The MassivelyOP Podcast in review, 2023 edition

Conventional wisdom holds that the vast majority of people who start a podcast don’t make it past a few episodes. That’s because podcasting is a lot of work, and frankly, it’s hard to be funny and engaging every single week. Honestly, we probably don’t always pull it off. But the MMO news start coming and it don’t stop coming, and we show up (almost) every single week to deliver it in podcast form, with dad jokes in tow. (Apparently, a lot of you guys listen for the dad jokes. Lucky for us!)

So we’re counting our blessings because this show has been running for a loooooong time, and I think Justin and I might be doing this podcast until one of us finally keels over, as long as somebody out there cares about MMORPGs enough to listen! In fact, last week, we closed out our 451st show under the MassivelyOP Podcast banner, with 331 episodes on Joystiq as the Massively Speaking Podcast before that. That’s 782 shows between Old and New Massively, fam. And in fact, I had forgotten, but 2022 Bree must have looked it up to determine that I joined Justin as his sidekick in 2012 with MS#184. That’s 12 years of Justin putting up with my talking about Star Wars Galaxies! Give that man a medal!

We’re taking a break from the news podcast this week in favor of a couple of roundtables this week and next, but for now, we’re rounding up all of the podcasts we published over the course of 2023. If you missed an episode, now you can get caught up!

Massively OP Podcast Episode 403: Roundtable and state of the site (January 3, 2023) - Justin, Bree, Eliot, and Colin sit for the first of our end-of-the-year roundtables, with the awards recap and the state of the site.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 404: Believe the MMO hype! (January 10, 2023) - Justin, Chris, MJ, and Carlo sit for the second of our end-of-the-year roundtables, discussing streaming, awards, and the 2023 outlook for MMOs.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 405: Give me throne or give me liberty (January 17, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Throne & Liberty, Skull & Bones' delay, roadmaps for the EverQuest MMOs, and John Smedley's departure from Amazon, with adventures in LOTRO, Elder Scrolls Online, and Guild Wars 2, plus mailbag topics on the Wizards of the Coast D&D mess and reimagining alts in MMOs.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 406: Ulduar and Umbar (January 24, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Blizzard vs. NetEase and the demise of WoW China, Wrath Classic, FFXIV 6.3, and LOTRO's 2023 roadmap, with adventures in LOTRO and ESO, plus a mailbag topic on the future of Blizzard.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 407: Roadmaps, roadmaps, roadmaps (January 31, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Elder Scrolls Online's Necrom, DDO's mini-expansion, Diablo Immortal, Villagers & Heroes housing, Star Trek Online's 13th anniversary, and Gloria Victis' impending launch, with adventures in LOTRO and ESO, plus a mailbag topic on optional content.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 408: FFXIV on one side, mods on the other (February 7, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Final Fantasy XIV's great mode debate, WoW's trading post issues, NCsoft's layoffs, Square's and Blizzard's financials, The Crew 3, Quinfall, and Elder Scrolls Online, with adventures in LOTRO and SWG Legends, plus a mailbag topic on MMO beards.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 409: All aboard the Tyria train (February 14, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Guild Wars 2's new roadmap, Blizzard's financials, the latest Microsoft ABK drama, and earthquake relief, with adventures in LOTRO and GW2, plus mailbag topics on Gloria Victis and our failed MMO character concepts.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 410: Cyberpunk meets gaslamp (February 21, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Corepunk, Diablo IV, Palia, Nightingale, Blizzard, NCsoft, Pearl Abyss, and EG7/Daybreak, with adventures in LOTRO, Guild Wars 2, Elder Scrolls Online, and SWG Legends.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 411: The way to Wayfinder (February 28, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Amazon, Throne & Liberty, New World, Wayfinder, DDO, Gamigo, and RIFT, with adventures in LOTRO, ESO, New World, and SWG Legends, plus mailbag topics on putting ourselves in MMOs and themed character designs.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 412: It’s a mad, mad, Mad World (March 7, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Guild Wars 2, Embers Adrift, Mad World, Pax Dei, and Blue Protocol, with adventures in LOTRO, AdventureQuest 3D, and No Man's Sky, plus a mailbag topic on Tabula Rasa.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 413: Kentucky fried gaming (March 14, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Bellatores, Final Fantasy XIV, Ghostcrawler and the Riot MMO, WoW's patches, Diablo IV's promos, and Star Citizen, with adventures in LOTRO, Star Trek Online, and City of Heroes, plus mailbag topics on humble characters and healer aesthetics.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 414: EverQuesting on and on (March 21, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Diablo IV, World of Warcraft, SWG Legends, Destiny 2, Star Citizen, EverQuest, LOTRO, and Elder Scrolls Online, with mailbag topics on extreme MMO zones and puzzles in MMOs.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 415: Don’t go into the Lightfall (March 28, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss LOTRO's update 36, Destiny 2's Lightfall, CCP's blockchain game, DDO's promo, Ship of Heroes on Steam, and the return of Alganon, with adventures in LOTRO, New World, WoW Classic, and City of Heroes, plus a pair of mailbag topics on AI tech in MMOs.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 416: Jedi mind trick (April 4, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss April Fools' Day in MMOs, SWTOR, Mad World, Last Epoch, Anvil Empires, Multiversus, E3, ARK 2, and ARK Survival Ascended, with adventures in Guild Wars 2, LOTRO, and WoW Classic, plus mailbag topics on leaving your mark on and feeling special in MMO game worlds.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 417: Happy Compensation Day! (April 11, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss World of Warcraft, New World, Neverwinter, Star Trek Online, Amazon Games' layoffs, and Ghostcrawler's new MMO studio, with adventures in LOTRO and WoW Classic, plus a mailbag topic on problematic MMO speedrunning.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 418: Big Numbers Inc. (April 18, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Mortal Exodus, Wayfinder, LOTRO, Elder Scrolls Online, Path of Exile, and Albion Online, with adventures in Fallout 76, City of Heroes, and LOTRO, plus a mailbag topic playing the hero vs. not in MMOs.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 419: Dining at the MMO news buffet (April 25, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Tarisland, NetEase, Throne and Liberty, Mad World, DCUO, and EVE Anywhere, with adventures in LOTRO and Fallout 76, plus mailbag topics on accessibility and special podcast guests.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 420: The New, Mad World of Warcraft (May 2, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Guild Wars 2's content cadence, the Microsoft Activision-Blizzard buyout, Blizzard's messy financials, WoW's 10.1 patch, the end of forums for New World and Lost Ark, the death of a whole class in MapleStory, the messy launch of Mad World, and the surprise return of Fractured, plus adventures in LOTRO and Star Trek Online.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 421: Beyond time and space (May 9, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Star Trek Online Unraveled, SWTOR Old Wounds, Gamigo's move out of MMOs, Chrono Odyssey's reveal, EVE's 20th anniversary, LOTRO's new raid, and Villagers and Heroes' housing patch, with adventures in LOTRO, WoW Classic, and SWG Legends, plus a mailbag topic on WoW's wild lore.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 422: Two Lord of the Rings MMOs to rule them all (May 16, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Amazon's new LOTR MMO (again), LOTRO's King's Gondor, WoW's Fractured in Time, official WoW Classic hardcore, Diablo IV, FFXIV, and financials for NCsoft, Square, and Pearl Abyss, with adventures in LOTRO, SWTOR, and SWG Legends.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 423: The Overwatch MMO we’ll never get (May 23, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Amazon's LOTR title and shade for LOTRO, Overwatch 2's PvE debacle, Worlds Adrift's return as Lost Skies, and delays for Nightingale, Ashfall, and Wayfinder, with adventures in LOTRO and Torchlight II, plus mailbag topics on character build freedom and the natural and unnatural ends of MMO characters.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 424: Blue Protocol, red Diablo (June 6, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Diablo IV, Elder Scrolls Online Necrom, Blue Protocol's delay, Swords of Legends Online's sunset, WoW Classic's WoW Token, PSO2 housing, Tarisland CBT, and Embers Adrift's new model, with adventures in LOTRO, plus MMOs for families.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 425: A disturbance in the Force of SWTOR (June 13, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss the SWTOR move to Broadsword, news from the Summer Game Fest, the Reddit blackout's impact on the MMO community, anniversaries for Neverwinter and Marvel Heroes, and patches for EVE Online and No Man's Sky, plus adventures in LOTRO and Diablo IV.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 426: Axing Anarchy’s ARK and doubling down on Diablo IV (June 20, 2023) - Justin, Bree, and Carlo discuss LOTRO's summer content, the end of Anarchy Online's volunteer program, Black Desert's Land of the Morning Light, and Star Citizen's crowdfunding, plus adventures in Diablo IV, LOTRO, and SWTOR, with mailbag questions on playing MMOs as a family.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 427: The promise of Palia (June 27, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Palia, SWTOR, Fractured, The Realm Online, Star Wars Galaxies, and Second Life, with adventures in LOTRO, Diablo IV, and SWTOR, plus mailbag topics on the future of WoW post-Dragonflight and over-the-top characters in MMOs.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 428: Guild Wars 2 spills its secrets (July 4, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Guild Wars 2 Secrets of the Obscure, WoW Classic hardcore mode, Tarisland, and The Sims 5 multiplayer, with adventures in LOTRO, Diablo IV, SWTOR, and truck sims, plus a mailbag topic on starting out in LOTRO.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 429: Push button, receive bacon (July 11, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss New World, World of Warcraft, WildStar, EverQuest 3, and EverQuest 2, with adventures in LOTRO, SWTOR, and WoW, plus a mailbag topic on MMO systems we want simplified vs. complexified, which is too a word!

Massively OP Podcast Episode 430: A very Diablo drubbing (July 25, 2023) - Justin, Bree, and Carlo discuss Blizzard's bizarre financial report, Diablo IV's messy first season, Palia's early access, and Wayfinder's early access, with adventures in LOTRO, Elder Scrolls Online, Diablo II, Diablo IV, Black Desert, SWG Legends, and Garden Galaxy, plus a mailbag topic on the next generation of MMO players.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 431: FFXIV Dawntrail and Path of Exile 2 (August 1, 2023) - Justin, Eliot, MJ, and Chris discuss Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail at Fanfest and Path of Exile and Path of Exile 2 at ExileCon, with adventures in Elder Scrolls Online, LOTRO, Guild Wars 2, FFXIV, AdventureQuest 3D, Astroneer, and Craftopia.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 432: Palia breaks through to the other side (August 8, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Palia's soft launch, WoW Classic hardcore realms, ArcheAge 2, ArcheAge's future, Ashfall, and Nightingale, with adventures in LOTRO, STO, SWG Legends, and Palia, plus a mailbag topic on mundane but enjoyable MMO activities.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 433: Throne & Delay (August 15, 2023) - 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.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 434: Wayfinder finds the way to early access (August 22, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Wayfinder, Palia, DCUO, and Guild Wars 2, with adventures in LOTRO and GW2, plus mailbag topics on spoilers in expansion reveals and the rogue servers of the distant future.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 435: Guild Wars 2’s secrets revealed (August 29, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Gamescom, Nightingale, Crimson Desert, WoW Classic's hardcore servers, ArcheAge's devastating merge, and TennoCon's Warframe and Soulframe news, with adventures in LOTRO, Baldur's Gate 3, and Guild Wars 2 Secrets of the Obscure, plus a mailbag topic on WoW's latest teases.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 436: Rise of the Angry River Hobbits (September 5, 2023) - Colin, Justin, and Bree discuss Guild Wars 2 SOTO, LOTRO River Hobbits, New World Rise of the Angry Earth, Gloria Victis' impending sunset, and the impact of MMO currencies.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 437: The MMO moving-in blues (September 19, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Star Trek Online Incursion, WoW's Guardians of the Dream, LOTRO's River Hobbit housing and the Mariner, and Elder Scrolls Online's update 40, with a podcast topic on the financial barriers to returning to MMOs.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 438: EverQuest what’s next? (September 26, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss the potential for EverQuest 3, the LOTRO remaster's cancelation, EVE Fanfest's EVE Online Havoc and EVE Vanguard reveals, WoW Classic's about-face on LFD, Pantheon's new art style, and Marvel Heroes' code leak, with adventures in WoW Classic, LOTRO, Guild Wars 2, and Glitch Odd Giants.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 439: The upcoming MMO show (October 3, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss a range of upcoming MMOs - Wagadu Chronicles, Corepunk, Eternal Tombs, BitCraft, Ashes of Creation, and Tarisland - plus a mailbag topic on Wayfinder.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 440: It’s fall MMO content, y’all (October 10, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss New World's Rise of the Angry Earth, LOTRO's Corsairs of Umbar, expansions for EverQuest and EverQuest II, and Final Fantasy XIV's Growing Light, with a mailbag question on which studios could do justice to World of Warcraft.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 441: A Blizzard trick or treat (October 17, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss MMO Halloween events, Microsoft's Activision-Blizzard acquisition, WoW Classic's LFD, Embers Adrift, and Ship of Heroes, with adventures in LOTRO, New World, and WoW Classic, plus a mailbag topic on the potential for WoW on console and Gamepass.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 442: Harbingers of MMO hype (October 24, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Final Fantasy XIV's Fanfest, SWTOR, Pantheon's 247 split, Albion Online's Wild Blood, Star Citizen, and Squadron 42, with adventures in LOTRO, New World, and Fallout 76, plus a mailbag topic on getting new players hooked on MMOs.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 443: Endless adventures in cyberdreams (October 31, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Guild Wars 2 Through the Veil, WoW Emerald Dream, BlizzCon 2023, Fractured early access, and Elder Scrolls Online Endless Archive, with adventures in LOTRO, New World, Fallout 76, and Garden Galaxy, plus a mailbag question on the best money sinks in MMOs!

Massively OP Podcast Episode 444: The return of BlizzCon (November 7, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss BlizzCon 2023, World of Warcraft The War Within expansion, the Worldsoul Saga, WoW Classic Cataclysm, WoW Classic's Season of Discovery aka don't call it Classic Plus, with a few bits about Overwatch 2, Hearthstone, and Diablo IV, plus adventures in Warcraft Rumble and My Time at Sandrock.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 445: Rally for Project Gorgon (November 14, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Project Gorgon's community, Wayfinder's layoffs, LOTRO's Corsairs of Umbar, WoW's Guardians of the Dream, and Guild Wars 2's Through the Veil, with adventures in WoW, Fallout 76, LOTRO, and Project Goron, plus a mailbag topic on why more MMOs don't use contemporary real-world settings.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 446: Cry ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the dogs of MMOs (November 21, 2023) - Chris and Justin discuss Tarisland's beta, Perfect New World's beta, Pantheon 247 cancelation, SWTOR's Aussie server, EVE Online's Havoc, World of Warcraft's Seeds of Renewal, WoW Classic Hardcore, and WoW Classic Season of Discovery.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 447: MMO hackers, headstarts, and proliferations (November 28, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss the hackings of Ethyrial and Fractured, Palia's beta update, City of Titan's test launch, World of Warcraft's paid expansion headstart, and Guild Wars 2's weapon proliferation beta, with adventures in Project Gorgon, LOTRO, Fallout 76, and WoW.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 448: The holiday MMO rush begins (December 5, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss WoW Classic's Season of Discovery, EverQuest II's Ballads of Zimara, SWTOR's Chains in the Dark, ArcheAge's big Unchained merge, and Wagadu Chronicles' early access, with adventures in LOTRO and Project Gorgon, plus 2023 awards teases and a mailbag topic on getting into MMOs with too much content.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 449: We didn’t start the Light No Fire (December 12, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss MMO holiday events, Light No Fire, The Day Before, and EverQuest, with adventures in LOTRO, SWTOR, WoW Classic, and Project Gorgon, plus mailbag topics on holiday gaming memories and Marvel Snap.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 450: Sour cream in caves (December 19, 2023) - Justin and Bree discuss Elder Scrolls Online, The Crew's sunset, Palia's Switch launch, Black Desert and New World's 2024 plans, Age of Water, and the Year of EverQuest, with adventures in LOTRO, WoW Classic, SWTOR, and Project Gorgon.

Massively OP Podcast Episode 451: MMO mailbag-o-rama! (December 26, 2023) - Justin and Bree deliver a mailbag show for the holiday, tackling MMO food, indie news blogging, streaming for charity, granular MMO quests, kids and MMOs, MMO content cadence, stuff we wish we knew when we started in MMOs, and IPs we want turned into MMOs.