We’re taking a tour back through our MMO coverage, month by month, to hit the highlights and frame our journey before we launch into 2020 and a whole new decade of MMOs!
WoW Classic absolutely crushed it during the month of August. And by it I mean “the spirits of the people who are forced to wait in long queues to play a 15-year-old MMO.”
Of course, other fun stuff happened too! Guild Wars 2 and ArcheAge announced big things! Black Desert hit the PlayStation 4! DCUO dropped on the Switch! Neverwinter launched Uprising! Elder Scrolls Online rolled out Scalebreaker! Anthem got its own Cataclysm! No Man’s Sky got all multiplayer up in here! Ug, but also Peria Chronicles was canceled, and the gaming industry got caught up in real-world violence again. Sigh.
Read on for the whole list from August of this past year.
TOP NEWS STORIES OF AUGUST 2019
Destiny 2 delays its Shadowkeep expansion and F2P New Light into October
Leyou states it has plans for both Transformers Online and Civilization Online
Portal Knights is transforming into a full-fledged MMORPG as the original patches on PC and the Switch
LOTRO announces Stout Axe Dwarves, DDO reveals Alchemist class and permadeath server
NCsoft Q2 2019: Guild Wars 2 may be eyeing a mobile version (again)
Researcher stomps the ‘lockboxes are Kinder Eggs’ defense into paste
Nexon’s PC and mobile consolidation ends up with employee layoffs after all
Legends of Aria hits Steam early access today with the PvP patch, a sale, and a free month of sub for loyalists
DC Universe Online drops on the Nintendo Switch today with GU96
Anthem just stealth-launched the massive Cataclysm update today
Square-Enix Q1 2019 financials: Final Fantasy XIV helps drive revenue spike
The ESA says a crapton of game companies are finally embracing lockbox transparency
City of Heroes’ Homecoming rogue servers have joined the Titan Network/NCsoft negotiations
No Man’s Sky Beyond gets a full launch trailer showing off its multiplayer environment
World of Warcraft: Classic will have an RP-PVP server
Activision-Blizzard Q2 2019: Revenues dip again, WoW subs rise, expanded teams en route for Blizz
Star Trek Online players play with numbers to crack lockbox drop rates
TV networks block Apex Legends esports tourney broadcast following mass shootings
VR MMO Neon Exile has launched on Steam early access
World of Warcraft provides a look at various class buffs and nerfs, hands out a free level 100 boost to players
Q2 2019 financials: Black Desert’s Pearl Abyss rakes in huge profits, builds six new games
The APA rejects link between video games and real-world violence
The Elder Scrolls Online’s Scalebreaker DLC is officially live for PC and Mac players
Zenith is a new SpatialOS cyberpunk VR MMORPG – and its Kickstarter just went live
Queues for WoW Classic’s name reservation are probably a good thing in spite of player rage, right?
Neverwinter’s Uprising module officially launches today for PC
Recapping the whole 38 Studios mess as Curt Schilling contemplates run for Congress
No Man’s Sky heads into Beyond today
Gamigo drops more ArcheAge teases on labor points, monetization, and housing
Ashes of Creation is revivifying its standalone Apocalypse battle royale mode – on Steam
Korn will be playing an in-game concert in AdventureQuest 3D and AdventureQuest Worlds
WoW Classic’s PvP server community is already at war over streamers
Space colony MMO Seed raises $22.3 million with help from LEGO (seriously)
Dungeon and Dragons Online’s permadeath server opens its grisly doors
Death threats against Square-Enix management employees force the company to cancel tournaments in Japan
Apex Legends devs and gamers clash over Iron Crown monetization
ArcheAge’s secret project is ArcheAge Unchained, a monetization do-over and B2P server
Apex Legends boss apologizes for Reddit dust-up, but there’ll be no auto-da-fé for the devs
PWE’s co-op shooter Remnant From the Ashes has officially launched
Path of Exile announces Blight league for September 6 – here’s our preview interview with Grinding Gear!
Last night’s WoW Classic AMA touched on moving into Burning Crusade and Wrath
The Matrix is getting a fourth movie – so can we have The Matrix Online back now please?
Blizzard’s new WoW Classic video takes you – and the devs – back 15 years
Black Desert launches on PS4 today – with a new video starring actress Megan Fox
WoW Classic has an LFG addon for forming groups (but Blizzard’s going to block it)
Square Enix vows to support Final Fantasy XIV instead of working on another MMO sequel
Star Citizen reveals a non-functional $600 ship at a private function for its Concierge level backers
BioWare delays SWTOR Onslaught to October, but it’s handing out free Nautolans
Funcom delays Conan Chop Chop into 2020 to add ‘full online multiplayer’
WoW Classic’s servers are live as queues swell to 30K+ for the launch
Nexon has apparently canceled Peria Chronicles as employee union organizes protest
Blizzard’s Ion Hazzikostas says WoW Classic’s cramped servers will reduce community disruption later
Wargaming’s OARPG Pagan Online officially launches today – here’s the new trailer!
World of Warcraft: Classic adds four new realms while retail tests is anniversary Alterac Valley incarnation
Games Workshop announces Warhammer Odyssey, a new free-to-play mobile MMORPG
Former Elder Scrolls and Guild Wars franchise composer is accused of sexual assault
Blizzard is dramatically increasing WoW Classic’s server capacity to combat long queues
Guild Wars 2’s next living story season, Icebrood Saga, begins September 17 with the Bound by Blood prologue episode
FAVORITE EDITORIALS OF AUGUST 2019
The Daily Grind: Is crafting fundamental to a proper MMORPG?
Perfect Ten: Why people create alts in MMOs
Vague Patch Notes: Just stop pre-ordering video games
Massively Overthinking: Thoughts and predictions on Guild Wars 2’s next big thing
The Daily Grind: What should Daybreak do with the EverQuest IP?
WoW Factor: Content rollouts and relevance in WoW Classic and live
LOTRO Legendarium: A timeline of Lord of the Rings Online from 1994 to 2019
EVE Evolved: What injecting chaos means for EVE Online
Jukebox Heroes: The best of LOTRO’s Vales of Anduin score
Not So Massively: Why ARPGs, not MMOs, are where pet classes truly shine
Wisdom of Nym: Balance changes after Final Fantasy XIV’s patch 5.05
Flameseeker Chronicles: Chairs and other oddities in Guild Wars 2’s cash shop
Choose My Adventure: I may have fallen out of love with City of Heroes
Working As Intended: We’re all full up on moral panics right now, but thanks
The Daily Grind: Will WoW Classic end up topping retail World of Warcraft?
Perfect Ten: MMOs of the apocalypse
Warframe of Mind: Get ready to rock with playable instruments
Vague Patch Notes: Random thoughts on randomness in MMOs
Massively Overthinking: Morality and compelling choices in MMOs
The Daily Grind: What did you once do a lot in MMOs that you don’t today?
WoW Factor: WoW’s anniversary editions and event speculation
Lawful Neutral: Money laundering and micro-laundering in the MMO industry
Wings Over Atreia: Aion would make a better TV show than it does a game
First impressions of Elder Scrolls Online’s Moongrave Fane dungeon, launching with Scalebreaker today
Not So Massively: Anthem’s Cataclysm is actually a good ride
Into the Super-verse: How Ship of Heroes is winning the superhero race
The Daily Grind: Is the MMO genre dead or dying – or something else entirely?
First impressions of DC Universe Online – on the Nintendo Switch
Choose My Adventure: A reminder of why I haven’t played Monster Hunter: World in a while
Perfect Ten: Creating the worst MMO ever
Wandering Wraeclast: A guide to gear at a glance in Path of Exile
Desert Oasis: The sad saga of enchanting in Black Desert Online
The Daily Grind: What’s the MMO with the biggest anti-fandom?
Vague Patch Notes: Lazy MMO developers don’t exist (at least not the way you’re thinking)
Fight or Kite: Guild Wars 2’s best PvP mode isn’t what you think it is – it’s minigames
Leaderboard: Does the ESA’s new transparent lockbox policy go far enough?
Massively Overthinking: The first 10 minutes of an MMO
The Soapbox: No, the MMO genre is not dead – but it could use a little positivity
Lawful Neutral: The long fall of Project Copernicus’ 38 Studios
The Game Archaeologist: Dungeons & Dragons
MMO Cartographer: Welcome to the Aura Kingdom
The Daily Grind: What’s a neat MMO mechanic that nobody’s trying anymore?
Not So Massively: Comparing looter shooters, from Destiny 2 and Division 2 to Anthem and Warframe
Wisdom of Nym: Final Fantasy XIV’s moving violations
Hands-on: Neverwinter post-Uprising is a mixed bag for newbies and vets
Flameseeker Chronicles: What would a mobile Guild Wars 2 look like?
Choose My Adventure: Rediscovering the simple joy of flight in No Man’s Sky
Perfect Ten: MMOs that flirted with permadeath
Vague Patch Notes: How time distorted what ‘hardcore’ means for WoW Classic
The Daily Grind: Are you making any special preparations ahead of WoW Classic?
WoW Factor: Forecasting the future of WoW Classic
LOTRO Legendarium: Lord of the Rings Online’s prettiest and ugliest places
Fight or Kite: Ashes of Creation Apocalypse is a doorway to an action-packed MMO
Leaderboard: What type of WoW Classic player are you – is there a disconnect between the playerbase and the game?
Wisdom of Nym: Final Fantasy XIV’s sixth year is the Shadowbringers high
The Daily Grind: Did you fall for WoW Classic, and what do you think so far?
The Daily Grind: Are you up for a buy-to-play ArcheAge?
Desert Oasis: First impressions of Black Desert on the PlayStation 4 (and the PS Vita too!)
Tamriel Infinium: Things we wish were in Elder Scrolls Online’s cash shop (but aren’t)
Perfect Ten: The fantasy MMO zone atlas
Perfect Ten: Ten weird things I’m relearning with WoW Classic
Design Mockument: Plausible ideas for The Matrix Online 2
Massively Overthinking: The future of WoW and WoW Classic
The Daily Grind: Would you play Guild Wars 2 Classic?
Why I Play: AdventureQuest 3D’s Korn concerts and crazy puns
First impressions: WoW Classic is fun but anachronistic
ALL 2019 YEAR-IN-REVIEW POSTS SO FAR
MMO Year in Review: Anthem’s approach (January 2019)
MMO Year in Review: The mass Blizzard and ArenaNet layoffs (February 2019)
MMO Year in Review: Black Desert’s console rollout (March 2019)
MMO Year in Review: City of Heroes’ resurrection (April 2019)
MMO Year in Review: EVE’s Invasion, WoW Classic’s beta (May 2019)
MMO Year in Review: Shadowbringers, Elsweyr, and Azshara (June 2019)
MMO Year in Review: Amazon’s Lord of the Rings MMO (July 2019)
MMO Year in Review: You think you do, but… yeah, you do (August 2019)
MMO Year in Review: Guild Wars 2’s saga and Astellia Online (September 2019)
MMO Year in Review: The month of gaming industry self-owns (October 2019)
MMO Year in Review: A ‘tough Hearthstone esports moment’ (November 2019)
MMO Year in Review: New World, Magic Legends, and ESO Skyrim (December 2019)
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