Over the years, there have been many theories on why the MMO genre continues to decline. World of Warcraft is at the top of many lists, either because the unprofitability of WoW Killers has pushed developers towards greener pastures or because WoW clones have stunted the innovation seen across other genres. Easier content, free-to-play cash shops, and bending to the will of solo players are also cited. But if we are to be honest, there is a more ironic reason the genre is failing - the internet is killing the MMO.
How can the internet be the culprit here? The internet is, after all, the reason that MMOs exist. The internet tore down geographical barriers, allowing players worldwide to group up and take on a common foe. I formed several friendships just because a player hundreds of miles away was logged in at the same time I was. And we spent almost as much time just sitting around chatting as we did running dungeons and grinding XP.
Players used to chat while waiting for a world event. Now they just silently wait.
MMOs used to be hard, so those friendships turned into guilds out of necessity. Game knowledge like dungeon tactics, favorite grinding spots, and powerful skill synergies were kept secret, only to be shared with our trusted allies. Players had a sense of duty to their guilds, a duty to grow the communal knowledge and, in turn, maintain the power of the guild family. So, even as players moved on to other games, others were brought into the fold, keeping the community strong.
The internet was the backbone upon which those communities were built. But now, the internet serves a different purpose - the internet breaks down those bonds that held MMOs together.
The internet that once brought players together in-game now keeps them apart. MMO communities are no longer built around the guild structure. Instead, they are kept outside of the game. They are now found on Discord servers and Twitch channels. And instead of a single MMO acting as the glue that holds the community together, the focus is now on the streamer or Youtuber, with their viewers following them wherever they go.
Thousands watch streamers play New World Aeternum on launch day
Secrets that would have been coveted and held tightly by a guild are now handed out like candy in exchange for subs and likes. And without the need to learn from each other in-game, long-term grouping is no longer necessary. On the contrary, players are expected to know dungeon and raid mechanics on day one, with groups becoming consumables that can be replaced as easily as a healing potion.
There’s no going back to the glory days of the MMO. The internet has left the genre in the dust. Developers aren’t making easier content; it’s easier because the internet makes the knowledge more accessible. And developers aren’t abandoning the genre because it’s too hard to make an MMO. They are focused on other genres because those games are built for the modern internet. Other genres can quickly adapt to the flavor of the month's desires of the gaming masses. Quick matches and exciting solo content that millions can view are the priority now. And unless a new MMO comes out that can take advantage of what the internet has become, the MMO genre will die.