14 Most Anticipated MMOs & Expansions Releasing In 2024

Jan. 14, 2024, 1:30 p.m.

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14 Most Anticipated MMOs & Expansions Releasing In 2024

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Summary 2024 will see a diverse range of MMOs released, from sci-fi to fantasy to survival horror, offering something for every player.

Highly anticipated MMO releases include sequels, expansions, and new IPs, showcasing the long-standing popularity and evolution of the genre.

Customization, immersive worlds, and multiplayer interactions are key features in these upcoming MMOs, giving players a shared experience in vast and dynamic game worlds.

Between brand-new releases and expansions to fan favorites like Final Fantasy XIV and World of Warcraft, 2024 is going to be a big year for MMOs. Standing for "massively multiplayer online," and usually followed with the further qualifier "role-playing games," MMO is a vast and all-inclusive term that requires just one thing: an interconnected game world that can be inhabited by thousands, if not millions, of players at once. Although amazing MMO expansions like Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail have already been released, the rest of the year is slated to have some amazing games.

Of course, there are hallmarks of the genre: customizable characters, combo- and placement-based combat, and a ton of grinding tend to be the norm. But an MMO can be anything as long as it's shared by a large number of players. 2024's most anticipated MMOs include strange new worlds, long-awaited sequels, and linear expansions. They span genres from epic sci-fi to classic fantasy to survival horror. Some of them are exclusive to PC, while others are available on a wide variety of consoles. There's an MMO for everyone in 2024, and these are just some of the most anticipated.

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14 Ship Of Heroes Is A Customizable Superhero Sequel

Coming To PC In 2024

Ever wanted to design a custom superhero? Ship of Heroes has got that covered. The sequel to 2004's City of Heroes, Ship of Heroes is set in the distant future, when humans (and superhumans) have taken to space. Early previews reveal an incredibly robust character creator, and, like its predecessor, a detailed system of superpower customization.

Ship of Heroes appeals to the consummate role-player, especially anyone who's ever doodled their own superhero in the margins of a sheet of notebook paper. It doesn't have a set release date, but it is expected by the end of 2024.

13 Corepunk Is A Top-Down MMORPG

Coming To PC & Currently In Alpha Testing

Although the official release date for Corepunk has not yet been announced, it is having its third Alpha phase between July 1-7, 2024, and it's now possible to sign up for the beta on the Corepunk website. The latest test focused on technical improvements and efficiency as well as some quality-of-life and map improvements. As concept art for the game was released back in 2019, the game has been in development for a few years and has grown a small niche community awaiting its release.

Corepunk features a wide open world with a variety of different classes to choose from and sub-classes that affect abilities and combat. With a seamless open world that transitions between different regions without a loading screen, it stands apart from other MMOs with its top-down perspective. Corepunk is also an MMO with crafting and resource collection elements, melding together aspects of survival titles with massively multiplayer gameplay.

Although it's not completely confirmed that it will be released by the year's end, by all indications of early gameplay — it looks to be pretty far along in development in an already fairly long development cycle. Though this is pretty typical, especially for an MMO.

12 Ashfall Is A Post-Apocalyptic Shooter MMO

Coming To PC, PS5, & Xbox X/S Q3 2024

Set in bleak urban environments with cybernetic threats around every corner, Ashfall is another ambitious third-person MMO set in a desecrated post-apocalyptic wasteland. Set in what has been dubbed the Eastern Wasteland, players will make their way through various biomes with nine different shooting styles and a variety of different abilities and equipment. With eye-catching visuals and a unique world based on Eastern culture, the sometimes vivid but often oppressive wastelands along with intricate and bright urban environments.

Developed by NetEase Games, Ashfall is another third-person over-the-shoulder shooter MMO and looks to be fairly grandiose and epic in scale. Ashfall is set to release sometime in Q3 of 2024, and only time (and players) can tell whether Ashfall will become the next big MMO or just another blip in a glut of poorly-received titles.

11 Project LLL Is A Slick Sci-Fi Shooter MMO

Coming To PC & Consoles 2024

Although claims that the highly ambitious Project LLL will be released in 2024 have been met with some doubt, it's indisputable that the project has the potential to be the next big MMO. Set in a stylized future in a decimated Seoul, South Korea, the massively multiplayer game features snappy shooting, a huge depth of weaponry, and high-tech gadgets. Developed by NCSoft, the first glimpse of gameplay in this slick third-person shooter was released at the tail end of 2023, with more gameplay shown a few months later.

Incredibly lifelike graphics, flashy and colorful combat, and enemies, along with the re-envisioned South Korean locations, help set the shooter apart from other games. In addition, a huge amount of thought has gone into the lore and backstory for the game, with a fully fleshed-out history and gameworld as explained by the Project LLL's Project Leader, Seeder Jaehyun Bae, on the NCSoft website.

10 EverQuest 1 & 2 Are Getting Anniversary Expansions

Coming To PC December 2024

Platform(s) PC Released March 16, 1999 Developer Daybreak Game Company, Ubisoft, Sony Interactive Entertainment, 989 Studios Publisher Daybreak Game Company, Ubisoft, Sony Interactive Entertainment, 989 Studios Genre(s) RPG Engine True3D ESRB t Expand

To celebrate EverQuest's 25th birthday and EverQuest 2's 20th, EQ's current developers, Daybreak Game Company, are teasing an exciting expansion for those who still delve into the decades-old titles. EverQuest's next expansion, The Outer Brood, along with EQ 2's next expansion, Scars of Destruction, are slated to come out sometime by the end of 2024, as in typical EverQuest fashion.

Although the game may feel outdated to some, there's still a relatively dedicated fanbase that comes out for all its expansions every year. This year should be even bigger and better than in the past, as it's celebrating big franchise milestones.

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9 Blue Protocol Is Bandai Namco's Action MMO

Coming To PC, PS5, And Xbox Series X/S In 2024

Blue Protocol Platform(s) PC , PS5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S Developer(s) Bandai Namco Studios Publisher(s) Bandai Namco Studios , Amazon Games Genre(s) Action RPG , MMO Multiplayer Engine ESRB Mode Expand

For those who prefer action combat in their MMOs, Blue Protocol might be more their speed. Developed by Bandai Namco, responsible for both the more recent installments in the Tales series and Scarlet Nexus, Blue Protocol has a storied action RPG pedigree.

Players can pick from one of five melee, ranged, or magically focused classes as they explore the open world of Regnas, battling monsters and completing quests. Blue Protocol is also rendered in a gorgeously colorful, cel-shaded art style that should make character creation a delight.

8 Once Human Is A Post-Apocalyptic Survival MMO

Coming To PC In Q3 2024

In Once Human, player characters have transcended their humanity to become something more: powerful Meta-Humans, who can resist the pollution that destroyed the rest of the world. That doesn't mean they're immune to it, though; players will need to scrounge up uncontaminated food, water, and supplies to keep themselves alive.

The multiplayer element can make or break a game, as players can make friend or foe with anyone else they come across. Once Human held its second beta test in December 2023, and is expected to see a full release by the end of 2024.

7 Throne And Liberty Promises Large-Scale PvPvE Battles

Coming To MacOS, PC, PS5, And Xbox Series X/S

Throne and Liberty was originally intended to be a sequel to Lineage, a 1998 MMO developed and published by NCSoft. This was eventually scrapped, with Lineage getting a separate sequel called Lineage W, while the framework of the in-development title was repurposed for an original game, Throne and Liberty.

Set in an ever-changing fantasy world, players can participate in enormous, chaotic battles with hundreds of participants, and transform into different animal shapes in order to use their unique abilities. Throne and Liberty still doesn't have an official release date, but is currently in the process of testing.

Throne and Liberty is scheduled to release on September 17, 2024.

6 Path Of Exile 2 Is A Dark Fantasy Sequel

Coming To MacOS, PC, PS5, And Xbox Series X/S

Path of Exile 2 Platform(s) PC , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PS5 Developer(s) Grinding Gear Games Publisher(s) Grinding Gear Games Genre(s) Action RPG ESRB Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Nudity, Violence

The original Path of Exile is a Diablo-style, top-down, dungeon-crawling action RPG. Character classes are incredibly mutable, with a variable system of main classes and subclasses that allows for a wide range of playstyles. Oh, and it's all free to play - microtransactions exist, but they don't affect gameplay so much as they are cosmetic customization options.

Path of Exile 2 promises more of the same, with a new story, new classes, new weapons, and new locations. It hasn't announced a release date yet, but has dropped a gameplay preview and multiple gameplay trailers, so a concrete date is probably imminent.

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5 The Elder Scrolls Online Is Getting A New Expansion In 2024

Coming To MacOS, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, And Xbox Series X/S

The Elder Scrolls Online Platforms Publishers Mode Rating

The Elder Scrolls Online has been ongoing since 2014, but it's set to get its eighth expansion in 2024. No details have been provided about its content at the time of writing, but the grand reveal is currently scheduled to premiere during a spate of major Microsoft announcements on January 18. The next chapter in ESO will probably include another addition to its vast map, sprawling story, and exciting quests. It features more rigid class structures than single-player Elder Scrolls games, but with plenty of personal customization. Besides its main campaign, ESO offers satisfying crafting grinds and thrilling PvP battles.

4 Guild Wars 2 Also Has An Expansion Planned For 2024

Coming To PC In 2024

Guild Wars 2 Franchise Guild Wars Platform(s) PC Released August 28, 2012 Developer(s) ArenaNet Publisher(s) NCSoft Genre(s) MMORPG ESRB T for Teen: Blood, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence How Long To Beat 80+ Hours Expand

Like ESO, Guild Wars 2 has been going on for a long time - since 2012, in this case. It's always been praised for its approachability and wide variety of customization options, and those only grow with the addition of each expansion. Characters may pick from a deep pool of skills, classes, and professions. The next Guild Wars 2 expansion doesn't have a title yet, but is expected to begin a new story following the conclusion of its Elder Dragon Saga. It was announced in August 2023 for a 2024 release date to be determined.

3 Soulframe Is A New Take On The Typical MMO Blueprint

Coming To PC Late 2024

Developed by Digital Extremes, the same group that created the highly popular free third-person multiplayer shooter Warframe, Soulframe is taking a new approach to the typical MMO with its unique combat system. Reminiscent of soulslike games developed by FromSoftware, Soulframe is an ambitious MMORPG that ditches the frenetic, fast-paced action of Warframe and replaces it with methodical melee combat with an emphasis on timing attacks, blocks, and dodges.

Although not confirmed, it's also likely Soulframe will release for consoles, though Digital Extremes have not yet confirmed which ones.

Also, unlike Warframe, which is set in a sleek, hyper-stylized sci-fi setting, Soulframe opts for high fantasy elements woven with sci-fi to create a rather unique aesthetic. Soulframe Preludes is the name of the invite-only closed alpha test that is currently occurring, pointing toward the fact that perhaps a release date for late 2024 may not be totally unrealistic.

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2 Dune: Awakening Is The MMO Fans Have Been Waiting For

Coming To PC, PS5, And Xbox Series X/S

Dune Awakening Platform(s) Developer(s) Publisher(s) Genre(s) Multiplayer ESRB Expand

An open-world Dune game is long overdue. Dune: Awakening, based on the series of novels by Frank Herbert, might finally be the video game adaptation the franchise deserves. Set on the harsh desert world of Arrakis, the beating heart of the galaxy's economic system, it'll feature both survival and MMO elements as players explore, team up, and fight to survive.

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Trailers have already featured a number of classic Dune staples: ornithopters, Fremen stillsuits, and, of course, gargantuan sandworms. While little else is known about the game, and it doesn't have a solid release date yet, some inspiration can be drawn from developer Funcom's previous survival game, Conan Exiles.

1 WoW's The War Within Is The Latest Expansion To A Classic MMO

Coming To MacOS And PC August 26, 2024

World of Warcraft Franchise Warcraft Platform(s) PC Released November 23, 2004 Developer(s) Blizzard Publisher(s) Blizzard Genre(s) MMORPG ESRB T for Teen: Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence (online interactions not rated) How Long To Beat Expand

World of Warcraft has almost two decades under its belt, and is still going strong with new content releases. The upcoming expansion The War Within will be its tenth major update, and there are already two more planned to follow. The War Within raises player level caps to 80, introducing four new map regions and the new Hero Talents customization feature. It'll also allow players to bring along their alternate characters with the Warbands mechanic, and complete treasure-laden dungeons called Delves.

2024 is shaping up to be a great year for MMOs, with a wide variety of games suited to all players' tastes scheduled for release. While this list isn't exhaustive - there are certain to be some surprise hits and unexpected delays - these games and expansions are among the most anticipated for 2024. Thanks to their developers' pedigrees, long-running reputations, or promising gameplay, these MMOs have a lot to offer.

Source: NCSoft