Coming soon to a console near you: MMOs
Remember E3 2013? That huge video games conference thing from earlier in the summer? Weeks have passed since Microsoft and Sony squared off in the Los Angeles convention center (while Nintendo posted up at Best Buy and Ouya sulked in the parking lot), but the news made there continues to reverberate through the games industry.
One curious trend seems to have been missed amid the clashing of proverbial titans: There sure are a lot of MMOs and online-focused games due on consoles this generation. And since MMOs are the business of Massively, we thought it might be fun to compile a quick list of all the ones we can find that are either already available on our current consoles or set for launch on the next batch.
The list, as it turns out, is pretty extensive.
DC Universe Online
Platform: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PC
Release: Launch title (PS4); out on PS3/PC
Cross-Platform Play: Nope!
What we know: DC Universe Online launched in 2011 and has cruised pretty steadily since then. The game already has a console version, so it's not much of a surprise to see it landing on PS4. According to executive producer Lawrence Liberty, DCUO is planned as a PS4 launch title and will remain free-to-play.
Warhammer 40k: Eternal Crusade
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release: Late 2015
Cross-Platform Play: Unknown
What we know: Details are still pretty scant on Warhammer 40k: Eternal Crusade. We know it's aimed at 2015 and we know it will launch on next-gen consoles, but that's pretty much it. Behaviour Interactive doesn't have much to its name beyond movie-themed games and a Naughty Bear title, and it has never made an MMO.
War Thunder
Platform: PlayStation 4, PC
Release: Holidays 2013
Cross-Platform Play: Yep!
What we know: War Thunder is currently in open beta and has more than a few fans on the Massively staff. The PS4 version will support head tracking, video recording and sharing, and the PlayStation Cloud. Gaijin also has a mobile version in the works.
The Elder Scrolls Online
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release: Spring 2014
Cross-Platform Play: Nope!
What we know: TESO is the MMO to watch in 2014. The Elder Scrolls series has already seen huge success on consoles; the only question is whether the MMO can do the same. Bethesda has referred to cross-platform play as "a nightmare;" separate servers will exist for Xbox, PS4, and PC players.
Destiny
Platform: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Release: 2014
Cross-Platform Play: Unknown
What we know: Destiny is the first game Bungie has made since it left the Halo franchise, and it combines MMO elements with an open-world shooting experience. Gamers are attempting to convince Bungie to make a PC port, but so far this one's a console exclusive.
World of Tanks
Platform: Xbox 360, PC
Release: Summer 2013 (Xbox 360); out on PC
Cross-Platform Play: Nope!
What we know: Wargaming.net's crown jewel hits Xbox 360 relatively soon, and it will offer Xbox-specific servers and tweaks. Studio CEO Victor Kislyi has expressed frustration with Microsoft's requiring Xbox Live Gold for a free-to-play game and with the Xbox's certification process, but otherwise this one is all-systems-go.
PlanetSide 2
Platform: PlayStation 4, PC
Release: Late 2013 (PS4); out on PC
Cross-Platform Play: Nope!
What we know: Sony Online Entertainment is naturally bringing games to Sony's console, and MMOFPS PS2 is a big one. Cross-platform play was ruled out for launch (and maybe forever), but the PC and console experiences are said to be exactly the same.
Final Fantasy XIV
Platform: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PC
Release: Fall 2013 (PS3), 2014 (PS4)
Cross-Platform Play: Yep!
What we know: The revamped Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn should hit PS3 and PC at the same time (August 27), but the PS4 version will have to wait until next year. PS3 players will be able to move their accounts to the PS4 version if desired.
DUST 514
Platform: PlayStation 3
Release: Already out!
Cross-Platform Play: Nope!
What we know: DUST 514 is a PlayStation 3 exclusive that syncs in curious, confusing ways to everyone's favorite sandbox, EVE Online. CCP claims it will support DUST 514 through the PS3 and beyond, but no official next-gen plans have been revealed.
The Division
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release: Late 2014
Cross-Platform Play: Nope!
What we know: Tom Clancy's The Division features PvP, an open, persistent world, and jump in/out co-op. The game, like Destiny, is shaping up to be part of the trend toward titles that are dependent on online and heavily connected gameplay, but not quite massively multiplayer.
The Crew
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release: Early 2014
Cross-Platform Play: Unknown
What we know: Ubisoft'sThe Crew is a persistent-world racer with a single-player campaign and a bevy of multiplayer features. It's not an MMO in the traditional sense, but will allow players to build teams for competitive play and to race with friends cooperatively. Launch for all systems is expected in February.
Diablo III
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Release: September 13, 2013 (Consoles); out on PC
Cross-Platform Play: Nope!
What we know: Blizzard'sDiablo III is already a massive PC juggernaut. The console version strips out some of the PC version's "features," like always-on DRM and a real-money auction house. Single-screen co-op is confirmed, along with online team-ups of four players.
Dragon Quest X
Platform: Wii, Wii U, PC
Release: September 26 (PC), out on Wii and Wii U (Japan only)
Cross-Platform Play: Unknown (per-region servers likely)
What we know: Square Enix reportedly has plans to bring the Dragon Quest MMO to North America, but no specific information has been confirmed. This one falls under the "TBD" category.
Defiance
Platform: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC
Release: Unknown (PS4/Xbone), out on PS3, Xbox 360, and PC
Cross-Platform Play: Nope!
What we know: Trion's video game version of a television show already runs on consoles and PCs, and the company is hopeful that it can bring the title to PS4 and Xbox One as well. Since Trion effectively said it would be copying and pasting the current client, a shift to cross-platform is unlikely.
EverQuest Next
Platform: PS4 (rumor!), PC
Release: Unknown
Cross-Platform Play: Unknown
What we know: EverQuest is, for many, the game that started it all, and EverQuest Next is surrounded by immense amounts of hype and expectation. It will launch as a free-to-play title and feature what SOE is calling the biggest sandbox world ever built, but hard details are blowing in the wind. An official reveal is planned for August 2.
Phantasy Star Online 2
Platform: PS Vita, PC
Release: Unknown (North America)
Cross-Platform Play: Unknown
What we know: Phantasy Star Online 2 has been going strong in Japan for a while now, but the western release was delayed back in March. It's unclear if both the PC and Vita versions will make it to North America, if one or the other will, or if none will.
Free Realms
Platform: PlayStation 3, PC
Release: Already out!
Cross-Platform Play: Nope!
What we know: Free Realms was the first free-to-play MMO to launch on a console. It hit PSN back in 2011 and has found a comfortable home on the PlayStation 3; PS4 support hasn't been announced, but it may be possible to stream the game through the PlayStation Cloud service.
Warframe
Platform: PlayStation 4, PC
Release: Unknown (PS4), out on PC
Cross-Platform Play: Yep!
What we know: Digital Extremes's space ninja sci-fi title is a PlayStation 4 exclusive (excluding PC, of course), and is planned as a day-one release for the new hardware. The studio just recently confirmed cross-platform play, noting that the co-op nature of the game should make the old "controller vs. keyboard" argument irrelevant.
Titan
Platform: Xbox X, PlayStation 6, Google Enhanced Reality Tube, PC
Release: 2054
Cross-Platform Play: Platforms have been rendered irrelevant by persistent mind-meld technology
What we know: Blizzard reportedly scrapped this entire project and is starting from square one. Other than that, not much is known about the studio's follow-up to the game that defined a generation, World of Warcraft.
And that's that. Lots of MMO love coming to consoles in the future! If you see anything we missed, use the "Tip Us" button to let us know.
