The MMORPG genre seems to be fading more and more from the mainstream. But is that really the case? Our author Schuhmann is hesitant. Given that MMORPGs like WoW, The Elder Scrolls Online, or Final Fantasy XIV are supposed to be out, they are surprisingly doing well.
When I started on the site “Mein MMO” in 2013, I thought it would mainly be an MMORPG site.
At that time, WoW was somewhat in a crisis, but still overshadowed the genre. WoW was the big player, the number one that everyone knew, even if they had nothing to do with MMORPGs. Although WoW was no longer as relevant after the disappointing Cataclysm and the plushy Mists of Pandaria compared to the Burning Crusade or WOTLK times, World of Warcraft was still a giant.
Additionally, Guild Wars 2 felt fresh. It had only been released a year earlier. I thought Guild Wars 2 could become the next big title and establish a different MMORPG culture alongside WoW: a freer interpretation of the genre, without the constant higher, faster, further of WoW.
MMORPGs 2013: Golden Age Ahead
There was a lot going on in 2013:
- Final Fantasy XIV had just made its comeback and was on the radar.
- SWTOR could still make the turn as a Free2Play title and develop brilliantly with the great license, I thought.
- Moreover, WildStar and The Elder Scrolls Online were just around the corner – I saw them as sure hits.
On the horizon were games like Titan from Blizzard or Everquest Next from SOE. I thought: These massive AAA titles would usher in the next golden era of MMORPGs. I assumed: This nonsense about “WoW-killers” would be over and we would be kicking off with innovative and high-quality games.
There were also niche classics worth a look, like Lord of the Rings Online, Rift, or Star Trek Online. We wanted to engage with exotic titles like Tera or Dragon’s Prophet on the site. In Asia, people were already talking about gems like ArcheAge and Blade and Soul.
No question: Mein MMO would primarily focus on MMORPGs. Golden times were ahead. That’s what I thought in 2013.
Focus Shifted to Other Online Games Between 2013 and 2018
When I look back at the last few years, I see very little of that.
Sure, we have WoW news almost every day. We have updates on Final Fantasy XIV and Black Desert, news about Guild Wars 2 or The Elder Scrolls Online. We also cover Asian games or provide insights on the crowdfunding MMORPGs that have been interesting for years but are still nowhere in sight.
However, our readers’ interest has mostly been elsewhere in recent years. Other games dominated online gaming: shooters like Destiny, Warframe, or The Division, games like PUBG or Fortnite that are seemingly made for Twitch. Games that focus on eSports, like LoL or Overwatch.
Recently, there has also been the coop RPG Monster Hunter: World, which players perceive as a refreshing change amidst all the discussion of DLCs and microtransactions that otherwise accompany online gaming and drag it down.
In recent years, MMORPGs have somewhat faded from the focus of online gaming.
What Has Happened to MMORPGs in Recent Years?
No question about it. The golden era, which was dreamed of in 2013, never came.
- Titan was scrapped by Blizzard because the game apparently no longer matched the spirit of the times. From the remnants, Blizzard created Overwatch and earned huge sums.
- Everquest Next never saw the light of day. It seems that this was overly ambitious and never came together properly.
- The Asian games have nearly all faded into niche status. Some say that Free2Play players devour MMORPGs like a locust swarm: first, they all gather around a new game, only to leave shortly thereafter.
- WildStar almost fizzled out. After that, no major western MMORPG has been announced. For four years now, no publisher has really dared to tackle the topic – although there are subtle MMORPG sprouts emerging recently.
2015 Was the Low Point for MMORPGs
At the beginning of 2015, the MMORPG world looked quite bleak:
- The PC releases of WildStar and The Elder Scrolls Online turned out to be flops
- WoW reached a low point with “Warlords of Draenor”
- There was no tangible western MMORPG that fans were really waiting for
It looked grim – there were no major hopes on the horizon in 2015.
2018 Looks Much Better
Today, when we look at the MMORPG genre, the perspective has improved significantly.
Of the new MMORPGs and potential titles we had on the radar in 2013, ultimately two games have prevailed:
- The Elder Scrolls Online has succeeded by fully embracing the “The Elder Scrolls” legacy, focusing on story and freedom
- Black Desert has found a niche somewhere in the intersection of fans of sandbox, PvP, and grind
But these two games alone do not define the turnaround. Overall, the MMORPG market has become broader and more interesting.
WoW has recovered. Final Fantasy XIV has developed properly. Guild Wars 2 is in a better place after the “Path of Fire” expansion than after the weak Heart of Thorns.
Existing MMORPG Hits Engulf Themselves
Only a few MMORPGs that were big in 2013 have truly disappeared by 2018. Most are still doing well. However, they are no longer the phenomenon they once were. They have lost their luster outside of their niche.
Instead of having one big lighthouse game like “World of Warcraft”, today there are four or five first-tier MMORPGs that are perceived as “successful” and “good”. Even games outside this top tier have their fans.
The MMORPGs that were a hit back then are still around: They are bringing out expansions and exciting players. But somehow MMORPGs have fallen out of trend.
Their external impact has diminished over time. They have moved more under the radar of mainstream gaming, which is now focused on games like Fortnite.
The publishers have reacted. One gets the feeling that games like WoW or Guild Wars 2 are now placing more value on retaining existing players or winning back old ones than on exciting new players. They are enveloping themselves.
Because today they are courting a gamer generation that prefers fast gameplay and direct feedback. It is difficult to attract them with the appeal of MMORPGs that hope players will immerse themselves in a world for years.
A Counter-Movement Is Apparent
However, in recent months, it has become apparent that this calm also has its allure. Games like Final Fantasy XIV or The Elder Scrolls Online seem to be able to retain and even win back players with their slow development tactics.
They are issuing success stories:
- There are reports of Final Fantasy XIV: We have never had more paying subscribers than now.
- At ESO they rave about being a success under the radar.
- Black Desert dreams of a port to PS4 and Xbox One and a shining future
It is clear: MMORPGs may be more “out” in 2018 than in 2013, but in this niche, older titles are partly flourishing and making their fans happy, who don’t let anything come between them.
Waiting for the Next Big Thing – MMORPG Fans Are Fragmented
However, it seems that the unbound MMORPG fans out there are all waiting for the next big thing.
In the past, there was always a “next MMORPG” to look forward to. That is no longer the case.
Since there are no “big, new western MMORPGs” anymore, the interest of unbound fans is spreading across the existing MMORPGs. Some see them as a kind of placeholder to pass the time until the MMORPG they are really waiting for comes out.
Which game ultimately binds these unbound fans is the exciting question:
- Will it be a crowdfunding game like Ashes of Creation or Crowfall?
- Will an Asia MMORPG like Lost Ark or Bless be the next big thing?
- Or can an established game rise again?
Here are some interesting candidates for the next big thing:
It is clear that when looking at what has changed in MMORPGs between 2013 and 2018: MMORPGs have perhaps become even more of a niche genre than before, but in this niche, things are developing in a much more colorful and vibrant way than one could have guessed back in 2015.
I am curious to see how the next five years will unfold.
In our irregular series “State of Play”, we look at the current state of the MMORPG market. The last article in the series was published about a year ago:
State of Play: Where do the MMORPGs WoW, ESO, GW2, FF14, and Black Desert stand in early 2017?
