The MMO Timeline is a quick reference sheet for the notable MMOs and proto-MMOs over time — when they launched, when they released expansion packs, and when (if) they closed. If I’m missing a title or expansion you feel should be included on this list, please leave a comment below (with the date of the month/year they were released).
A few notes:
- Expansions are in regular font
- Launches are in black bold
- Closings in red bold
- Relaunches, major shifts in format, or changes to its business model are in blue bold
- This list does not include updates, patches, emulators, or other non-expansion-level additions. I’m also not including every piddly MMO on the planet or most MUDs/MUSHs/MOOs. I also stuck mostly to MMORPGs (i.e. few MMO sports games, no MOBAs, little limited multiplayer), particularly post-1999.
- Thanks goes out to Raph Koster for his Online World Timeline for some of these dates!
- MUD1, the first text-based MMO, launches
1983
- Sceptre of Goth, the first commercial text-based MMO, launches
- MegaWars I (later Stellar Warrior) launches
- Island of Kesmai launches
- Summer – Lucasfilm’s Habitat launches
- Air Warrior launches
- Habitat relaunched as Club Caribe
- GemStone II launches
- Kingdom of Drakkar launches
- Avalon launches
- DikuMUD developed and released
- March – Neverwinter Nights (AOL) launches
- December – Multiplayer Battletech EGA launches
- Neverwinter Nights (AOL): Expansion
- The Shadow of Yserbius launches
- The Fates of Twinion launches
- June – Active (Alpha) Worlds launches
- Island of Kesmai closes
- The Ruins of Cawdor launches
- September – Meridian 59 launches
- December – Furcadia launches
- Yserbius, Twinion, and Cawdor go offline with INN’s closure
- The Realm Online launches
- Legends of Kesmai launches
- Dark Sun Online launches
- Nexus: The Kingdom of the Winds launches
- January – Tibia launches
- July – Neverwinter Nights (AOL) closes
- September – Ultima Online launches
- December – Dragon’s Dream launches
- Dark Eden launches
- September – Lineage launches
- October – Ultima Online: The Second Age
- Dark Sun Online closes
- March – EverQuest launches
- May – The 4th Coming
- October – Dragon’s Dream closes
- November – Asheron’s Call launches
- March – EverQuest: The Ruins of Kunark
- May – Ultima Online: Renaissance
- December – EverQuest: The Scars of Velious
- December – Phantasy Star Online launches
- Legends of Kesmai closes
- January – RuneScape launches
- March – Ultima Online: Third Dawn
- June – World War II Online launches
- June – Anarchy Online launches
- June – Phantasy Star Online Ver 2 releases
- July – EA’s Majestic launches
- September – Jumpgate launches
- October – Dark Age of Camelot launches
- October – Motor City Online launches
- October – Asheron’s Call: Dark Majesty
- December – EverQuest: The Shadows of Luclin
- Mimesis Online launches
- February – Ultima Online: Lord Blackthorn’s Revenge
- April – EA’s Majestic closes
- May – Final Fantasy XI launches
- August – Ragnarok Online launches
- September – Earth & Beyond launches
- October – EverQuest: The Planes of Power
- November – Dark Age of Camelot: Shrouded Isles
- November – Neocron launches
- November – Anarchy Online: The Notum Wars
- November – Asheron’s Call 2 launches
- December – The Sims Online launches
- January – Entropia Universe (Project Entropia) launches
- February – Ultima Online: Age of Shadows
- February – EverQuest: The Legacy of Ykesha
- February – A Tale in the Desert launches
- February – EverQuest Online Adventures launches
- March – Shadowbane launches
- March – Ashen Empires launches
- April – Final Fantasy XI: Rise of the Zilart
- May – EVE Online launches
- May – Planetside launches
- June – Star Wars Galaxies launches
- June – Toontown Online launches
- June – Rubies of Eventide launches
- June – Second Life launches
- June – Dark Age of Camelot: Foundations
- August – Motor City Online closes
- September – EverQuest: Lost Dungeons of Norrath
- September – Anarchy Online: Shadowlands
- October – Lineage II launches
- October – Planetside: Core Combat
- October – Dark Age of Camelot: Trials of Atlantis
- November – EverQuest Online Adventures: Frontiers
- December – EVE Online: Castor
- December – Puzzle Pirates launches
- December – Horizons/Istaria launches
- February – EverQuest: Gates of Discord
- April – City of Heroes launches
- June – Dark Age of Camelot: New Frontiers
- July – Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst releases
- September – EverQuest: Omens of War
- September – Final Fantasy XI: Chains of Promathia
- September – Anarchy Online: Alien Invasion
- September – Earth & Beyond closes
- September – Saga of Ryzom launches
- September – Neocron 2 launches
- October – Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Lightspeed
- October – Meridian 59: Evolution
- November – Ultima Online: Samurai Empire
- November – World of Warcraft launches
- November – EverQuest 2 launches
- November – EVE Online: Exodus
- December – Dark Age of Camelot: Catacombs
- December – Anarchy Online goes free-to-play
- February – EverQuest: Dragons of Norrath
- March – The Matrix Online launches
- March – EverQuest 2: The Bloodline Chronicles
- March – Mimesis Online closes
- April – Guild Wars launches
- May – Star Wars Galaxies: Rage of the Wookies
- May – Asheron’s Call 2: Legions
- June – EverQuest 2: The Splitpaw Saga
- June – EVE Online: Exodus: Cold War
- July – Asheron’s Call: Throne of Destiny
- August – Ultima Online: Mondain’s Legacy
- September – EverQuest: Depths of Darkhallow
- September – EverQuest 2: Desert of Flames
- October – Dark Age of Camelot: Darkness Rising
- October – City of Villains
- October – Club Penguin launches
- November – Star Wars Galaxies: Trials of Obi-Wan
- November – Star Wars Galaxies’ New Game Enhancements (NGE)
- December – Asheron’s Call 2 closes
- December – EVE Online: Red Moon Rising
- February – EverQuest: Prophecy of Ro
- February – EverQuest 2: Kingdom of Sky
- February – Dungeons & Dragons Online launches
- March – EVE Online: Bloodlines
- April – Auto Assault launches
- April – Guild Wars: Factions
- April – Final Fantasy XI: Treasures of Aht Urhgan
- May – Seed launches
- June – EverQuest 2: The Fallen Dynasty
- August – Phantasy Star Universe launches
- September – EverQuest: The Serpent’s Spine
- September – Seed closes
- October – Guild Wars: Nightfall
- November – Dark Age of Camelot: Labyrinth of the Minotaur
- November – EverQuest 2: Echos of Faydwer
- November – EVE Online: Revelations I
- December – Anarchy Online: Lost Eden
- January – World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade
- January – Vanguard launches
- February – EverQuest: The Buried Sea
- April – Lord of the Rings Online launches
- May – Dungeon Runners launches
- June – EVE Online: Revelations II
- August – Auto Assault closes
- August – Guild Wars: Eye of the North
- September – Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus
- October – Hellgate: London launches
- October – Pirates of the Caribbean Online launches
- November – EverQuest: Secrets of Faydwer
- November – EverQuest 2: Rise of Kunark
- November – Final Fantasy XI: Wings of the Goddess
- November – Tabula Rasa launches
- December – EVE Online: Trinity
- January – Pirates of the Burning Sea launches
- April – Phantasy Star Online closes on its last platform (Xbox)
- May – Age of Conan launches
- June – EVE Online: Empyrean Age
- August – The Sims Online closes
- October – EverQuest: Seeds of Destruction
- September – Warhammer Online launches
- September – Wizard 101 launches
- November – World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
- November – EverQuest 2: The Shadow Odyssey
- November – Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria
- November – EVE Online: Quantum Rise
- January – Hellgate: London closes
- February – Tabula Rasa closes
- February – Darkfall launches
- February – Anarchy Online: Legacy of the Xan
- March – EVE Online: Apocrypha
- March – Runes of Magic launches
- April – Free Realms launches
- June – Jade Dynasty launches
- July – Shadowbane closes
- August – The Matrix Online closes
- August – Rubies of Eventide closes
- September – Ultima Online: Stygian Abyss
- September – Aion launches
- September – Champions Online launches
- September – Fallen Earth launches
- September – DDO goes free-to-play
- December – Alganon launches
- December – EverQuest: Underfoot
- December – Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood
- December – EVE Online: Dominion
- January – Dungeon Runners closes
- February – Global Agenda launches
- February – Star Trek Online launches
- February – EverQuest 2: Sentinel’s Fate
- May – EverQuest 2: Halas Reborn
- May – Age of Conan: Rise of the Godslayer
- May – EVE Online: Tyrannis
- June – All Points Bulletin launches
- June – Mortal Online launches
- June – Global Agenda goes free-to-play
- July – Need for Speed World launches
- August – City of Heroes: Going Rogue
- August – A Tale in the Desert: Fifth Telling
- August – Lineage II: Freya
- August — EverQuest 2 goes free-to-play
- August — Hello Kitty Online launches
- September — All Points Bulletin closes
- September — Final Fantasy XIV launches
- September — LOTRO goes free-to-play
- September — Pirates of the Burning Sea: Power & Prestige
- September — Aion: Assault on Balaurea
- October — LEGO Universe launches
- October — Vindictus launches
- October — Wizard101: Celestia
- October — EverQuest: House of Thule
- October — Darkfall: Hellfreeze
- October — Ultima Online: High Seas
- November — Perpetuum Online launches
- December — World of Warcraft: Cataclysm
- December — EVE Online: Incursion
- January – DC Universe Online launches
- January – Champions Online goes free-to-play
- February – EverQuest II: Destiny of Velious
- February – Earthrise launches
- March – RIFT launches
- March – Xsyon launches
- March – Black Prophecy launches
- April – World of Tanks launches
- April – Global Agenda goes free-to-play
- April – Allods Online launches
- April – Super Hero Squad Online launches
- May – Faxion Online launches
- June – Lineage closes servers in North America
- June – EVE Online: Incarna
- June – Gods & Heroes launches
- July – Black Prophecy launches
- September – Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard
- September – City of Heroes goes free-to-play
- September – Faxion Online closes
- September – Glitch launches
- October – Fallen Earth goes free-to-play
- October – Dawntide launches
- November – EverQuest: Veil of Alaris
- November – EVE Online: Crucible
- November – DC Universe Online goes free-to-play
- December – EverQuest II: Age of Discovery
- December – Star Wars Galaxies closes
- December – Star Wars: The Old Republic launches
- January – LEGO Universe closes
- January – Star Trek Online goes free-to-play
- February – Earthrise closes
- February – Wakfu launches
- March – EverQuest goes free-to-play
- March – EverQuest Online Adventures closes
- April – Aion goes free-to-play
- April – Jumpgate closes
- May – TERA launches
- May – EVE Online: Inferno
- June – Dungeons and Dragons Online: Menace of the Underdark
- July – The Secret World launches
- August – Guild Wars 2 launches
- August – Allods Online: New Horizons
- August – Vanguard goes free-to-play
- September – World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria
- September – Black Prophecy closes
- September – Phantasy Star Universe closes
- October – Lord of the Rings Online: Riders of Rohan
- October – Pirate101 launches
- November – City of Heroes closes
- November – Final Fantasy XIV taken offline
- November – PlanetSide 2 launches
- November – RIFT: Storm Legion
- November – EverQuest: Rain of Fear
- November – EverQuest II: Chains of Eternity
- November – Star Wars: The Old Republic goes free-to-play
- December – EVE Online: Retribution
- December – The Secret World goes buy-to-play
- December – Asheron’s Call 2 relaunches
- December – Glitch closes
- January – Wizardry Online launches
- February – TERA goes free-to-play
- February – Old School RuneScape launches
- March – Final Fantasy XI: Seekers of Adoulin
- March – Allods Online: Lords of Destiny
- April – Defiance launches
- April – Star Wars: The Old Republic: Rise of the Hutt Cartel
- April – Darkfall Unholy Wars reboot
- April – Age of Wushu launches
- April – Neverwinter launches
- May – Star Trek Online: Legacy of Romulus
- May – DUST 514 launches
- June – EVE Online: Odyssey
- June – RIFT goes free-to-play
- June – Puzzle Pirates launches on iPad
- June – Marvel Heroes launches
- July – RuneScape 3 launches
- August – Dungeons and Dragons Online: Shadowfell Conspiracy
- August – Neverwinter: Fury of the Feywild
- August – Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn launches
- September – MechWarrior Online launches
- September – Dragon’s Prophet launches
- September – Toontown Online closes
- September – Pirates of the Caribbean Online closes
- October – Path of Exile launches
- October – EverQuest: Call of the Forsaken
- November – EverQuest II: Tears of Veeshan
- November – Lord of the Rings Online: Helm’s Deep
- November – Eve Online: Rubicon
- November – EverQuest Mac closes
- December – Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning closes
- December – Star Wars: The Old Republic: Galactic Starfighter
- December – Neverwinter: Shadowmantle
- March – Free Realms closes
- March – Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures closes
- March – Path of Exile: Sacrifice of the Vaal
- April – The Elder Scrolls Online launches
- May – WildStar launches
- May – Neverwinter: Curse of Icewind Dale
- July – Vanguard closes
- July – Wizardry Online closes
- July – Firefall launches
- July – Swordsman Online launches
- August – Star Wars: The Old Republic: Galactic Strongholds
- August – RuneScape: Lost City of Elves
- August – Path of Exile: Forsaken Masters
- August – Neverwinter: Tyranny of Dragons
- September – Destiny launches
- September – ArcheAge launches (NA/EU)
- October – Star Trek Online: Delta Rising
- October – EverQuest: The Darkened Sea
- October – RIFT: Nightmare Tide
- November – World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor
- November – EverQuest II: Altar of Malice
- November – Neverwinter: Rise of Tiamat
- December – Star Wars: The Old Republic: Shadow of Revan
- December – TERA: Fate of Arun
- December – Elite: Dangerous launches
- December – The Crew launches
- March – The Elder Scrolls Online goes buy-to-play
- April – Neverwinter: Elemental Evil
- June – Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward
- June – Wander launches
- June – The Elder Scrolls Online launches on console
- July – Cabal 2 launches
- July – Trove launches
- July – Skyforge launches
- July – Path of Exile: The Awakening
- August – Guild Wars 2 core game goes free-to-play
- August – Neverwinter: Strongholds
- September – WildStar goes free-to-play
- September – Destiny: The Taken King
- October – Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire
- October – Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns
- October – Ultima Online: Time of Legends
- November – EverQuest 2: Terrors of Thalumbra
- November – EverQuest: The Broken Mirror
- November – The Crew: Wild Run
- November – Neverwinter: Underdark
- November – Dragon’s Prophet closes in North America
- December – Devilian launches in the west
- December – Xsyon goes buy-to-play
- December – Elite Dangerous: Horizons
- January – Blade & Soul launches in the west
- January – City of Steam closes
- January – RuneScape classic reopens
- March – The Division launches
- March – Black Desert launches in the west
- March – Neverwinter: The Maze Engine
- March – Path of Exile: Ascendancy
- March – FFXI on consoles closes
- April – EVE Online: Citadel
- April – Trove: Mantle of Power
- April – Ascent: The Space game launches
- May – DUST 514 closes
- May – Tree of Savior launches
- June – Landmark launches
- June – Lineage II: Helios
- July – PlanetSide closes
- July – Star Trek Online: Agents of Yesterday
- July – Aion: Echoes of Eternity
- July – Riders of Icarus soft launch
- August – World of Warcraft: Legion
- August – Neverwinter: Storm King’s Thunder
- September – LEGO Minifigures Online closes
- September – Star Trek Online launches on consoles
- September – Otherland launches
- September – Path of Exile: Atlas of Worlds
- September – Destiny: Rise of Iron
- November – EVE Online goes free-to-play
- November – The Crew: Calling All Units
- November – EverQuest: Empires of Kunark
- November – EverQuest II: Kunark Ascending
- November – RIFT: Starfall Prophecy (Prophecy of Ahnket)
- November – EVE Online: Ascension
- November – Neverwinter: Sea of Moving Ice
- December – Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne
- December – ArcheAge: Revelation
- January – Super Hero Squad Online closes
- January – Asheron’s Call closes
- January – Asheron’s Call 2 closes (again)
- February – Landmark closes
- February – Neverwinter: The Cloaked Ascendency
- March – Club Penguin closes
- March – Revelation Online launches
- March – Trove launches on consoles
- March – APB Reloaded launches on PlayStation 4
- March – Lineage II: Grand Crusade
- May – Ryzom goes free-to-play
- May – Neverwinter: Shroud of Souls
- June – Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood
- June – Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind
- June – RuneScape: Menaphos The Golden City
- June – Secret World Legends launches
- June – Elite Dangerous launches on PlayStation 4
- June – Marvel Heroes Omega launches on consoles
- July – Albion Online launches
- July – Firefall closes
- July – Neverwinter: Tomb of Annihilation
- August – Lord of the Rings Online: Mordor
- August – Trove: Eclipse
- August – Path of Exile: The Fall of Oriath
- August – Path of Exile launches on Xbox One
- August – Tree of Life launches
- September – Destiny 2 launches
- September – Kritika Online launches
- September – Perpetuum Online ceases active development
- September – Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire
- September – Villagers and Heroes: Starfall
- September – Black Desert: Kamasylvia
- October – EVE Online: Lifeblood
- October – Neverwinter: Swords of Chult
- November – EverQuest II: Planes of Prophecy
- November – Marvel Heroes closes
- December – EverQuest: Ring of Scale
- December – Dungeons and Dragons Online: Mists of Ravenloft
- December – Path of Exile: War of the Atlas
- January – Stash launches
- January – Darkfall: New Dawn launches
- February – Closers launches
- February – Neverwinter: Lost City of Omu
- March – RIFT: Prime progression server
- March – Devilian closes
- March – Sea of Thieves launches
- March – Shroud of the Avatar launches
- March – Trove: Heroes
- April – Skyforge: Overgrowth
- April – SoulWorker Online launches
- April – TERA launches on consoles
- April – Ultima Online goes free-to-play
- May – Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset
- May – EVE Online: Into the Abyss
- May – Villagers and Heroes: Wellspring
- May – Wild West Online launches
- June – The Crew 2 launches
- June – Jade Dynasty closes
- June – Swordsman Online closes
- June – Star Trek Online: Victory is Life
- June – Trove: Geode
- June – Neverwinter: Ravenloft
- July – Defiance 2050 launches
- August – World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth
- August – RuneScape Classic closes
- August – Black Desert Remastered
- September – Boundless launches
- September – Villagers and Heroes: Wrath of the Black Thrush
- October – MapleStory 2 launches
- October – Bless Online launches
- October – H1Z1 Just Survive closes
- November – LOTRO launches progression servers
- November – Fallout 76 launches
- November – WildStar closes
- November – EVE Online: Onslaught
- November – Neverwinter: The Heart of Fire
- November – Black Desert Online: Drieghan
- November – EverQuest II: Chaos Descending
- December – EverQuest: The Burning Lands
- December – Path of Exile: Betrayal
- December – Atlas launches (early access)
- March – Path of Exile: Synthesis
- March – Path of Exile launches on PlayStation 4
- April – OrbusVR launches
- April – Kritika Online closes
- April – Albion Online goes free-to-play
- April – Skyforge: New Horizons
- April – Neverwinter: Undermountain
- May – DDO: Masterminds of Sharn
- May – EVE Online: Invasion
- June – Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr
- June – Harry Potter Wizards Unite launches
- July – FFXIV: Shadowbringers
- July – Villagers and Heroes: A Tale of Earth and Sea
- July – Worlds Adrift (testing) closes
- August – World of Warcraft Classic launches
- August – Legends of Aria launches
- August – Pagan Online launches
- August – No Man’s Sky Beyond expands multiplayer
- August – DC Universe Online launches on Nintendo Switch
- August – Neverwinter: Uprising
- September – Astellia Online launches
- September – Skyforge: Ignition
- September – Bless Online closes
- September – Caravan Stories launches
- September – PlanetSide Arena launches (early access)
- October – ArcheAge Unchained releases
- October – Lord of the Rings Online: Minas Morgul
- October – Star Wars: The Old Republic: Onslaught
- October – Fallen Earth closes
- November – Dark Age of Camelot goes free-to-play
- December – EverQuest: Torment of Velious
- December – EverQuest II: Blood of Luclin
- January – PlanetSide Arena closes
- March – The Division 2: Warlords of New York
- March – RuneScape: Archaeology
- March – Bless Unleashed launches
- April – Fallout 76: Wastelanders
- May – MapleStory 2 closes
- May – Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor
- May – Phantasy Star Online 2 launches
- May – Population Zero launches
- June – ArcheAge: Garden of the Gods
- August – EVE Echoes launches
- October – Torchlight III launches
- November – Dungeons and Dragons Online: Fables of the Feywild
- November – World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
- December – Hex closes
- December – EverQuest: Claws of Veeshan
- December – EverQuest II: Reign of Shadows
- January – Life is Feudal MMO closes
- February – Neverwinter: Sharandar
- March – Magic Legends soft launches
- April – SoulWorker Online closes
- April – Twin Saga closes
- April – Defiance and Defiance 2050 closes
- April – Eden Eternal closes
- May – Elite Dangerous: Odyssey
- May – Star Wars Galaxies Legends: Cloud City
- June – Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood
- June – World of Warcraft Classic: The Burning Crusade
- June – Albion Online launches on mobile
- June – Aion Classic launches
- June – Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis launches
- July – Crowfall launches
- July – Swords of Legends Online launches
- August – Bless Unleashed launches
- August – Lineage II Aden releases
- September – New World launches
- October – Elyon launches
- October – Astellia Online closes
- October – Fallen Earth Classic launches
- November – Magic Legends closes
- November – Pathfinder Online closes
- November – Lord of the Rings Online: Fate of Gundabad
- December – Tower of Fantasy launches
- December – EverQuest: Terror of Luclin
- December – Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker
- December – EverQuest II: Visions of Vetrovia
- January – Mortal Online 2 launches
- January – Harry Potter Wizards Unite closes
- January – Broken Ranks launches
- January – Zenith launches
- February – Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons
- February – Star Wars: The Old Republic: Legacy of the Sith
- February – Lost Ark launches
- February – Sword of Legends Online: Firestone Legacy
- February – Path of Exile: Siege of Atlas
- April – Black Desert Online: Mountain of Eternal Winter
- June – Dungeons and Dragons Online: Isle of Dread
- June – Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle
- June – TERA’s PC version closes
- June – Diablo Immortal launches
- July – Echo of Soul closes
- July – Chimeraland launches
- July – Noah’s Heart launches
- September – Temtem launches
- September – Dual Universe launches
- September – World of Warcraft Classic: Wrath of the Lich King Classic
- October – Embers Adrift launches
- November – Forsaken World closes
- November – Crowfall closes
- November – EVE Online: Uprising
- November – Lord of the Rings Online: Before the Shadow
- November – World of Warcraft: Dragonflight
- November – EverQuest II: Renewal of Ro
- December – Elyon closes
- December – EverQuest: Night of Shadows
- January – The Repopulation closes
- February – Gloria Victus launches
- February – Destiny 2: Lightfall
- April – Mad World launches
- May – Ethyrial: Echoes of Yore launches
- June – Diablo IV launches
- June – Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom
- June – Swords of Legends Online closes
- June – EVE Online: Viridian
- June – Black Desert: Land of the Morning Light
- August – Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure
- August – Palia launches
- August – Wayfinder launches
- August – Dungeons and Dragons Online: Vecna Unleashed
- October – New World: Rise of the Angry Earth
- October – Gloria Victus closes
- November – EVE Online: Havoc
- November – Lord of the Rings Online: Corsairs of Umbar
- November – Fractured launches
- November – EverQuest II: Ballads of Zimara
- December – EverQuest: Laurion’s Song
- December – The Wagadu Chronicles launches
- January – Ravendawn launches
- January – Palworld launches
- January – APB Reloaded closes its console versions
- February – Myth of Empires launches
- February – Skull and Bones launches
- February – Last Epoch launches
- February – Nightingale launches
- February – Islands of Insight launches
- March – The Crew closes
- March – Revelation Online closes
- March – Chimeraland closes
- March – Quest Master’s Realm launches
- April – Age of Water launches
- April – Reign of Guilds launches
- April – Sky Children of Light launches
- April – Noah’s Heart closes
- June – Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road
- June – EVE Online: Equinox
Bio Break 
oops. more info here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_realm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meridian_59
Whoops didn’t see it the first time through, muh bad.
Awesome list.
Perhaps include in RED when MMOs shut down or close.
Tabula Rasa – February 28, 2009
Matrix Online – July 2009.
Auto Assault – ?
The Sims Online – ?
Earth and Beyond – ?
Asheron’s Call 2 – ?
oops another one you missed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_4th_Coming
It will also be interesting to see when a traditional monthly goes to FREE to Play.
Multi-player Battletech on AOL isn’t on the list. Not a true MMO as of todays standards, but back in the early 90’s it was.
Excellent job Syp. Especially including the dates of expansions as well as initial releases. A useful resource.
One thing though, Asheron’s Call launched November ’99, not 2000. Their tenth anniversary is coming up very soon.
Nice job, but I found it somewhat lacking in ease of overview.
Just spent a bit of time on this:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AumUqm56EaiXdGM0YlFWVmVrMXFpZFRhV2xSM1VVbEE&hl=en
Maybe someone feels like copying that and improve it to include quarters per year.
Face of Mankind will add some colour…
Released in March 2006 after a lengthy beta starting in 2004; in November 2007, publisher Ojom withdrew support for the game. Duplex Systems shut down the game’s servers in order to restructure it and relaunch as Face of Mankind: Rebirth.On June 30, 2008 Duplex Systems announced the cancellation of Face of Mankind: Rebirth, citing financial problems. On 8 October 2008, Duplex Systems announced via the face of mankind website that the game would be “coming back soon”.On 1 December 2008, this was confirmed with an official announcement by Duplex Systems and Nexeon Technologies.
Thanks for composing this list. Its quite interesting to look at the data such as launches and closes.
What about old Text Adventure games produced by Simutronics? Gemstone II (turned Gemstone III turned Gemstone IV) comes to mind. Back in the early 90s, that was an MMO for me — upwards of 25000 people simultaneously connected, if I recall correctly.
More info here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GemStone_IV
*2500
Here is one you missed, an open-world sandbox, dragon, crafting oriented MMO with very nice community.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istaria:_Chronicles_of_the_Gifted
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Tale_in_the_Desert
The first “telling” began in Feb 2003 and there have been others since then. (Perhaps these could be listed as expansions?) Check out the “Development” section for the dates.
You should check out http://www.raphkoster.com/gaming/mudtimeline.shtml for some more early MMO history (and some tidbits missing from your own list).
You missed Horizons – Empire of Istaria
http://www.istaria.com/
Horizons launched in December 2003 according to Gamespot :
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/horizons/similar.html?mode=versions
Another one, Risk Your Life (RYL).
Started in June 2005 according to Gamespot.
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/riskyourlife/tech_info.html
Toontown Online: June 2003
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toontown_Online
(I’m surprisingly surprised that nobody’d already mentioned it.)
A couple more that had major impact on other MMO’s
I remember hearing about Horizons: Empires of Istaria when I was playing AC1 and it was in beta for a couple years. There was major scandals about developer money but I can’t find the links to it anymore.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/index.html?curid=879184
http://www.massively.com/2008/04/15/struggling-mmo-horizons-renamed-istaria/
Necron which had naught bits in it and caused all kinds of fun because of dancers you could not interact with… lol
neocron launched in 2002
neocron 2 launched in 2004
http://ng.neocron.com/ 2002 and 2004
and something should be said to the fact that all of the early ones were graphic MUD not MMO’s that term came later with EQ maybe. I’ve still got the beta cd around here somewhere… but more is the point that with out adventure (Zork rip off) things would have been different how much who knows but even as M59 the realms came otu there were still MUDs that had more players at the time.
You also Missed Hellgate london 07/08
Dungeons runners is closing
What Tessa said. Or, to put it another way:
2010
January – Dungeon Runners closes
February – Star Trek Online opens
not surprised you missed this one, not a lot of people were online at the time. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shadow_of_Yserbius
Another thing worth analysing by sorting those things a little differently:
Game Launches vs. Game Expansions/Improvements.
It might be interesting to see, how fast, how often, and how long MMOs took to build on top of their existing game and whether this actually makes a difference to their longevity.
You might have to add “large content updates” into the mix too [i.e. like the latest WoW Dungeon Finder] or any “innovative” feature.
Reason is since the whole “innovation vs polish” debate i’m wondering why company’s launch new MMOs as opposed to innovating/improving their existing MMOs and whether there is a pattern there…..
I’m specifically looking at EA/Cryptic/NCSoft/SOE whom all have multiple MMOs vs. the behemoth Blizzard who has only one MMO .
Nice Job! I definitely will be referencing this list in my MMO Video Blog when I need specific dates, If you don’t get mentioned in my next episode with a link, smack me! 🙂
The historian in you will be interested in this…
http://www.platohistory.org/conference/50th-anniversary/
Plato is where I got my multiplayer gaming start in 1986. And it goes back to the 70’s!
The blog on the conference website includes a story of a DoS attack carried out by a young guy in 1974.
I can now add an upcoming date.
2010
* July – City of Heroes: Going Rogue
Great to see WW2OL listed. Started with that MMO in November 2002 when the Mac version was released – been there every month since.
Currently in F2P DDO, LOTRO lifetime, Star Trek Online – 3 month commitment to see if more content is added, Heroes – dropped after 3 months a bit boring, played EVE for 2 years – mining got boring.
Still today – WW2OL presents the best game challenge and rush.
If free updates to superhero MMOs count, here are some more items that belong on the list:
2004
* June – City of Heroes: Through the Looking Glass
* September – City of Heroes: A Shadow of the Past
2005
* January – City of Heroes: A Council of War
* May – City of Heroes: Colosseum
* August – City of Heroes: Forest of Dread
* October – City of Heroes: Along Came a Spider
2006
* June – City of Heroes/Villains: Destiny Manifest
* November – City of Heroes/Villains: To Protect and Serve
2007
* May – City of Heroes/Villains: Breakthrough
* July – City of Heroes/Villains: Invasion
* November – City of Heroes/Villains: A Stitch in Time
2008
* May – City of Heroes/Villains: Midnight Hour
* December – City of Heroes/Villains: Power and Responsibility
2009
* April – City of Heroes/Villains: Architect
* June – City of Heroes/Villains: Anniversary
* September – City of Heroes/Villains: Power Spectrum
2010
* March – Champions Online: Revelations
* April – City of Heroes/Villains: Dark Mirror
Correction — City of Heroes: Going Rogue has been pushed back to August 2010. We apologize for any convenience this may cause.
Time to update the timeline for APB.
Requiescat in pace.
Nice post but it’s pretty tough to read with black on black. Glad to see EQOA represented.
-Stoney
eqoa.wordpress.com
Stoney skrev: “Nice post but it’s pretty tough to read with black on black.”
It’s not very easy to read with black on dark brown either. Also:
2010
* August – City of Heroes/Villains: Shades of Gray (free expansion)
Not sure how fine you want to split hairs, but as I understand it The Realm Online didn’t launch (as most of us would define it) in 1995, rather it entered a public alpha. Raph’s MUD Timeline has The Realm Online entering Beta in 1996, but doesn’t include the month as you’ve done for your entries.
It depends on what you mean by “launches”, I guess. But, Meridian 59 is recognized as being the first game to launch via retail, for all that’s worth.
Yet another update: in the first quarter of 2011, Champions Online will become a free-to-play/subscription hybrid a la the Atari/Turbine fantasy MMOs. Also, DC Universe Online will launch in March of 2011.
For Darkfall:
“Hellfreeze” Expansion – October 2010
“Conquer the Seas” Expansion – December 2009
Darkfall’s first Expansion – July 2009
lol APB Renamed APB: Reloaded, Will Become Free-to-Play
http://www.industrygamers.com/news/apb-renamed-apb-reloaded-will-become-free-to-play/
November 2010 – Warhammer Online: Verminous Horde
December 2010 – Eve Online: Incurssion (first portion)
Thanks Shadow! I’m not going to include WAR, because it wasn’t an official expansion (no matter what terminology they like to use), but the EVE thing, for sure.
APB is coming back from the grave
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=275076
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=278424
Maybe not big enough to be included, but in terms of quality Rubies of Eventide certainly deserves a mention. It ran for six years and I loved it. It’s the closed MMO I miss most (that and Ferentus).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubies_of_Eventide
The oddly named Minions of Mirth has also been around for a long time now.
http://minions.prairiegames.com/trac/mom/phpbb
This list just made me feel really, really old. Thanks Syp 😛
http://www.1up.com/features/creatures-habitat-mmo
According to 1up it launched in 1985. Technically, I think it’s the first graphical MMO. I didn’t even have a modem back then, so I can’t confirm. However, back in 1991 some amazingly prescient insights into modern MMOs were published, it’s the second article I originally linked. A TLDR summary of what stuck out to me can be found here: [http://yfernbottom.blogspot.com/2009/12/habitat.html]
It’s one of my least popular posts, even considering hardly anyone was reading my blog back then. Despite my promise, I actually never did get around to tracking down the book cited in the articles. Salt grains may be needed.
I’d add Dark Sun Online to this list. I remember it being pretty popular among members of my old Diablo guild, back around 1997. Not sure when it started.
You forgot to add when Runsecape Went 3-D 😀
I wonder what I would have thought if I could have seen this list in 2002 when I took my first hesitant step into MMOs with Runescape. I was promptly mauled by a bear.
Awesome timeline!!! It’s realy interesting. But another question brought me here….don’t you know about another researches about origin of MMO elements and their improvements??
Not sure if counts, but:
September 2011: Glitch launches
November 2011: Glitch “unlaunches”
December 2012: Glitch closes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glitch_%28video_game%29
2004: September 1st: DOFUS by Ankama Games
Secret World is technically buy-to-play. Still have have to buy the box.
Diablo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diablo_%28video_game%29
Not sure how nobody’s caught this before, but:
spring 2013
Star Wars: The Old Republic — Rise of the Hutt Cartel
2012:
November:
Nov 1: Final Fantasy XIV 1.0 final character save (No progress saved for 2.0/A Realm Reborn after this point)
Nov. 11 FFXIV 1.0 final event and official server closing (temporarily brought back up on 11/21 until 12/31, again no progress saved for 2.0/ARR)
I visit this list about once a year and it’s amazing to see the growth of the industry. With the waves of MMO’s being shut down, it’s almost as if this can be broken up into multiple generations.
Planeshift has been around awhile…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlaneShift_%28video_game%29
http://194.116.72.94/pswiki/index.php?title=Main_Page
TQQdles™
10Six should be in the list.
SWG: An Empire Divided came a year before Jump To Light Speed . Regardless of personal opinion, this was definitely NOT a piddley MMO. It opened 26 June 2003 and was followed by Jump to Light Speed in Oct 2004, Rage of the Wookies in May 2005, and Trials of Obi-Wan Nov 2005.December 15th 2011 was the final run of their servers.
Asheron’s Call 1 went free to play in August 2014. All servers are still up 15 years after launch.
Great list. Nice to see Faxion on here. Might want to add the demise of Prius Anima, it didn’t last long in North America, but it is unfortunately kind of infamous for being the cause of an infant death in Korea.
Great List. Thank for doing this and keeping it up to date! I do have one addition/correction for you. The Lineage II Launch date is set as October of 2003. This is correct for the Korean Launch. The NA/EU/Oceanic was April 2004 (Same day as City of Heroes.)
age of wushu 2 release end of 2017/2018
Is this still being updated? I’ve been following this list for years but unless the genre is dead (which it kind of is) there’s not much in the future.
Very good article. I’m experiencing a few of these issues as well..
Howdy this is somewhat of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding knowledge so I wanted to get guidance from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Hello! I wonder if Ragnarok Online should be included? Released Korea, August 31 2002. US, June 1st 2003. I’m not sure about the side games/sequels.
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I just went on Blogspot and made a blog, I want to make it for invited members only. I’ve seen blogs like that, but I don’t know how to do it myself. I already made it so that my blog isn’t visible from my profile, but I don’t know what to do next..
Where is Perfect World?
Where is Priston Tale?
I just just thought of
Rf online- 2004 till present
Archlord – 2006 till Jan 1 2014 and
Archlord 2 – sept 2014 till Nov 2015
yeah, ragnarok online is definitely missing. that game was HUGE!!!
Great List brought back a lot of memories.
Atlantica Online is missing that consumed a large portion of my life in the year it was released, it was quite unique and never seen an mmo like it since (and also consumed a large portion of my wallet which put me off loot box games for life)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantica_Online
This is so great!