Massively's MMO guide to the 2014 winter holidays
Winter break: that time of year when I think woohoo time to sit around all day in my jammies and play video games but instead I have to work and bake junk food and wrap presents and go to family gatherings. First world MMO problems, right? Those of you who get to game this week better bank some experience points for me, and maybe check out some of the MMORPG genre's winter holiday events and promotions, conveniently rounded up for you in our guide below. The list isn't exhaustive, so feel free to chime in with any we've missed that you love.
Happy holidays from the Massively crew!
Age of Conan: AoC is running several sub and advanced character promotions.
Aion: The Solorius Festival returns, this year with multiple events, including Gank the Grankers and Frozen Magic.
Allods Online: Snag two weeks of free playtime on the premium server as part of the Librarium winter event.
Anarchy Online: AO is offering several membership promotions through January 6th, and Santaleet is back in the major cities of Rubi-Ka.
APB Reloaded: APB has embraced the holiday spirit with its 12 Deaths of Christmas event.
ArcheAge: Enjoy the debut of the Winter Maiden Festival. Hint: It's plushies galore.
Champions Online: Wanna make your superhero ride around in Santa's sleigh? You can do that now. The Black Harlequin event has returned as well!
City of Steam: Players can snag a chance to win a holiday gift via the game's Facebook page.
Dark Age of Camelot: Midwinter descends upon the three realms. Bonuses to lots of activities are live for the next several weeks.
Darkfall: Darkfall has loosed its Christmas patch and Frost Fest event.
DC Universe Online: Confront Larfleeze's Orange Lantern Corp for new goodies like base items.
Defiance: The Volge are trying to ruin the Solstice Celebration! Those jerks! Get 'em!
Destiny: "Be on the lookout for some small stocking stuffers sometime after the Holidays have come and gone."
Dota 2: Shed a tear for Frostivus, which won't run this year thanks to engine changes.
Dragon's Prophet: The Silver Dragon Festival is live through January 15th.
Dungeons & Dragons Online: Turbine's handing out snowy owlbear minipets via social media.
DUST 514: 12 Days of Dust is on in this MMOFPS.
EverQuest & EverQuest II: Frostfell returns to both versions of Norrath.
EVE Online: CCP has granted a number of gifts and multiple character training for 20 days to all paying accounts.
Final Fantasy XI: XI's version of the Starlight Celebration involves hostages and hats and moogles because of course it does.
Final Fantasy XIV: Once again this year, FFXIV has ushered in the Starlight Celebration; it runs until December 31st.
Firefall: Wintertide has arrived with new daily achievements and rewards.
Forsaken World: It's Christmas in Eyrda!
Guild Wars: Classic Guild Wars, as always, celebrates Wintersday with the Grenth vs. Dwayna showdown.
Guild Wars 2: GW2 is celebrating Wintersday with a mix of old and new activities.
League of Legends: Snowdown brings sales and skins and new game modes to the biggest online game in the world.
LEGO Minifigures Online: Funcom's LEGO romp is hosting a holiday competition.
Lineage 2: L2 has a nice long set of holiday events and sales that run until January 7th
Lord of the Rings Online: The Yule Festival is live in Middle-earth.
MapleStory: MS dropped the Shining Star patch and area.
Marvel Heroes: The 12 Days of Winter Festival, Winter Wonderland, and half-off sale ought to keep you content.
Neverwinter: "In the village of Twilight Tor / The Simril lanterns glow / As gift-givers, merrymakers, and otherwise celebrants / Revel in falling snow."
Order & Chaos Online: Merry Mayhem brings all-new content.
Pirate101 & Wizard101: Enjoy the 12 days of the Spiral promotion.
PlanetSide 2: It's Auraximas, which means it's snowmen-murdering time. Think I'm kidding? Nope.
RIFT: Fae Yule returns! Now is your chance to get the rideable ferret of your dreams. What?
RuneScape: Jagex has been running the Festive Cheer event all month long!
SMITE: The MOBA has kicked off its take on Saturnalia, though I'm not convinced the ancient Romans cared too much about free gems, yeah?
Star Trek Online: Q's Winter Wonderland is back, this year with a new pie eating contest with Neelix.
Star Wars: The Old Republic: Lifeday has returned. I'm sorry. But the Cartel Market is also running daily sales.
Swordsman: The martial arts MMO has a holiday login event and Christmas gifting.
TERA: TERA has declared it Snowbelle Wrap Season. Now the holidays can properly proceed.
The Secret World: It's a Christmas conspiracy!
Trove: Snowfest is "the new holiday event taking Trove by storm." Groan!
Ultima Online: Santa's bringing gifts to wintry Britannia.
Villagers & Heroes: "Grinchta's wintry lair has arrived, and Christmas has descended upon Ardent!"
WildStar: Christmas might be canceled, but the devs are doling out free boomboxes for Xmas.
World of Tanks: Global maps on are ceasefire through the holidays!
World of Warcraft: The long-running Feast of Winter Veil returns again in 2014.
World of Warplanes: A snowball mode has joined the game for the holiday season.
