For these MMORPGS, the rest of 2022 will be vital – they need current issues solved, more content, better communication, and most of all, player numbers to rise.
RIFT
When Trion Worlds become a part of Gamigo all those years ago, many RIFT players were cautiously optimistic. Prior to that, the 2009 launched MMORPG had just wrapped up an experimental classic server called RIFT Prime that proved popular, and saw many return to the game. The future looked bright, before it all went stale. RIFT hasn’t gotten any substantial new content in over 4 years. Earlier this year Gamigo said that a big update with new content would be coming in 2022, but it has been delayed. When it finally arrives, will it be enough to satisfy what’s left of the RIFT playerbase? This is one MMORPG that’s definitely on the rails and worth keeping an eye on.
Diablo Immortal
Remember the backlash Blizzard received when they announced that the next Diablo game would be a mobile MMORPG? Well, NetEase and Blizzard are gearing up to launch it on Android and iOS this summer, and they’ve done a pretty good job at weathering the storm thus far. The closed beta test was a massive success, and pre-registration numbers are looking good. If they can manage to sustain the hype post-launch, while maintaining a good game that’s catered for both Diablo and MMORPG enthusiasts, then it should be a big win.
Crowfall
Crowfall is in a sticky situation. Unlike other MMORPGs that go for a wider audience with the tried and tested PvE theme-park attractions and PvP content, Crowfall is primarily a PvP MMO with RvR modes that aren’t permanent. When it launched out of early access, things were looking good for awhile, but the issues began to show. Its crafting system was hugely complicated, and outside of prime hours, the Crowfall campaign maps were just empty with nothing to do for smaller groups or solo players. In fact, it isn’t solo friendly at all, which is something most modern MMORPG titles try to accomodate. In late 2021, developers ArtCraft sold everything to Monumental, an indie studio, and it is unsure if they would collaborate in the future. So where does that leave Crowfall? With player numbers dwindling and interest waning, Crowfall needs to push out something extraordinary in 2022.
New World
Amazon Game Studios has two MMORPGs on opposite trajectories. Lost Ark, which it helped publish in the West, is probably the most popular MMORPG of 2022, while New World, its flagship in-house developed MMORPG, is on a downward spiral. How did this happen? New World wasn’t even supposed to be this theme-park-ish MMORPG. It started out as a sandbox PvP survival MMO with the familiar crafting and territorial push-and-pull that offered GvG content. AGS decided to change that to make New World appeal to the masses, and here we are. New World’s launch issues are a whole different beast of course. Exploits, botting and cheating did little to help keep the many servers fair and playable, while the lack of roadmap and new content during the first three months after launch ensured that players left to return to their favorite MMORPGs, as New World had nothing else or fresh to offer. Therefore, 2022 will be a big year for New World if they want to get those player numbers raising again, which is vital for a buy to play MMORPG.
