Now that the Black Mage has been defeated, MapleStory players are looking for the next "big thing". On January 23rd, the development team will release an update called "New Beginnings" that will raise the level cap to 275 after more than five years where it currently stands. In addition, there will be new enemies to face off against, four celebratory events to play through and level 200 Genesis weapons to collect.

For those of you who just can't get enough of Blizzard's games, the news that four new books will be published in 2019 should come as a welcomed surprise. Art books for Hearthstone, Diablo and for the cinematic art of World of Warcraft will be released alongside a World of Warcraft pop-up book. All four have a "fall 2019" release window.

Those who have already, or will soon, pre-order The Division 2 will be able to have guaranteed access to the just-announced private beta event now dated for February 7-10. In addition, anyone can register for limited spots by heading to The Division 2 site. To showcase what The Division 2 is about, Ubisoft released a brand new story trailer.

I always knew Chronicles of Elyria was going to be a dramatic ride. It had a fiery studio lead that was mad at the current system and wanted to rebuild it from the ground up! The pitch for the game was as audacious as any I'd seen brought to Kickstarter. I went in cautiously with the assumption they would either pull a Han Solo, damn the odds and find a way, or go down in flames. Either way, I was willing to observe and lend a hand (or a handful of money).

Nexon has announced its "next generation of MMORPGs for mobile" with today's reveal of AxE: Alliance vs Empire. According to press information, the game will deliver "PC & console quality MMO experiences" via the convenience of mobile devices. Players will find 75 vs 75 competitive battles, co-op raids, a "massive open world" and a campaign to keep players engaged in the experience.

On January 31st, Ubisoft's For Honor will be updated to bring a new "Dark Hero" into the game named Vortiger, the Black Prior. In addition, players will find a new Dominion Map, hero improvements and a number of gameplay updates.

The latest Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen newsletter is out and it's filled with promise with 2019 fully underway. Of particular note, the letter announces that some new staff have been brought on board thanks to the "upheaval in the gaming industry in the final quarter of 2018" that led to some opportunities in the hiring department. As a result, production will speed up and the team "will increase implementation of a myriad of systems and features without impacting our long-term finances".