Harvey Randall, Staff Writer
This week I’m – on holiday, actually. I wrote this in advance. I’m the ghost of videogame takes past. OooooOoo.
Last week I was: Coping a little about Hades 2. The year 2025 proved to be tumultuous for MMORPGs, marked by the closure of New World, the withdrawal of funding for Greg Street’s MMO, the cancellation of a ZeniMax title before its launch, and the demise of a Warhammer MMO. Yet, amidst this chaos, titans like World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy 14 have endured, a testament to the resilience of the genre’s old guard. The industry’s ominous state and the scarcity of new MMO developments have not been enough to topple these giants.
Final Fantasy 14 has been navigating a peculiar trajectory since the aftermath of Endwalker, with underlying issues becoming more pronounced. A few factors contribute to this situation:
To encapsulate the situation: Final Fantasy 14 has lagged behind its competitors in both design and content delivery. As noted previously, Blizzard has outpaced Creative Studio 3 in terms of the volume of activities available. The sheer scale and financial backing of World of Warcraft, bolstered by Microsoft’s billion acquisition, contrasts sharply with the seemingly misallocated resources of Square Enix. The latter has relied heavily on Final Fantasy 14, yet it appears that funds have been diverted to less successful ventures.
The design philosophy has also posed challenges. Until patch 7.35, released in October, Creative Studio 3 maintained a rigid division between casual and hardcore content. Modern MMO design dictates that developers should maximize the use of their assets, offering various difficulty levels to accommodate diverse player skills. However, Final Fantasy 14 has clung to outdated structures, exemplified by the punishing Forked Tower raid introduced in patch 7.25, which only a small fraction of players could access.
Critical reception to Dawntrail seems to’ve given Yoshi-P the kick up the butt he needed to start adjusting his past assumptions.
This rigidity has stifled player engagement, as many players found themselves unable to experience the content they were eager to explore. In contrast, World of Warcraft has successfully implemented variable difficulty, allowing casual players to enjoy the game while still providing challenging content for the more dedicated audience.
Moreover, the stagnation in job design and the reluctance to innovate have come under scrutiny. Director Naoki Yoshida (Yoshi-P) is reportedly addressing these issues in the upcoming expansion, expected in late December 2026 or early January 2027, which promises a comprehensive job overhaul. The positive reception of recent changes indicates a shift in Creative Studio 3’s approach, suggesting a willingness to evolve after a decade of adhering to outdated philosophies.
AddOn-B-Gone
World of Warcraft has experienced a remarkable resurgence, especially after the dismal Shadowlands expansion, which prompted many players to migrate to Final Fantasy 14. The subsequent Dragonflight expansion and its successor, The War Within, have revitalized the game, setting the stage for an ambitious three-year saga.
However, Blizzard faces a daunting challenge as it seeks to eliminate many combat mods, or “AddOns,” that have long been a staple of the game. While this move is necessary to encourage developers to enhance the usability of various specializations, it also risks alienating players who rely on these tools for accessibility and quality-of-life improvements.
Blizzard’s ambitious plans, including the introduction of player housing and significant changes to glamour mechanics, are crucial to the game’s future. The importance of aesthetics in MMOs cannot be overstated, and alienating dedicated players could have dire consequences.
Despite the risks, the momentum gained from recent successes suggests that Blizzard is on the right path. As the industry evolves, both World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy 14 are at a crossroads, each grappling with long-standing issues while attempting to innovate and adapt.
Make or break
The year 2026 promises to be pivotal for both titles. Each is confronting significant challenges and making bold changes that could redefine their trajectories. While Final Fantasy 14 strives to recover from setbacks, World of Warcraft aims to maintain its newfound momentum.
Both games inhabit an industry that has not been particularly kind to the MMORPG genre. While it may seem unlikely for either World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy 14 to falter in 2026, history has shown that even the mightiest can fall. As we look ahead, the hope is for both titles to thrive, fostering a more collaborative spirit among their communities.
As the landscape shifts, vigilance is essential. The future remains uncertain, and the stakes have never been higher for these iconic franchises.
