25 Years Later, This Forgotten Sci-Fi MMORPG Pioneer Is Stuck In Limbo And Has No Plans On Leaving

The world of online role-playing games, or MMORPGs, is always evolving, with new games appearing all the time. But Funcom remains a key developer in the genre. This Norwegian company has been making games for over 30 years, and recently released Dune: Awakening in 2025. Adapting Frank Herbert’s famous sci-fi universe was a huge undertaking, and the game became one of the year’s biggest online hits. Despite this success, Funcom also continues to support another long-running title, Anarchy Online, which has been around for an impressive 25 years.

I still remember when Anarchy Online came out back in 2001 – it was a huge deal! It was the first MMO that really felt like it took place in a proper sci-fi universe. And honestly, it’s amazing that it’s still running after all these years. So many online games get shut down after just a couple of years, but Anarchy Online is still kicking. It really showed everyone what a sci-fi MMO could be, and it’s a bit of a testament to how some games can just… hang on. It’s still playable, but things haven’t really been updated or expanded much lately.

After 25 Years, Anarchy Online is Stuck in a Limbo That Will Likely Never End

If you haven’t played it, Anarchy Online is set on the desert planet Rubi-Ka, so Funcom has plenty of experience creating desert environments – Dune: Awakening and Conan Exiles aren’t their first attempts. While living on Rubi-Ka might feel similar to surviving in the desert of Dune: Awakening, Anarchy Online has its own unique feel. This distinct identity is a key reason why players have remained dedicated to the game for so long, even without recent updates.

A Brief Rundown of Everything Anarchy Online Has to Offer

14 character classes to choose from
Contract-based missions
Battling over territory and resources
A large variety of biomes to explore
Unique vehicles
Base building

Anarchy Online has everything a good MMORPG needs, which is why it still has a dedicated community. Whether you’ve been playing for years or are new to the game, Anarchy Online is a beloved title for many. While it doesn’t have as many players as newer games like Dune: Awakening, its online community remains active, with players connecting on platforms like Reddit to share advice and celebrate the game’s history.

Image via Funcom

Anarchy Online is a Nostalgia-Filled MMORPG That Represents the Genre in Its Purest Form

Even though its graphics aren’t as modern as newer games like Dune: Awakening, Anarchy Online‘s older look is actually part of what makes it so appealing. This long-running online game has stayed popular for years thanks to its deep gameplay and expansive world. It still offers impressive character customization, and new players will find tons of content to explore and quests to complete. Most online games don’t last very long, but Anarchy Online has managed to survive – and it’s remarkable that it’s done so while still requiring a monthly subscription.

Anarchy Online Has Both a Free-to-Play and Paid Version

I’ve been playing for a while now, and honestly, the free version gives you a TON of gameplay. But there are players, like me, who really get hooked and want everything the game offers. Paying for the subscription unlocks all the expansions, gives you monthly perks, lets you create as many characters as you want, and lets you level up to 220. It’s a bit of a risky change Funcom made, and not everyone agrees with it, but a lot of us have stuck around. Considering how many games Funcom hasn’t kept running for this long, the fact that Anarchy Online is still going strong is pretty amazing!

After Dune: Awakening, Funcom Can Hopefully Step Away From Blockbuster Franchises and Focus More On its Original Worlds

LEGO Minifigures Online (2015)
Hide and Shriek (2016)
Secret World Legends (2017)
Conan Exiles (2018)
Dune: Awakening (2025)

Over the past ten years, Funcom has primarily focused on games based on existing franchises, with three out of five titles being adaptations. LEGO Minifigures Online didn’t perform well financially and was discontinued in 2016. Hide and Shriek offered enjoyable cooperative horror gameplay, and Secret World Legends was a revamped free-to-play version of their earlier MMORPG, The Secret World. Although Secret World Legends is still running, it hasn’t reached the popularity of Anarchy Online, and changes made to simplify the game alienated some long-time fans. Conan Exiles remains a popular and well-supported fantasy MMORPG. Currently, Dune: Awakening is Funcom’s most promising project.

What Funcom Has Planned After Dune: Awakening is a Big Mystery

Funcom has announced that they’re planning updates for Dune: Awakening in 2026, but haven’t shared many specifics yet. They intend to add more downloadable content and free updates, so it will be exciting to see what new content arrives on Arrakis later this year.

Dune: Awakening‘s Raiders of the Broken Lands DLC is expected to launch sometime during Q1 of 2026.

It seems Anarchy Online is likely to stay as it is unless Funcom decides to shut it down completely. However, there’s still a small possibility of a new update. While Dune: Awakening was a standout co-op game in 2025, Anarchy Online has impressively held its position as one of the most important MMORPGs for over 20 years.

2026-01-27 22:38