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Loving MMOs in 2026 is an exercise in frustration, grief, and moving on
AppWizard
May 2, 2026

Loving MMOs in 2026 is an exercise in frustration, grief, and moving on

This week’s edition of Terminally Online reflects on the current state of Massively Multiplayer Online games (MMOs), highlighting a mix of nostalgia and concern. The genre includes popular titles like The Elder Scrolls Online, Final Fantasy 14, and Guild Wars 2, but recent cancellations of new MMOs have caused unease among players, with 2025 referred to as an “MMO massacre.” Projects such as New World and Project Blackbird have been canceled, emphasizing the fragility of the genre. Players often find themselves relying on established games as excitement for new releases wanes. Investing time in MMOs can yield rewards but also leads to frustration due to the evolving nature of these games, which can dishearten long-time players. World of Warcraft exemplifies this with its fluctuating quality and controversial expansions. Titles like Final Fantasy 14 have been praised for their narratives but criticized for gameplay stagnation. The history of MMOs shows that even successful games like City of Heroes and Star Wars: Galaxies eventually fade, leaving communities in a state of uncertainty. Factors contributing to this stagnation include shareholder pressure for consistent growth, which can hinder creativity and lead to a focus on short-term profits. Despite these challenges, there is hope for the future of MMOs, as the industry is cyclical. Upcoming projects, such as Riot’s new MMO, may inspire renewed interest and community engagement. The desire for a vibrant MMO landscape and the friendships formed within these games remain strong among players.
Steam Reveals Most Played PC VR Games of 2025
AppWizard
January 12, 2026

Steam Reveals Most Played PC VR Games of 2025

Steam's list of the most played PC VR games for 2025 features only one new title, "VR Secretary: Ailey Edition," which is an early access dating sim and has received a silver rating. The top-ranked games include: Platinum: - No Man’s Sky (2016) - Beat Saber (2019) - Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades (2016) - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR (2018) - Phasmophobia (2020) - Gorilla Tag (2023) - Blade & Sorcery (2024) - Ark: Survival Evolved (2017) - Vtol VR (2017) - VRChat (2017) - Half-Life: Alyx (2020) - Assetto Corsa (2014) Gold: - BONELAB (2022) - The Forest (2018) - Hard Bullet (2020) - Superhot VR (2017) - War Thunder (2013) - Pavlov (2024) - BONEWORKS (2019) - Google Earth VR (2016) - Euro Truck Simulator (2012) - Blood Trail (2019) - Rec Room (2021) - Half-Life 2: VR Mod (2022) Silver: - Automobilista 2 (2020) - DCS (2013) - Assetto Corsa Competizione (2019) - Arizona Sunshine II (2023) - Ghosts of Tabor (2023) - Bigscreen (2016) - The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners (2020) - The Lab (2016) - Contractors Showdown: ExfilZone (2024) - Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted (2019) - Subnautica (2018) - Metro Awakening (2024) - Into the Radius 2 (2024) - Fallout 4 VR (2017) - Tactical Assault VR (2023) - Elite Dangerous (2015) - Into the Radius (2020) - Propagation VR (2020) - Job Simulator (2016) - VR Secretary: Ailey Edition (2025) - DiRT Rally 2.0 (2019) - Hitman World of Assassination (2022) - VTOL VR Mod Loader (2024) - Contractors (2018) - Arizona Sunshine Remake (2024) - BeamNG.drive (2015) The report indicates a trend of established games maintaining popularity, with a growing community of PC VR users and an increase in monthly connected headsets on Steam. The anticipated Steam Frame may influence future PC VR game adoption.
Steam Replay 2025 shows older games dominate playtime, even with releases like Expedition 33
AppWizard
December 22, 2025

Steam Replay 2025 shows older games dominate playtime, even with releases like Expedition 33

Steam Replay 2025 has launched, allowing users to reflect on their gaming habits from the past year. Despite new game releases like Expedition 33, Hollow Knight Silksong, Battlefield 6, and ARC Raiders, many Steam users are still spending their gaming hours on older classic titles. The most-played charts on Steam show a dominance of well-established games, particularly during the Winter Sale, which offers significant discounts on legacy titles. This trend suggests that nostalgia and familiarity strongly influence player choices.
A game jam game about pudgy chainsmoking dads seems to be Steam's latest co-op hit, hitting 100,000 concurrent players on its first weekend
AppWizard
October 26, 2025

A game jam game about pudgy chainsmoking dads seems to be Steam’s latest co-op hit, hitting 100,000 concurrent players on its first weekend

This year, the proximity-based voice chat party game genre has seen significant growth with new titles like Mage Arena and R.E.P.O. joining established games such as Lethal Company and Content Warning. Peak has been recognized in PC Gamer's Top 100 list. The new game RV There Yet? quickly gained popularity, reaching 100,000 concurrent players shortly after launch, although player numbers have since stabilized. The game features players as rotund fathers navigating terrains while towing a camper, incorporating humor and challenges. Players have reported technical issues, which the developers are actively addressing. RV There Yet? is available on Steam.
Experts warn GTA and Minecraft being used to lure in cyberattack victims - here's how to stay safe
AppWizard
June 11, 2025

Experts warn GTA and Minecraft being used to lure in cyberattack victims – here’s how to stay safe

Cybersecurity experts have reported a significant increase in game-themed malware targeting the gaming community, especially younger players. From April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, there were over 19 million attempts to download malicious files disguised as popular games, affecting around 400,000 individuals globally. Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) was the most targeted game, with nearly 4.5 million attack attempts, followed by Minecraft with 4.1 million, Call of Duty (CoD) with 2.6 million, and The Sims with 2.4 million. Cybercriminals exploit established games and lure victims with fake offers, often leading to infostealers, cryptocurrency hijackers, backdoors, and Trojans. Kaspersky advises gamers to avoid pirated content and be cautious of suspicious offers.
2024 was Steam's 'best year ever' of users buying newly released games—but I wouldn't celebrate the end of the forever game era just yet
AppWizard
March 15, 2025

2024 was Steam’s ‘best year ever’ of users buying newly released games—but I wouldn’t celebrate the end of the forever game era just yet

Valve's "Steam Year In Review" blog post revealed that the peak concurrent user count on Steam has nearly doubled since March 2020, with users engaging with more new titles than ever. In 2024, newly released games generated the highest revenue on Steam, reaching ten times the levels of 2014. Over 500 games surpassed 0,000 in new release sales, with more than 200 achieving over million, marking increases of 27% and 15% compared to 2023. Despite these revenue figures, only 15% of user playtime was dedicated to games released in 2024, up from 9% in 2023 but down from 17% in 2022. Notable successful titles included Palworld, Helldivers 2, Space Marine 2, and Black Myth Wukong, alongside established games like Dota 2 and Counter-Strike 2. The closure of several live service games suggests a potential shift in the gaming industry's dynamics.
Only 15% of all Steam users' time was spent playing games released in 2024
AppWizard
December 20, 2024

Only 15% of all Steam users’ time was spent playing games released in 2024

Steam users played 50% fewer games in 2024 compared to the previous year, influenced by Game Pass, emulation, and the Nintendo 3DS XL. Only 15% of total gaming time was spent on titles launched in 2024, while 47% was dedicated to games released in the last one to seven years, and 37% to titles over eight years old. The free-to-play game Banana gained significant attention, and the action-adventure game Black Myth: Wukong led in single-player concurrent players. Long-standing games like Counter-Strike, Dota 2, and PUBG dominated the Most Played charts, making it challenging for new live service games to succeed. Steam offers over 200,000 titles, with around 18,000 released in 2024, making the 15% of playtime on new games seem reasonable.
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