The end of MMORPG? – we analyze the current and future condition of online RPGs
The 12-year long rule of World of Warcraft is an impressive feat, but it hides a grim reflection on the current condition of the MMORPG genre. Are Asian and/or mobile free-to-play games its only hope?
Table of Contents
- The end of MMORPG? – we analyze the current and future condition of online RPGs
- New MMORPGs fail to impress
- US games come out on top against Europe
- What lies in store for MMORPGs?
New MMORPGs fail to impress
Let’s return to modern times, i.e. 2016. Black Desert Online is a fairly new presence on the market, a game that, despite some problems with the publisher, has gained a significant attention from the gamers. Besides BDO, we have Blade & Soul, originally released back in 2012, but only recently, in early 2016, reaching the English-speaking audience. While these two are not the most popular MMOs out there, they’re certainly not doing bad. I could also mention Riders of Icarus and Revelation Online. The former turned out to be yet another damp squib, and the latter, not yet officially released, can become something completely else before it hits the stores. None of them, however, seem to be capable of changing anything in the current market situation.
All right, here’s what we know: the current, undisputed leader is an old game, with a long history, and a recognizable, well-known setting. Trailing behind it, we have a sequel to a famous predecessor (Guild Wars 2), an online installment to an equally recognizable RPG series (The Elder Scrolls Online), and an MMORPG from a legendary brand that is Final Fantasy. We can easily say that the top spots were taken exclusively by well-established franchises. Still, it would be good to see some tangible numbers.
Let’s take a look at the data provided by SuperData Research – the company deals in market research and the numbers they present seem to be reflecting the current situation rather well. According to them, the MMO genre is currently dominated by League of Legends. When it comes to MMORPGs, World of Warcraft remains on top, followed by Fantasy Westward Journey Online II (has any of you ever heard anything about this game?). Lineage 1, MapleStory, and Blade & Soul take positions 2, 3, and 4, respectively – with the latter still being based on monthly subscription in Korea. It needs to be noted, however, that in general free-to-plays are in the best position. The micropayments, optional in theory, unavoidable in practice, are generating a nice, hefty amount of money.
Asia is the heart of MMO
But let’s focus on another aspect of this summary. According to the date provided by SuperData Research, MMOs (including MMORPGs) are generating the biggest local revenue in Asia. Europe comes second, and behind it the US. Western gamers spend, on average, from 10 to 15 dollars a month on fees or digital merchandise. In Asia, gamers usually pay by the hour to be able to play their games. Regardless, the games from the genre that interests us right now (MMORPGs) don’t earn in Europe as much as their developers would like them to. They were supplanted by various, usually free, MMO derivatives, such as League of Legends and World of Tanks, for example. Asians, by the way, are going crazy about CrossFire right now.
There’s something about Asia – that much is certain. Not only is the region full of dedicated players, it’s also the area where free-to-play works best, and, what’s more, that’s the region that provides the biggest number of new games. Listing all games that were released since 2004 would take too much time and space, so I’ll focus on the most important ones. Now, let’s see where they come from.
Prominent MMORPGs since 2004
Europe, USA, and Canada | Asia |
Wurm Online – Code Club AB, Sweden | KAL Online – Inixsoft, South Korea |
Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures – FunCom, Norway | Knight Online – MGame, South Korea |
Allods Online – Astrum Nival, Russia | Rakion – Softnyx, South Korea |
The Secret World – FunCom, Norway | Silkroad Online – Joymax, South Korea |
Skyforge – Allods Team, Russia | Eudemons Online – TQ Digital Entertainment, China |
EverQuest II – Daybreak Game Company, USA | Rappelz – Gala Lab, South Korea |
Guild Wars – ArenaNet, USA | 9Dragons – Indy21, South Korea |
Dungeons & Dragons Online – Turbine, USA | Metin 2 – Ymir Entertainment, South Korea |
Lord of the Rings Online –Turbine, USA | Shaiya – Sonora Entertainment, South Korea |
Warhammer Online, Mythic, USA | 4Story – Zemi Interactive, South Korea |
Champions Online – Cryptic Studios, USA | Dekaron – Game-Hi, South Korea |
Star Trek Online – Cryptic Studios, USA | CABAL Online – ESTsoft, South Korea |
DC Universe Online – Daybreak Game Company, USA | Requiem: Memento Mori – Gravity Corporation, South Korea |
RIFT – Trion Worlds, USA | Runes of Magic – Runewaker Entertainment, Taiwan |
Forsaken World – Perfect World Entertainment, USA | Aion – NCsoft, South Korea |
Star Wars: The Old Republic – BioWare, Canada | Vindictus – devCAT, South Korea |
Guild Wars 2 – ArenaNet, USA | Eden Eternal – X-Legend, Taiwan |
Defiance – Trion Worlds, USA | TERA – Bluehole Studio, South Korea |
Neverwinter – Cryptic Studios, USA | Age of Wulin – Snail Games, China |
The Elder Scrolls Online – ZeniMax Online Studios, USA | Dragon’s Prophet – Runewaker Entertainment, Taiwan |
WildStar – Carbine, USA | Final Fantasy XIV – Square Enix, Japan |
Black Gold Online – Snail Games, China | |
ArcheAge – XL Games, South Korea | |
CABAL 2 – ESTsoft, South Korea | |
Blade & Soul – Team Bloodlust, South Korea | |
Black Desert Online – Pearl Abyss, South Korea | |
Tree of Savior – IMC Games, South Korea | |
Riders of Icarus – WeMade Entertainment, South Korea |
Additionally, the column with Asian games should include a whole second list comprised of games that never appeared on the Western market. That said, I’m pretty sure that even some of the titles on this list are unknown to Western players. Still, Asian developers have dominated the market with sheer numbers. When it comes to popularity, though, it’s Blizzard and their World of Warcraft that takes the cake, and yet retains the monthly-fee subscription. The same goes for Final Fantasy XIV, which also pays for itself with subscriptions – although FFXIV comes from a Japanese developer. The remaining two leaders, Guild Wars 2 and The Elder Scrolls Online, are based on buy-to-play model and were developed by American companies.
