Why Your Beloved Franchise Is Unlikely to Become an MMORPG

Okay, I know I just wrote about how Sony should turn The Legend of Dragoon into an MMO. But that doesn’t mean I think it’s probable. Let’s be honest, most MMO enthusiasts have had similar thoughts. We see stories we love and think, “I want to live in that world!” Sometimes, it happens. Games like Star Trek Online, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and DC Universe Online prove it’s possible. But it’s unlikely, especially if the IP is niche.

For example, I’ve always wanted a Babylon 5 MMO. Realistically, though, Babylon 5 might not be ideal. It’s mostly set on a space station in the middle of nowhere. Yes, some stories take characters to other planets, but briefly. And space combat is usually near the station.

A B5 MMO could expand on the original story and let players explore places we barely saw. But that requires a lot of world-building. And it might not be worth it for a lesser-known IP with a demanding fanbase.

The biggest obstacle is the rights holders. Not everyone wants to make a game. Games are hard and expensive to make. Turning a popular one into a profitable enterprise is hard enough. (Otherwise, SWTOR wouldn’t have gone free-to-play so poorly.) Making a niche IP into a profitable MMO is nearly impossible.

Plus, there are already many MMOs competing for players, and there are only so many MMO players. MMORPGs take a lot of time, and many players don’t want that commitment.

The “big” MMORPGs are big because they have a loyal player base. Even if they’re not as popular as before, they still have players. And when they improve, old players return.

New MMORPGs attract players from other games out of curiosity. But if they’re not special, those players go back home when a new expansion releases.

Existing IPs can limit the devs’ creativity. Also, they have to deal with both game dev executives and IP owners. And too many executives can ruin a game.

So, unfortunately, the chances of our favorite IPs becoming MMORPGs are slim. We’re more likely to get a battler, a standalone RPG, or something similar. Or it might become part of an existing game as a crossover.

But maybe that’s for the best. Sometimes, getting what you want isn’t as good as you think it would be.