MMOs

Massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) are video games in which a large number of players interact within a persistent virtual world. The game world continues to exist and evolve even when individual players log off, and players share space, items, and social structures within it. MMOs typically feature character progression through levels or skills, a quest or goal system, and a variety of activities such as combat, exploration, crafting, and player cooperation or competition.

MMOs are a broad category that includes MMORPGs (the largest subgroup), MMO shooters, MMORTS, and sandbox or social MMOs. Common elements include large-scale environments, instanced dungeons or raids, guilds or clans, and economies driven by player trade. Gameplay can emphasize PvE, PvP, or both. The player community is often a major aspect, with in-game chat, markets, and social features.

Technical aspects: built on centralized or distributed servers, sometimes split into shards or regions; latency and bandwidth influence experience; scalable server architectures, housing, economies. Business models vary: subscription-based, buy-to-play, or free-to-play with microtransactions; some use hybrid approaches; monetization can affect design and balance.

History and examples: early MUDs and virtual worlds led to graphical MMOs, with Ultima Online (1997) and EverQuest (1999) as milestones. World of Warcraft (2004) popularized the genre; in recent years, Final Fantasy XIV and Guild Wars 2 have sustained large populations. Other notable titles include EVE Online and RuneScape. MMOs continue to evolve with cross-platform play and evolving monetization practices, while communities and ongoing development shape endgame content and the life cycle.