MMORPGs have been known especially since World of Warcraft. However, the genre dates back many years, and only recently have more games been released on consoles. In this special, we delve into the question of what the first console MMORPG actually was.
What was the first MMORPG on consoles? Officially, it is titled Phantasy Star Online by SEGA. The game was released in 2000 for the Dreamcast and is listed by Guinness World Records as the first console MMORPG ever.
The gameplay of the game is very similar to its successor Phantasy Star Online 2:
- You could create a character from three different classes.
- Other players could only be met in lobbies and then enter the adventure zones together as a group.
- You fought your way through the zone, at the end of which a boss awaited.
- In the cities, you could trade, heal yourself, use the bank, and upgrade your equipment.
- There was a chat for communication between players, which could even be operated on the SEGA with an attached keyboard.
However, in 2008 the servers were shut down in America, and in 2010 in Japan as well. The successor Phantasy Star Online 2 received the expansion New Genesis in June 2021, which made the game more of a classic open-world MMO.
Gameplay of PSO1 has been embedded for you by YouTuber DiamondGB:
Console MMORPGs are only now becoming truly popular
Which console MMORPGs came after? It took a few years before the next console MMORPG was released:
- Final Fantasy XI was released in 2002 for the PlayStation 2 (in Europe only in 2004)
- EverQuest received its own game for the PlayStation 2, which was released in North America in 2003, but never made it to Europe.
- In the following years, most games did not appear for the console.
When thinking of the most successful and influential MMORPGs, titles like WoW, Ultima Online, RuneScape, or EVE Online probably come to mind. These games all have one thing in common: They were only released for the PC – RuneScape is now also available for mobile.
What does it look like today? Only recently, due to the successes of Destiny, Final Fantasy XIV, and ESO, new MMORPGs have also been increasingly released for consoles. These include:
- DC Universe Online
- Neverwinter
- Black Desert
- Bless Unleashed
- Skyforge
However, some of the biggest titles – such as WoW, Lost Ark, GW2, or RuneScape – are still hard to find on PlayStation and Xbox.
The first “real” MMORPG appeared in 1997
What was the first MMORPG ever? This is somewhat controversial.
- Some consider Maze War to be the beginning of the MMOs. However, the game was purely text-based.
- The first commercial success with associated graphics was Island of Kesmai in 1985. However, only 6 players could play together and had to type a lot themselves.
However, the term “MMORPG” was coined by the game Ultima Online and its developer Richard “Lord British” Garriott. Ultima Online offered the opportunity to experience free role-playing in a graphical environment. Players developed their heroes based on skills, explored a vast land, and could even learn professions such as craftsman or fisherman.
You can learn more about the development of MMORPGs here:
