According to this designer, MMORPGs are stagnant and the reason is Animal Crossing

Ralph Koster, recognized for his work as a lead developer on Ultima Online and director on Star Wars Galaxies, has expressed his concerns about the state of MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games). In a recent interview with GamesRadar+, Koster stated that the genre has been in a stagnation since 2004, with a notable lack of innovation. According to him, the model established by World of Warcraft has limited the diversity of titles, maintaining a dominance that has reduced the creative scope that used to characterize MMORPGs.

Koster points out that, although some genres, such as open-world survival simulators, have incorporated less visible features in current MMORPGs, it is the cozy games—non-violent games like Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley—that have emerged as an alternative in this space. These games have managed to offer experiences based on creativity and socialization, aspects that have been disappearing from more traditional MMORPGs, where elements such as player housing, user-driven economies, and social activities have significantly decreased.

He is developing his own MMORPG

Now, as CEO of Playable Worlds, Koster is developing a new game titled Stars Reach, which aims to modernize classic MMORPG concepts and respond to the demand for more immersive parallel worlds. According to Koster, this new title will not simply replicate the features of MMORPGs from 20 years ago, but will focus on satisfying a “huge appetite” for more engaging and connected gaming experiences, similar to those seen in Sword Art Online and the previously mentioned games.

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