The MMORPG Daily Drop - Your Daily MMORPG News Recap
It’s Independence Day in the US, but the fireworks aren’t just in the sky — they’re lighting up the world of MMORPGs too. From massive reveals about ZeniMax’s cancelled Destiny-style shooter to new expansion teases from EverQuest, Guild Wars 2 countdowns, and fresh details on Blue Protocol’s global ambitions, today’s roundup is bursting with updates. Whether you’re grilling outdoors or grinding indoors, we’ve got all the biggest MMO stories to keep you in the loop.
Blue Protocol: Star Resonance – Bokura’s Roy Answers 19 Key Questions Ahead of Western Launch
In a major community Q&A, Bokura founder Roy has answered 19 of the most asked questions about Blue Protocol: Star Resonance, the anime-style MMORPG heading West in 2025 via publisher A Plus. The responses were shared through a partnership with fan hub Star Resonance Database and offer the clearest insight yet into the game’s design, monetisation, and future roadmap.
Key Highlights:
- Target Audience & Focus: The game is primarily aimed at anime fans who also enjoy traditional MMOs. PvE content and casual/social gameplay will form the core experience, with a strong seasonal update cycle.
- Monetisation: Roy confirmed there are no pay-to-win mechanics. Paid options like currency conversion exist but only for convenience. All progression items are earnable through gameplay.
- Progression Content: Hardcore players can expect deep class customisation, five-player dungeons, and 20-player raids. Casual players will enjoy life skills, housing, fishing, and social events.
- Game Systems: Bokura plans to expand existing systems rather than overload players with new ones. This is to keep the game accessible and reduce barriers for returning or new players.
- Trading & Alts: No direct player-to-player gear trading. Instead, there’s a shared warehouse system between friends. Bokura discourages alt-focused gameplay, especially for life skills.
- Auto-Combat: A limited auto-combo system exists for low-difficulty zones only. There’s no auto-pathing or full automation. Rewards are restricted to avoid AFK-farming concerns.
- Housing at Launch: A personal homestead system will be available day one, offering deep customisation, shared access with up to four friends, farming mechanics, and furniture crafting.
- New Classes & Customisation: The Guitarist class will be available at launch with DPS and support variations. More classes and expanded cosmetic options (hairstyles, eye shapes, outfits) will follow post-launch.
- Console Support & Steam Deck: While nothing confirmed yet, controller support is already underway and future platform expansions remain open.
- Global Beta & Release: A Western beta is in preparation. While no date was confirmed, Roy said the wait “won’t be much longer.”
- Community Engagement: Bokura is planning more Q&As and English developer livestreams before and after launch. Player feedback will continue to shape development.
Blue Protocol: Star Resonance is launching in 2025 on PC (Steam & Epic Games Store), iOS, and Android, with strong community involvement and a clear roadmap for long-term seasonal content.
ZeniMax’s Cancelled MMO 'Blackbird' Was a Destiny-Style Shooter
Newly surfaced reports have revealed the first clear details about ZeniMax Online Studios’ now-cancelled project codenamed Blackbird, and it sounds like Xbox may have shelved something special. Described as a third-person looter-shooter in the vein of Destiny, Blackbird was set in a gritty sci-fi universe with cyberpunk noir aesthetics, focused on flashy movement, vertical traversal, and fast-paced action.
Bloomberg sources say the game featured air-dashes, grappling hooks, and wall climbing, making it one of the more ambitious titles in the Xbox portfolio. It was even being built in a brand-new engine, which some suggest contributed to its downfall due to the associated risk. Despite glowing internal feedback, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer was reportedly so enamoured he had to have the controller pulled from his hands, Microsoft cancelled the project amidst broader budget cuts.
Once considered a potential franchise-launching flagship, Blackbird now joins the growing list of promising titles scrapped during Microsoft’s recent layoffs, including projects at Rare and Riot’s Hytale.
EverQuest and EverQuest II Tease Massive 2025 Plans
Darkpaw Games dropped a new producer letter teasing major updates for both EverQuest titles. For the original EverQuest, a cryptic teaser promises a 2025 expansion “to die for,” alongside ongoing development on zones, NPCs, spells, quests, and raids. Expect more details soon, though one line suggests a grim twist: “Sometimes rolling a natural 20 is equivalent to rolling a critical 1.”
Meanwhile, EverQuest II is ramping up to Game Update 129: Fear of Eternity, landing this August. It follows a massive prelude event, Heralds of Oblivion, now live and featuring quests, public events, collections, and new loot for adventurers and crafters alike.
Guild Wars 2 Teases Return of Elite Specs?
ArenaNet is up to something. A series of cryptic social media posts teasing a lute and a winged helmet have fans buzzing that elite specializations may be making a comeback. These class-defining mechanics were a core part of Guild Wars 2’s first three expansions but haven’t been seen since 2022. With the next expansion now delayed until October, players are speculating that a Bard-type class—or new elite specs—could be part of a major reveal expected in just under two weeks.
BitCraft Online Clarifies Griefing Policy
With BitCraft settling into Early Access, Clockwork Labs has outlined a new patch cadence and gameplay direction. The standout detail? A clear stance on griefing: “Moderate, don’t mediate.” The devs will intervene when rules are broken but won’t police sandbox conflict between players otherwise. Weekly updates will focus on claim costs, movement improvements, and continued QoL tweaks.
Erenshor's Roadmap Promises Raids, Combat Rework & Zone Expansions
Solo-dev MMORPG simulator Erenshor is heading toward a major overhaul. The 2025 roadmap outlines plans to revamp pacing, party size dynamics, combat flow, and mana regen—paving the way for full raid content coming this winter. While updates will slow during rebalancing, seasonal events will continue, and players can expect larger dungeons and expanded endgame zones ahead.
New World’s Capture the Flag Mode Evolves for Next Test
LOTRO Previews Hunter/Burglar Revamps and PvP Sorceress Class
On Lord of the Rings Online’s Bullroarer test server, Standing Stone Games is expanding testing for Update 45. New class balance updates for Hunters and Burglars are live, along with kinship management improvements. The big reveal? A first look at the upcoming PvP class, the Angmarim Sorceress—a stance-based magic user who can alternate between buffing allies and debuffing enemies.
