Real talk here for a sec: I’m a smidge nervous about Crowfall and Elyon and what they portend for the next stage of the MMO genre.
I backed Crowfall but found I couldn’t get into it when it launched, and it appears I wasn’t alone, given what are apparently relatively low player counts (especially compared to those who initially showed interest) and now layoffs. And Elyon? Well, Elyon’s beta didn’t exactly blow MMO gamers away, so Kakao delayed the launch to dodge New World and then changed its business model to be more accessible too.
Now, it looks like New World really is going to be the genre’s next big thing, so I’m not saying the genre’s in trouble. And Endwalker will end the year on a high note for sure, so 2021 won’t have been a bad year at all for MMORPGs. But I didn’t really expect Crowfall and Elyon to be received so poorly. And I might have hoped for a better showing from PSO2 New Genesis and Bless Unleashed, for that matter.
What does reception to Crowfall and Elyon say about the MMO genre right now? How are you feeling about our prospects in 2022 and beyond?
Every morning, the Massively Overpowered writers team up with mascot Mo to ask MMORPG players pointed questions about the massively multiplayer online roleplaying genre. Grab a mug of your preferred beverage and take a stab at answering the question posed in today’s Daily Grind!
