Since the birth of MMO games, these games have had strong social elements. The first experiment in player socialization took place in Meridian 59, which was released 28 years ago in 1996.
After receiving positive feedback from players, game developers began using in-game chat to increase user stickiness. This has become a new trend and a must-have option for all upcoming games of this type.
This is evident in Neverwinter Nights, Dungeons & Dragons or Ultima Online. As for the last one, despite being in the industry for 27 years, it is still very active. For example, Oceania Shard has 1,434 Ultima Online fans from New Zealand and Australia.
But then, the game concepts and mechanics gradually changed, shifting the focus to single-player gameplay. Scroll down to find out what led to these changes and whether future mmos will return to their roots.
Changing the Functions of the MMOs Industry
In the early days of MMO gaming, players did not have a wide range of options for high-quality and interesting online communication. Contrary to the modern reality where social tools are widely used in the gaming industry, in the 90s, IRC chat was pretty much the only option for finding like-minded people, no matter where they lived.
For example, today players have access to fast and easy communication everywhere: from websites with instant payout casinos and themed forums to Telegram communities and Discord channels. But in the 1990s, MMO game enthusiasts communicated through chat, formed teams, solved tasks, competed for higher status, and so on.
It’s an engaging experience that game developers use as the basis for MMO game concepts. However, over time, technological advancements have led to more advanced communication solutions (MSN, MySpace, Facebook). They offer more opportunities than IRC chats. This has led to a decline in the popularity of in-game chat, and more emphasis on single-player games.
Impact of Social Media Networks
Two global events occurred in 2004:
- Facebook launch
- Published World of Warcraft
This became the starting point for a gradual move away from social-focused content. These two events promoted the development of MMO and social networks.
The developers understand that in the near future, there will be a group of players who still enjoy playing MMOs, but without much social content. The idea that MMOs cannot exist without player-to-player communication is no longer an axiom.
Now, taking on the role of a character in a fictional world and completing tasks yourself is the norm. In addition, MMO game developers have also noticed the development of the offline game market. Ignoring this need will mean lost audiences and financial losses. This led to a shift in design and the emergence of single-player-friendly games, where the focus shifted to gameplay.
System Catered to Single Players
The aforementioned changes forced developers to create a system where solo players could perform the same tasks as social players, but without having to interact with other players. Group finder is probably one of the best examples of such a solution.
Previously, in order to complete a difficult quest, players had to find a team or join a guild. Now, designers need to create a game that is accessible to a wider audience without violating the ideals of the MMO genre. The solution has finally been found! Now, thanks to Team Finder, players can replace a team member and find a new one in seconds.
Is this all the developers are doing? Of course not, because they are moving forward and not relying on other players as they move forward. This is a true revolution in MMOs. Now, if you have an hour to play, you don’t need to spend your time on social progression.
Now, automated systems will do it for you. Additionally, designers made it possible to compete between social and solo players, which took the popularity of MMOs to a whole new level.
Switching Social Platforms to Third-Party Platforms
A decrease in intra-game communication does not equate to a decrease in intra-game communication within the genre. In the early days of MMOs, people were restricted to forums and message boards.
The genre then became a revolution in player-to-player interaction. Nowadays, third-party platforms have taken over this revolution and the online communication market has changed again, thanks to the following solutions:
- Social media video sharing website
- Third-party chat program
MMO game developers aren’t standing still either. They started adding various features such as clan chat, guild chat, private messenger, cross-server groups, voice chat, etc. However, it still cannot be replaced, for example, by a themed YouTube channel or a tribe’s Discord server.
Will the Social Element of MMO Gaming Change Forever?
The development of platforms specifically designed for communications is gaining momentum. Therefore, it is unlikely that social elements will become popular again as part of MMO gameplay in the future. But I can say with 100% certainty that the game will not be negatively affected by these changes.
Modern third-party platforms offer players many options. For example, they not only exchange text messages, but also send voice messages, organize video conferences, and more. All in all, it will only enhance communication between fans of MMO games from Australia, Canada, the United States and other countries.