors? That sounds like something Massively OP’s MJ definitely needs to peek into! So begins her first foray into The Wagadu Chronicles today. She honestly doesn’t know what to expect except for the African-inspired lore and music […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/06/the-stream-team-a-first-look-at-the-wagadu-chronicles/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/06/fractureds-devs-smacked-it-with-a-nerf-bat-to-reduce-crazy-solo-speedy-farming/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/06/fractureds-devs-smacked-it-with-a-nerf-bat-to-reduce-crazy-solo-speedy-farming/#respond Wed, 06 Dec 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=470439 Fractured Online’s been in early access (again) for only a few weeks, but it’s already cranking out patches, and the most recent tackles some major systems: economy and balancing for both PvP and PvE. “This patch wasn’t planned, but it was sorely needed as we saw gold and divine reward generation get out of control […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/06/fractureds-devs-smacked-it-with-a-nerf-bat-to-reduce-crazy-solo-speedy-farming/feed/ 0 https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/04/indie-afrofantasy-mmo-wagadu-chronicles-has-opened-its-early-access-doors-today/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/04/indie-afrofantasy-mmo-wagadu-chronicles-has-opened-its-early-access-doors-today/#comments Mon, 04 Dec 2023 14:00:51 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=470239 “Today is a big day. The Wagadu Chronicles is finally accessible to the world.” So begins Twin Drums’ announcement that its Afrofantasy MMORPG has officially entered early access. Readers will recall that the MMO first popped onto the scene back in the fall of 2020, when the Riot Games-backed indie developer raised nearly $200,000 in a […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/04/indie-afrofantasy-mmo-wagadu-chronicles-has-opened-its-early-access-doors-today/feed/ 17 https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/03/project-boston-was-activision-blizzards-attempt-to-create-a-steam-of-mobile-games-store/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/03/project-boston-was-activision-blizzards-attempt-to-create-a-steam-of-mobile-games-store/#comments Sun, 03 Dec 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=470099 The point of the Epic v. Google antitrust lawsuit is ostensibly about whether Google is holding a monopoly that prevents competitors like Epic from getting in on that juicy mobile gaming money pie. However, it has also been an eye-opener of gaming industry news beyond that scope, like Google wanting to buy up Epic or […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/12/03/project-boston-was-activision-blizzards-attempt-to-create-a-steam-of-mobile-games-store/feed/ 5 https://massivelyop.com/2023/11/30/destiny-2-swiftly-stops-sales-of-a-baffling-starter-pack-after-players-drag-bungie-for-the-bundle/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/11/30/destiny-2-swiftly-stops-sales-of-a-baffling-starter-pack-after-players-drag-bungie-for-the-bundle/#comments Thu, 30 Nov 2023 17:30:02 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=469771 What do you think would be included in a Starter Pack for Destiny 2? Do you envision some currency? Perhaps access to an expansion or two? Or do you think it would offer a couple of cosmetics, some middling exotic weapons, and a measly bunch of upgrade materials? If your answer was that last one, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/11/30/destiny-2-swiftly-stops-sales-of-a-baffling-starter-pack-after-players-drag-bungie-for-the-bundle/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2023/11/24/everquest-players-are-raising-the-alarm-over-an-economy-crushing-dupe-exploit/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/11/24/everquest-players-are-raising-the-alarm-over-an-economy-crushing-dupe-exploit/#comments Fri, 24 Nov 2023 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=468828 The EverQuest community is up in arms over what’s being perceived as a meager response to a major problem that has reportedly crashed much of the economies in the MMORPG’s progression servers. An update released last week apparently also introduced an exploit that let players duplicate platinum through a tradeskill depot bug, and while Daybreak’s […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/11/24/everquest-players-are-raising-the-alarm-over-an-economy-crushing-dupe-exploit/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2023/11/17/destiny-2-details-season-of-the-wishs-weapon-reward-adjustments-and-next-dungeon-launch-date/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/11/17/destiny-2-details-season-of-the-wishs-weapon-reward-adjustments-and-next-dungeon-launch-date/#respond Fri, 17 Nov 2023 23:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=467930 Destiny 2’s community team is continuing to try to make its players focus on November 28th’s Season of the Wish arrival and less on the studio’s layoffs, corporate misprojections, low developer morale, and expansion launch date uncertainty, as this week’s newsletter offers up more information about what awaits in Season 23. The post opens by […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/11/17/destiny-2-details-season-of-the-wishs-weapon-reward-adjustments-and-next-dungeon-launch-date/feed/ 0 https://massivelyop.com/2023/11/15/the-daily-grind-how-dedicated-are-you-to-wealth-generation-in-mmos/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/11/15/the-daily-grind-how-dedicated-are-you-to-wealth-generation-in-mmos/#comments Wed, 15 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=467108 There was a span of time a few years back when I heavily engaged with the World of Warcraft economy to make as much gold as I could. Supposedly, this was to finance the purchase of subscription time, but honestly? It was to experience the satisfaction that comes from getting that really big virtual payday. […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/11/15/the-daily-grind-how-dedicated-are-you-to-wealth-generation-in-mmos/feed/ 24 https://massivelyop.com/2023/11/01/star-wars-the-old-republic-previews-the-updated-galactic-trade-network-on-the-test-server/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/11/01/star-wars-the-old-republic-previews-the-updated-galactic-trade-network-on-the-test-server/#comments Wed, 01 Nov 2023 17:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=464783 For those of you who are used to the art of the deal on Star Wars: The Old Republic, you should be aware that patch 7.4 is altering the deal. Pray it does not alter it further. Wait, sorry, it’s not altering the deal but rather altering how you make the deal with upgrades to […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/11/01/star-wars-the-old-republic-previews-the-updated-galactic-trade-network-on-the-test-server/feed/ 2 https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/31/maxing-all-of-mmo-sandbox-bitcrafts-core-progression-skills-will-take-a-player-years/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/31/maxing-all-of-mmo-sandbox-bitcrafts-core-progression-skills-will-take-a-player-years/#comments Tue, 31 Oct 2023 21:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=464535 With its sights set on alpha in 2024, Clockwork Labs’ sandbox BitCraft is continuing to peel back its layers for potential players in another dev blog this week, this one about “longevity, permanence, and the economy” of the game. You know, a little light reading. And you might think these topics have nothing to do […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/31/maxing-all-of-mmo-sandbox-bitcrafts-core-progression-skills-will-take-a-player-years/feed/ 2 https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/31/new-world-uses-wealth-disparity-tools-and-trade-indicies-to-balance-its-economy/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/31/new-world-uses-wealth-disparity-tools-and-trade-indicies-to-balance-its-economy/#comments Tue, 31 Oct 2023 13:00:56 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=464528 This week’s New World Forged in Aeternum video is a meaty one, at least if you’re the type of MMORPG player who gets all revved up for economy discussion (it’s me, I’m the MMORPG player). Amazon’s Patrick Smedley, Tony Morton, and Joel Clift explain that they consider wealth disparity a key problem to overcome in […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/31/new-world-uses-wealth-disparity-tools-and-trade-indicies-to-balance-its-economy/feed/ 10 https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/27/destiny-2-details-vault-access-changes-and-further-cost-adjustments-coming-in-season-23/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/27/destiny-2-details-vault-access-changes-and-further-cost-adjustments-coming-in-season-23/#respond Fri, 27 Oct 2023 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=464091 As the current season of Destiny 2 nears its end and the new one looms, Bungie is continuing to outline several updates to the shooter in its weekly newsletter, starting first with a neat quality-of-life feature that will let players access their vault from orbit instead of having to land at the Tower location to […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/27/destiny-2-details-vault-access-changes-and-further-cost-adjustments-coming-in-season-23/feed/ 0 https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/25/perfect-ten-solid-mmos-you-might-be-sleeping-on-in-2023/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/25/perfect-ten-solid-mmos-you-might-be-sleeping-on-in-2023/#comments Wed, 25 Oct 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=461587 For today’s list, I wanted to take a different approach to recommending MMORPGs to you. I know we often talk about underrated titles, but that approach doesn’t always acknowledge that we may dismiss games from consideration even though they are somewhat well-known and -respected. You may be sleeping on some great MMOs right now that […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/25/perfect-ten-solid-mmos-you-might-be-sleeping-on-in-2023/feed/ 27 https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/14/lotro-legendarium-what-could-a-lotro-challenge-server-look-like/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/14/lotro-legendarium-what-could-a-lotro-challenge-server-look-like/#comments Sat, 14 Oct 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=459032 Lord of the Rings Online’s legendary server experiments aren’t done yet. Even though it’s been a while since we’ve seen a new shard come online, we do know that SSG is working on a different ruleset for a server launch in the future. The last time it spoke about it, the studio was cagey about […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/14/lotro-legendarium-what-could-a-lotro-challenge-server-look-like/feed/ 11 https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/05/massively-overthinking-whats-the-most-chaotic-behavior-youve-seen-from-mmo-players/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/05/massively-overthinking-whats-the-most-chaotic-behavior-youve-seen-from-mmo-players/#comments Thu, 05 Oct 2023 23:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=460261 A week or two ago, I found myself discussing Ultima Online by way of trying to convince our work chat that players often do the opposite of what developers expect them to do. It’s one of my favorite anecdotes from the annals of MMO history, although it was deep into the game’s life: The UO team […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/10/05/massively-overthinking-whats-the-most-chaotic-behavior-youve-seen-from-mmo-players/feed/ 8 https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/28/mmorpg-sandbox-bitcraft-sets-alpha-for-early-2024-picks-up-austin-wintory-and-rachel-hardy-for-the-score/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/28/mmorpg-sandbox-bitcraft-sets-alpha-for-early-2024-picks-up-austin-wintory-and-rachel-hardy-for-the-score/#comments Thu, 28 Sep 2023 17:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=459796 Earlier this week in our coverage of BitCraft’s crafting and economy deep-dive, we pointed out that studio Clockwork Labs has been teasing something big on the anniversary of its second year post-reveal. “Now the world begins to awaken,” the studio said. Well, now it’s starting to become clear what the heck the devs were talking […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/28/mmorpg-sandbox-bitcraft-sets-alpha-for-early-2024-picks-up-austin-wintory-and-rachel-hardy-for-the-score/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/27/palias-latest-open-beta-patch-scorches-cooking-and-cake-parties-with-big-nerfs/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/27/palias-latest-open-beta-patch-scorches-cooking-and-cake-parties-with-big-nerfs/#comments Wed, 27 Sep 2023 14:30:51 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=459579 It was a bit delayed this week, but Palia’s 0.169 patch did indeed roll out last night, bringing with it a theme of change – just not always welcome change. For example, the Maji Market is over and gone, and the cash shop has been refreshed with a bunch of new outfits, but Singularity 6 […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/27/palias-latest-open-beta-patch-scorches-cooking-and-cake-parties-with-big-nerfs/feed/ 8 https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/26/mmorpg-sandbox-bitcraft-details-the-importance-of-core-skills-and-interdependence-in-its-crafting-systems/ Tue, 26 Sep 2023 21:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=459472 Clockwork Labs has been teasing… something for BitCraft over the course of September, noting just a week or two ago that it’s been a whole two years since the studio first revealed the sandbox MMORPG. “Now the world begins to awaken,” the devs wrote. We don’t know what that means, but surely you’re awake enough […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/19/new-world-rebuts-pay-to-win-accusations-from-pvpers-eyeing-rise-of-the-angry-earths-item-level-bumps/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/19/new-world-rebuts-pay-to-win-accusations-from-pvpers-eyeing-rise-of-the-angry-earths-item-level-bumps/#comments Tue, 19 Sep 2023 16:30:25 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=458329 Amazon’s Scot Lane, David Verfaillie, and Katy Kaszynski are back with a new video for New World, its 50th Forged in Aeternum, and because it’s a Q&A video, there’s plenty to sum up. Notably, there are no preorders for the Rise of the Angry Earth expansion; it’ll be on sale the day-of on October 3rd, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/19/new-world-rebuts-pay-to-win-accusations-from-pvpers-eyeing-rise-of-the-angry-earths-item-level-bumps/feed/ 9 https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/19/elder-scrolls-online-says-its-wont-punish-players-using-gifting-to-swap-gold-for-crowns/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/19/elder-scrolls-online-says-its-wont-punish-players-using-gifting-to-swap-gold-for-crowns/#comments Tue, 19 Sep 2023 15:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=458302 At the top of the month, ZeniMax Online Studios annoyed Elder Scrolls Online players with a “pause” of in-game gifting, a decision it attributed to “ongoing fraudulent behavior.” Gifting is what the system was built for, but it’s also the key method to essentially buy things off the cash shop with in-game gold, using other […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/19/elder-scrolls-online-says-its-wont-punish-players-using-gifting-to-swap-gold-for-crowns/feed/ 6 https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/18/the-daily-grind-whats-the-smallest-mmo-you-actively-play/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/18/the-daily-grind-whats-the-smallest-mmo-you-actively-play/#comments Mon, 18 Sep 2023 12:00:59 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=455514 Smallest in terms of playerbase size, that is. I wondered about this the other day when I was writing up a piece that included mention of The Grey War, a super indie MMO. As I was writing it, the game’s website counted exactly 15 players online. It’s still in beta, so that’s not the kiss […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/18/the-daily-grind-whats-the-smallest-mmo-you-actively-play/feed/ 11 https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/08/black-desert-pc-raises-item-costs-to-fight-inflation-dates-guild-war-adjustments-and-adds-spooky-ships/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/08/black-desert-pc-raises-item-costs-to-fight-inflation-dates-guild-war-adjustments-and-adds-spooky-ships/#comments Fri, 08 Sep 2023 20:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=456995 A whole lot of stuff is once again happening in the PC version of Black Desert, and I’m not feeling clever enough to try and tie them all together in a little bow, so I’ll just go ahead and get to the headlines, starting with the biggest one: in-game inflation. According to Pearl Abyss, the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/08/black-desert-pc-raises-item-costs-to-fight-inflation-dates-guild-war-adjustments-and-adds-spooky-ships/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/04/closers-opens-up-for-a-player-qa-session-and-highlights-latest-events-in-video/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/04/closers-opens-up-for-a-player-qa-session-and-highlights-latest-events-in-video/#comments Mon, 04 Sep 2023 22:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=456316 Those who prefer to get their Closers information without having to scroll through the game’s usual ultra-long image posts are now able to enjoy the latest in video format instead, which introduces one of the game’s newest community managers. The video primarily provides a briefing on the latest events happening for the game, including the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/04/closers-opens-up-for-a-player-qa-session-and-highlights-latest-events-in-video/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/01/why-i-play-palia-is-cozy-and-fun-but-why-is-it-multiplayer-and-where-is-it-going/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/01/why-i-play-palia-is-cozy-and-fun-but-why-is-it-multiplayer-and-where-is-it-going/#comments Fri, 01 Sep 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=455044 On paper, Palia seems like it wouldn’t interest me. It is a lighthearted jaunt through a bright, cartoonish environment that involves building relationships with villagers and progressing through many tiers of gathering and crafting.  But for some reason, I get a warm, cozy feeling when I click the “login” button, even though I have yet […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/09/01/why-i-play-palia-is-cozy-and-fun-but-why-is-it-multiplayer-and-where-is-it-going/feed/ 14 https://massivelyop.com/2023/08/30/previewing-new-worlds-rise-of-the-angry-earth-expansion-artifact-gear-endgame-crafting-and-onward/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/08/30/previewing-new-worlds-rise-of-the-angry-earth-expansion-artifact-gear-endgame-crafting-and-onward/#comments Wed, 30 Aug 2023 15:01:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=454711 In my previous Vitae Aeternum column, I covered the big tentpole features of New World‘s first paid expansion, Rise of the Angry Earth, including the updated zone, new weapon, new housing, and mounts. But there was a lot more discussed at the press briefing where Amazon Games unveiled the expansion. Aside from new content, Rise […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/08/30/previewing-new-worlds-rise-of-the-angry-earth-expansion-artifact-gear-endgame-crafting-and-onward/feed/ 8 https://massivelyop.com/2023/08/28/player-feedback-and-a-blast-of-review-bombing-forces-world-of-warships-to-overhaul-event-rewards/ Mon, 28 Aug 2023 15:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=455060 World of Warships players have apparently joined the throngs of gaming review bombers and are taking to Steam reviews to voice their displeasure with the game’s development since the abrupt closure of the official forums last month. The latest dust-up was triggered by an announced nerf to rewards offered for participants of the Warships anniversary […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/08/17/massively-overthinking-do-you-strive-to-be-rich-in-mmorpgs/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/08/17/massively-overthinking-do-you-strive-to-be-rich-in-mmorpgs/#comments Thu, 17 Aug 2023 23:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=453197 Last week, we did a Daily Grind about living our best lives in MMOs, doing things in video games we wish we could do in real life but for multiple reasons just can’t. In the comments and on social media, several people mentioned things like “being able to afford a house” or “being super rich,” […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/08/17/massively-overthinking-do-you-strive-to-be-rich-in-mmorpgs/feed/ 18 https://massivelyop.com/2023/08/15/massively-op-podcast-episode-433-throne-delay/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/08/15/massively-op-podcast-episode-433-throne-delay/#comments Tue, 15 Aug 2023 20:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=453042 Justin and Bree discuss Throne & Liberty's delay, WoW's upcoming patch, DDO's mini-expansion, and financial reports for NCsoft, Pearl Abyss, and Square-Enix, with adventures in Palia, LOTRO, New World, and Star Trek Online, plus mailbag topics on rich economy-centric sandboxes and MMOs that need graphical refreshes.]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/08/15/massively-op-podcast-episode-433-throne-delay/feed/ 5 https://massivelyop.com/2023/08/15/diablo-iv-temporarily-disables-player-trading-after-gamers-discover-an-item-and-gold-duping-exploit/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/08/15/diablo-iv-temporarily-disables-player-trading-after-gamers-discover-an-item-and-gold-duping-exploit/#comments Tue, 15 Aug 2023 14:30:56 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=453355 It looks as if there’s another exploit that’s upending things in Diablo IV. One of the OARPG’s community managers has confirmed on Reddit that player trading has been temporarily shut down thanks to a gold and item duplication exploit that was recently discovered. This exploit is very similar to an earlier one related to seasonal […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/08/15/diablo-iv-temporarily-disables-player-trading-after-gamers-discover-an-item-and-gold-duping-exploit/feed/ 4