I don’t find out about you, however some days — maybe most days — I’m extra enthusiastic about and invested in expansions to present MMOs that I like than potential upcoming full-fledge titles. In any case, in the event you love a recreation or have a fond historical past with it, it’s virtually all the time a thrill to see its world expanded and the title getting an enormous shot of consideration.
At this time I’m going to show my HypeVision™ to imminent MMO expansions, from those that we all know rather a lot about to those that we are able to solely speculate and presume. What are those which have my curiosity and a spotlight proper now in 2025?
Guild Wars 2: Visions of Eternity
Whereas I’m not presently enjoying Guild Wars 2, it’s a previous favourite that I undoubtedly cheer from the sidelines. And I’m genuinely happy to see that ArenaNet is placing a whole lot of effort into producing a top quality product with October’s Visions of Eternity.
Extra maps, one other housing space, and extra story is nice and all, however what appears to have everybody buzzing are the 9 new elite specs. That’s a enormous quantity of sophistication addition to this recreation, and I’m positive it’s obtained everybody desirous about what they need to play this fall.
World of Warcraft: Midnight
Whereas World of Warcraft’s eleventh enlargement received’t be out till subsequent yr someday, it’s greatest addition — a sturdy participant housing system — is rolling out earlier than the top of 2025. And that’s going to be a critical game-changer for WoW, providing an unlimited canvas for gamers to get inventive and be social whereas additionally populating the remainder of the sport with housing decor rewards to pursue.
Positive, there are additionally a whole lot of good little additions and quality-of-life enhancements, and I’m grateful that Blizzard is constant to spend money on evergreen content material just like the warband system and delves. However make no mistake: Midnight is housing, housing, housing.
WoW Basic: The Burning Campaign
Gamers haven’t referred to as final yr’s Anniversary Servers “The Burning Campaign ready room” for nothing. There are a complete bunch of WoW Basic folks fairly desperate to return to the primary enlargement, particularly those that missed out on the unique and the 2019 Basic run by means of Outland. We ought to be getting this by the top of the yr.
This ought to be an occasion that’ll spike curiosity in WoW Basic and preserve the fires burning whereas Blizzard continues work on a extra long-term resolution for this model of the MMO behind closed doorways. Heck, I’m excited if solely to get the pre-patch class enhancements!
Lord of the Rings On-line: Umbar enlargement quantity three
Any day now we ought to be getting an official reveal of the third enlargement set in Lord of the Rings On-line’s southern Umbar area. Whereas I’ll admit that I’m prepared to maneuver on from this semi-arid area, I’m additionally fairly to see what SSG’s storytellers have in retailer for the subsequent portion of our lengthy journey by means of Center-earth — and whether or not there are any surprises that may include it.
There haven’t been any rumors of a brand new class or race, so I’m keen to wager that we’re not going to see something a lot past extra quests and areas this time round, however I’m additionally keen to be shocked!
Remaining Fantasy XIV: 2026-27 enlargement
It seems like that for the primary time since way back to I can keep in mind, the present model of Remaining Fantasy XIV is hitting a extremely tough patch. Final yr’s Dawntrail didn’t get the accolades the the previous few expansions did, and this yr has seen a downward pattern for the sport’s income.
However this might all change in a flash if and when Sq. Enix will get the subsequent enlargement cycle going. The massive query is… when? It could already be too late for a 2026 launch, contemplating how a lot advance hype that this studio likes to do. I’m undoubtedly desperate to see what the subsequent part of this recreation is perhaps, together with the brand new jobs and possibly even races.
Elder Scrolls On-line: Who is aware of?
Initially of this yr, ZeniMax was all about altering course from the normal yearly enlargement cycle to doing this new, nebulous “Seasons” format. However when the massive layoffs hit and the studio’s “Blackbird” MMO venture was canned, it created a complete lot of uncertainty for the way forward for Elder Scrolls On-line.
Will ZeniMax proceed with its seasonal course into 2026, and if that’s the case, what’s going to the subsequent cycle carry? Or did the layoffs trigger a re-investment into ESO and a re-evaluation of the chapter format? I’ve strongly suspected that the studio will come again to the tried-and-true format eventually — however now, maybe sooner.
