The MMORPG Daily Drop - Your Daily MMORPG News Recap
The MMORPG world shook today with the confirmation that ZeniMax’s long-in-development MMO has been cancelled, and founder Matt Firor is stepping away from the studio. But it wasn’t all bad news: Bellatores resurfaced with a new trailer and Korean beta date, Ship of Heroes announced its long-awaited launch, and we got major updates from Corepunk, Final Fantasy XIV, and more. Let’s break it all down.
ZeniMax’s Sci-Fi MMORPG Cancelled, Matt Firor Steps Down
After nearly two decades leading ZeniMax Online Studios, Elder Scrolls Online director Matt Firor has announced his departure amid major layoffs at Xbox. The news comes hand-in-hand with the cancellation of the studio’s secretive new MMORPG, codenamed Project Blackbird, a title in development since 2018 and long rumoured to be a sci-fi sandbox running on a new engine.
Despite the loss, Firor reassured fans that ESO is still in good hands under Jo Burba, Susan Kath, and Rich Lambert. But with ZOS’s next-gen ambitions now shelved, the cancellation marks a grim milestone in the Xbox restructuring that’s already claimed several major projects.
Bellatores Is Back With New Footage & CBT Announcement
After years of silence, open-world MMORPG Bellatores has resurfaced with a brand-new gameplay showcase and a Korean closed beta date: July 30. Developed by Nyou, the game promises to “revive the core aspects of MMORPGs,” with a heavy focus on exploration, crafting, and PvP between five noble houses.
The video outlines its intricate mastery system, where players grow through combat or gathering, but must specialize due to limited skill paths. It also confirmed a move away from tab-targeting toward active combat with dodging, stamina management, and weapon-swapping.
Crafted gear will replace monster drops, pushing player economy and trade to the forefront. Unfortunately, the test is Korea-only for now, but with a Steam page now live, the West may not be far behind.
Ship of Heroes Sets Launch Date for August 18
After nearly nine years of development, indie superhero MMO Ship of Heroes will officially launch on August 18, 2025. Positioned as a spiritual successor to City of Heroes, this sci-fi spandex adventure promises a blend of solo-friendly content and large-scale raids, all without lockboxes or cash shops.
Heroic Games confirmed the game will have a box price and optional subscription, with future expansions already planned. Steam beta tests and a free demo are also on the way. In a crowded superhero MMO graveyard, Ship of Heroes might just be the only one to make it to launch.
Black Desert Online Unleashes Wukong & 10 Billion Silver for Newbies
Today’s update in Black Desert Online adds the long-awaited Wukong class, a fast-paced, pole-wielding martial artist riding atop Nimbus cloud. All players receive a free Season Character ticket, and new players are being offered up to 10 billion silver as part of a new onboarding push.
Seasonal gear upgrades are now easier thanks to guaranteed enhancements up to TRI, and Wukong himself can unlock new rewards through levelling events and a special Ascension questline at level 56. Pearl Abyss also confirmed balance changes, class tweaks, and social features are rolling out alongside the new class.
Corepunk Shares Major Content Roadmap, Wipe Confirmed for Launch
Corepunk is pushing forward with one of its most substantial updates yet. The devs at Artificial Core released a massive development post outlining the addition of 83 new quests, Episode 3 of the main storyline, new weapon talents, full voice acting, and a seasonal challenge format for Prison Island.
PvP arenas, battlegrounds, and a new dungeon are also in development, with all content ideally launching over the next two months. The team confirmed a full wipe will occur for all Early Access characters at official launch to ensure fairness, rather than enabling fresh start servers like many other games opt to do.
Eterspire Announces Steam Launch in September
The pixel-style indie MMORPG Eterspire is officially heading to PC with a Steam Early Access launch planned for September 15. The PC version will support full crossplay and cross-save with mobile.
The team at Stonehollow Workshop will use the Early Access period to polish the port for desktop players while maintaining the current free-to-play model. This announcement follows the recent Isle of Mist update, which added a level 100–115 exploration zone, new cosmetics, and trade/aggro UI improvements.
Final Fantasy XIV Fast-Tracks Occult Crescent Fixes
In a surprise move, Final Fantasy XIV will enable full alliance queueing into the Occult Crescent instance starting July 3, a feature previously scheduled for Patch 7.3 in August. The adjustment comes in direct response to community feedback around frustrating party restrictions.
