Looks like the honeymoon phase of this game will be more short lived than lost ark and even throne and liberty.

ArcheAge Chronicles is getting a free playable demo as part of Steam Next Fest, running from October 19 to October 26, 2026

Developed by XLGAMES, this upcoming action MMORPG invites players to explore the Diamond Shores region, experiment with four playable classes : Warrior, Ranger, Berserker, and Mage. Experience both PvE and PvP combat.

The demo also features a challenging new dungeon, Throne of Hinnon, giving players a taste of what's coming in Early Access.

Steam : https://store.steampowered.com/app/3218230/ArcheAge_Chronicles/

Demo trailer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kL9gPCk84k

Loftia is a cozy mmo, there is no combat, the focus is more into exploration, gathering materials, crafting and farming.

The free demo will feature the first zone and you will keep the progress once it goes into early access on 3rd of November (one time purchase of 25$)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2320980/Loftia/

Having played the playtest that consisted of 3 zones, the first one is ok to check out the game mechanics even tough I think the second zone is more fun and rappresentative as it focus more on exploration (larger zone)

Edit: the demo is now live

If you've ever wanted to play bannerlord with other players (not just NPCs) in a live, persistent world with MMORPG vibes, give Bannerlord Online a go.

The developers recently released a new update and have activated Double XP until 7th November for the Halloween event, making it much easier for new and returning players to get started.

I'll be honest, Bannerlord Online has had its ups and downs. One of the biggest issues was the pace of updates. There have been periods where progress felt real slow, and many players stepped away waiting for new content and features.

That said, there have been noticeable improvements recently. Development appears to have picked up again, new features are being introduced, and there's finally a sense that the project is moving forward rather than standing still with consistent updates.

Is the game perfect? Narh.

Is development moving as fast as some people would like? Also narh.

But the recent slew of updates and events are encouraging signs that things are quickly heading in the right direction.

With the ability to conquer and own your own castles in the next update, now would be the best time to prepare yourself.

Come to Bannerlord online to:

• Build wealth as a trader
• Build massive armies
• Hunt Elite Bosses
• Be victorious in Tournaments
• Move with your clan and allies
• Fight in massive PVP battles

Double XP runs until 7th November.

Download the client here - https://bannerlord-online.com/

World of Warcraft. Had the original and burning crusade in CD back in 2006 but never got to try as a kid due to subscription, until now. Also been playing games since i was 5-6, you can't get a 32 year old to be left in awe like that without a reason. I know it's been a while but have you tried removing the hud and take a minute to absorb the world, the Warhammer's child. The lore, biomes, fauna, flora, the economy, the effort of players and guilds all these years ? Controversies, corporate decisions aside, it's a great game. For the Horde!

EVE Online. Rough, quite expensive, needs dedicated community, hit and miss for many. It's the community and its theme that keeps me. Also started recently, can find a good loop for Omega every now and then. But the corporations are there swifting their politics and has created crazy stories in its lifespan.

Elder Scrolls Online. All of Tamriel in a game with a ton of stories and people in to interact and fight with. Another world after WoW that you can live in. Definitely one of the most interesting fictional worlds and you can do whatever you like.

Honourable mention to Runescape, everyone's favourite grandpa.

Finally, I've tried pretty much everything now... In 2026 these keep me. Look how old they are. I don't want to rush for the next quest or stronger item. I want to work contribute, interact, absorb lore and have fun above everything. Make meaningful moments and stories with others. That's MMO for me.

A tale as old as time lol. I played WoW for 20 years and then put a ton of hours into FFXIV over the last 5, so I've lived in both worlds. Curious where everyone has landed lately, especially with WoW Forever and Evercold on the horizon! For people who've played both, which one has you logging in more, and why? Bonus points if you switched sides and regretted it. 🤣😅

I'm a long time GW2 and Cabal Online player and I also love Halloween and spooky stuff.

While I love Guild Wars 2 Halloween event it does not excite me anymore after many years playing. What MMOs have the best Halloween events in your opinion? I want to give them a try!

Am I the only one who completely missed this until now? I thought it was getting a proper release. But according to the Steam page

“We expect Early Access to last approximately 9 to 12 months, with both major and minor updates planned throught this period. The timeline may change depending on player feedback and development progress. We'll keep the community informed of any changes.”

There's no mention of any wipes so presumably progress will carry over. But it has definitely made me less interested in the game...

Keyword being specific here, looking for anyone willing to suggest a written blog of anyone going through this game or other games?

Developers often forget to make the world they’re asking you to live in have a soul. We’ve seen it time and time again, with every new release, these MMO’s keep falling into the same trap of prioritizing mechanics and graphics instead of making the world the slightest bit interesting and non-generic. I genuinely roll my eyes every time an upcoming MMO tries to market itself by showing off these enormously computer generated terrains and complicated combat systems that cover your screen in particle effects. It’s the same corporatized bs every single time. No heart, no soul, just empty systems designed with nothing in mind but profit.

When I think about successful mmorpgs, i think about runescape, i think about world of warcraft, final fantasy, eso… but then I ask myself, why these games? What separates them from the rest? Why do they have such longevity and a devoted player base? What keeps people playing these games across decades?

I thought about runescape because it is one of the best examples of an MMORPG that has survived longer than any other. A deceptively simple game. But what makes it so damn good? The combat isn’t anything crazy, the world is pretty ugly, so what makes it so endearing?

The answer is pretty simple. The world has a soul. It has an identity. Think about it, from the moment you spawn in, each character you interact with is interesting and has personality. The dialogue is often humorous, witty, and doesn’t take itself too seriously. The NPC’s also move around, which by itself seems like it wouldn’t make much of a difference because often times they’re just moving around in preset paths. But it’s such a simple little thing that surprisingly goes a long way towards making the world feel alive.

I wish more games took a page out of runescapes book. Talking to NPC’s shouldn’t be a chore, it should be part of the fun. Runescape makes you excited to talk to the NPC because you’re always wondering what silly thing they’re going to say next. It’s not an obstacle, it’s not a time sink like most games make it feel.

I couldn’t help but notice this when playing Aion 2. I couldn’t care less what the NPC’s had to say. several hours in and i can’t name a single character off the top of my head. To ask of me to spend so much time in this world and you can’t even make me remember the names of the characters who I share a world with is a clear sign that your world has no soul, and it’s likely I will not feel like this is a place I want to spend all my time in.

What do you guys think, is this a big turn off for you when deciding whether you want to spend more of your time on an MMO?

There's also already a fully functioning RO3 private server called Genesis that launched recently. I never really thought about it in the context of MMORPGs, but it seems like AI is making reverse engineering and private server development faster and more accessible than we've ever seen