Lineage 2 Classic brings back old-time MMOing in October

YouTube YouTube
Watch On

The old-time MMO scene will grow a little larger next month with the launch of Lineage 2 Classic, "a return to those days when 'hardcore' truly meant something," as publisher NCsoft put it. So that would be, let's see here... 2004. 

Not exactly the Stone Age, then, but things were definitely different, and while I wouldn't necessarily say they were "better," the ongoing interest in World of Warcraft Classic and Old School Runescape shows that there's clearly an audience for that kind of throwback gaming. Dungeons will not be instanced, and open-world PvP means that you'll need to keep your guard up, because you'll be penalized experience points if you die. 

It's not a complete reversion to the good old days, however. Lineage 2 Classic will remain free to play, with a new shop that will offer cosmetics, experience-boosting buffs, and other handy in-game items. Ahead of release, NCsoft is also offering a couple of Classic Launch Packs, one for $10 and the other for $30, with XP buffs, healing potions, and other useful and attractive in-game loot. 

Lineage 2 Classic will open its doors on October 3. NCsoft will hold a preview livestream (and give away some launch packs, naturally) at 11 am PT/2 pm ET on September 28. 

Andy Chalk
US News Lead

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.

Latest in MMO
A goblin with sharp teeth, wearing goggles, lets out a mischievous cackle in WoW's latest patch: Undermine(d).
The hooligan hacker guild that tore up WoW's newest raid (twice) just posted video evidence of the whole thing, and it's got me feeling weirdly nostalgic
Dune Awakening
Dune Awakening's latest trailer offers a glimpse of its massive coriolis storms, which reshape swathes of the map each week for 'infinite exploration'
Concept art of WoW's upcoming player housing system, showing a warm homestead with a welcoming figure in shade.
WoW flexes its MMO player housing system in a new blog post, and it really might just beat FF14's dated furniture placement into the dirt
Orithopter shooting down another in Dune
Dune: Awakening confirms air-to-air combat in ornithopters
Defiance players
A dead MMO that launched with a now-cancelled TV show in 2013 is coming back 4 years after servers were shut down
Gallywix wears an uneasy smile as he's confronted by Xal'atath in WoW: The War Within.
World of Warcraft guild uses exploits to get world 'first' on the game's new raid, gets banned, puts its name backwards and does it again
Latest in News
Mechs fight on the outside of a spaceship
MechWarrior 5: Clans is getting DLC with playable Elementals and a fight on the outside of a spaceship
Aloy - Horizon
'I feel worried about this art form:' Unsurprisingly, the real Aloy from Horizon isn't a fan of AI Aloy
Crying laughing emoji with disturbing realistic elements for REPO
REPO's first update will add a new map and a 'duck bucket' so we can finally give that pesky quacker a time out
Man facing camera
The Day Before studio reportedly sues Russian website for calling infamous disaster-game a 'scam'
Will Poulter holding a CD ROM
'What are most games about? Killing': Black Mirror Season 7 includes a follow-up to 2018 interactive film Bandersnatch
Casper Van Dien in Starship Troopers
Sony, which is making a Helldivers 2 movie, is also making a new Starship Troopers movie, but it's not based on the Starship Troopers movie we already have