2015 is in the past, and the majority of 2016 lies ahead. What games will we be playing as we crawl through the calendar year? We’re here to help figure that out. With this week’s List, we’ll take a quick look at all MMOs we expect to hit beta, early access, and launch in 2016. If the date simply says 2016, it’s because we don’t have a specific window. If it simply says “Beta”, it’s because we haven’t been told if 2016 is a target for launch as well. It’s highly possible there’s a game we missed too, so let us know in the comments!
Because of how unpredictable and unstable game development is, we wouldn’t be surprised if a few of these games end up on 2017’s list as well. But at the very least, whether from talking with the developers or folks behind the scenes, we expect to get be playing all of these games in some form during the year. We’ll be updating the article as we hear back from developers, so keep an eye on it throughout the year!
The list is in alphabetical order, so read on and share your thoughts!
EDITS:
- Added Lineage Eternal, citing a 2016 Global Launch article.
- Added Project Gorgon, as it's supposed to launch on Steam.
- Removing Voxelnauts, as several sources say it has imploded.
- Changed Chronicles of Elyria to Alpha and Q3
- Added City of Titans alpha/beta.
- Added Life of Rome alpha/beta.
- Added Naval Action alpha/beta.
- Added Albion Online (duh)
- Added SkySaga
Albion Online / August-September 2016 / Launch
Albion Online developed by Sandbox Interactive is a buy to play medieval MMO. It's a classless cross platform MMORPG that allows for endless possibilities. Across 800 different territories guilds can engage in PvP for control of the world.
ARK: Survival Evolved / June 2016 / Launch
ARK: Survival Evolved, powered by Unreal Engine 4, takes on the survival genre with a unique blend of emergent multiplayer cooperation and competition. Players awake naked and starving on the beach of a mysterious island among a herd of other confused humans. On ARK, they must then hunt, harvest, craft, research technology, and build shelters to protect against scorching days, freezing nights, volatile weather systems, dangerous wildlife, and potential enemies.
ASTA: The War of Tears and Winds / Q1 2016 / Open Beta
ASTA – The War of Tears and Winds is a fantasy MMORPG inspired by Asian myths and legends, set in a vast and vibrant world filled with colorful environments and unique characters. The intuitive controls are ideal for both new and experienced players, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the gameplay experience.
Black Desert / Q1 2016 / Launch
Black Desert Online is an up-and-coming MMO in development by Pearl Abyss. It is a sandbox MMORPG that features castle sieging, trading, crafting, player housing, parkour, and more. Players will enjoy jaw-dropping graphics, intuitive skill-based combat, and and immersive story encased in an expansive world just waiting to be explored. Accompanied by a Black Spirit, a companion whose destiny is intertwined with their own, players will discover the secret of the Black Stones and the history of their corrupting effects.
Blade & Soul / January 19th 2016 / Launch
Blade & Soul is a martial arts fantasy MMORPG by NCsoft and its Team Bloodlust division. The game will have stylized art and character designs by famed artist Hyung-tae Kim, and will feature lush environments and gameplay that borrows elements from fighting games, platformers, and even tosses in a few puzzles. With some of the most action-oriented combat in the genre, plus highly competitive PVP, it’s bound to have more than a few fans.
Camelot Unchained / Q4 2016 / Launch (or Late Beta)
Camelot Unchained is an Arthurian fantasy MMORPG from City State Entertainment and Mark Jacobs, founder of Mythic Entertainment and known for his development of Dark Age of Camelot. Camelot Unchained offers the three factions of Arthurian, Tuatha De Danann, and Viking, and focuses on Realm-vs-Realm, housing, and a player economy, along with crafting and other features.
