According to MakeUseOf , with the constant release of MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games), it's hard to know which titles will be successful as the market is becoming increasingly saturated.
A scene from the MMORPG game 'FFXIV: A Realm Reborn'
Even games that are supported and funded by the community struggle to maintain public interest. Let’s take a closer look at the challenges facing the MMORPG genre that make it difficult for new titles to succeed and why the genre seems to be dying.
Experience requires a large investment of time
Unlike many other game genres, MMORPGs require players to invest a lot of time to reach a large enough power threshold. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it is part of the MMORPG that many people love and in many cases, it is the foundation of many games in this genre.
MMORPG games require players to invest time and effort.
Time spent on an MMORPG often equates to the player character acquiring equipment, abilities, mounts, achievements, and rare items. All of these demonstrate the player’s dedication to the game and are a way for them to be more known to the community. A top server player always leaves a certain impression on other players, and this creates more motivation for those people to “grind” more.
However, not everyone has plenty of time to play games, players with limited time will gradually withdraw from MMOs. Currently, MMORPG players are gradually moving to other genres, such as MOBA games, which do not require "grinding" and can satisfy players through less time-consuming matches.
Excessive "pay-to-win" ruins the MMORPG experience
There is an argument that excessive monetization will ruin the experience of any game. However, there are few genres that are as negatively affected as MMORPGs.
Recharging to increase power causes game imbalance
This is because the effort, power, and prestige of the genre are tied to items and achievements. However, allowing players to pay to “upgrade” their power has gradually unbalanced the game. Many people just pay out of their own pocket to get items without investing time or effort. This creates a “pay-to-win” game and makes other players less motivated to experience it.
Gamers are forced to play the meta and miss out on the experience
Aside from the social interaction possibilities, one of the most beautiful aspects of the MMORPG experience is its mystery, along with the “trial and error” nature of the game. It’s one of the few game genres where the journey is almost more important than the destination. Finishing the game, or “going home,” isn’t always the goal of an MMORPG, even if it’s an important one.
Many gamers are stereotyped into meta playstyles.
The most interesting thing about MMORPG is that each character has a journey, meeting people along the way, forming groups to overcome challenges and learning how to use abilities and skills, thereby gaining advantages through trials and failures.
However, meta-gaming has completely ruined the experience of the exploration-oriented player. Simply put, this gaming trend is that players will follow available instructions to set up their characters mechanically. Nowadays, game guides are always available online and are constantly updated, so gamers who like to explore and tinker on their own are at a huge disadvantage compared to meta-oriented players.
Conclude
It is clear that the number of MMORPG players is decreasing. The three main reasons behind the slow death of the genre have been clarified. Although there is still a large number of players participating in MMORPGs, the negative trends that ruin the game above are making new players more hesitant to experience this genre.
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