The following is a news update from the official Diablo 3 developers, Blizzard.

When we initially designed and implemented the auction houses, the driving goal was to provide a convenient and secure system for trades. But as we’ve mentioned on different occasions, it became increasingly clear that despite the benefits of the AH system and the fact that many players around the world use it, it ultimately undermines Diablo’s core game play: kill monsters to get cool loot. With that in mind, we want to let everyone know that we’ve decided to remove the gold and real-money auction house system from Diablo III.

We feel that this move along with the Loot 2.0 system being developed concurrently with Reaper of Souls™ will result in a much more rewarding game experience for our players.
We’re working out the details of how the auction house system will be shut down, but we wanted to share the news as soon as we made the decision in order to give everyone as much advance notice as possible. Please note that the shutdown will occur on March 18, 2014. We will keep everyone informed as we work through this process.

Josh Mosqueira and I wanted to provide everyone with a little more information behind this decision, so please have a look at the video, and stay tuned to this site for further updates in the months ahead.

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Ubisoft and Blue Byte have announced the start of the open beta for Silent Hunter Online. Silent Hunter is a free to play, browser based, submarine battle simulator.

In game, players take position on board their submarines, hunt down enemy convoys, manage their personal flotillas and take part in server-wide dynamic campaigns. There’s a good focus on multi-player experience, every mission can be played cooperatively.

You will be able to play every mission in real-time and in co-op, by teaming up online to form a Wolfpack and operating as a single unit to tackle your own missions, or the larger server wide campaigns. Other features are;

·         Authentic boat types: The Silent Hunter series has always had historical authenticity in gaming. Silent Hunter Online is no different and has a number of historical boat types for you to command and to target.
·         Dynamic Campaign: All players participate in the global, server-wide campaign and work together to turn the tides of war in their favour.
·         Multiplayer experience: Submarines are hunter and prey at the same time. To stand a better chance against enemy fleets, you should team up online and form wolfpacks.
·         Stunning battles : Silent Hunter Online takes full advantage of the latest Flash 11 technology to display real-time 3D combat in your browser.

Sign up for beta at the official site.

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From now until September 25th, WebZen are running their latest event for MU Online. The Golden Colossus event started recently and you can still take part.

MU is under attack and it’s an invasion of golden monsters. Killing the gold mobs will give you random rewards, from zen, to jewels and if you are lucky – rare golden apples. The player who collects the most golden apples will win the grand prize from Sandboxr. It’s worth fighting over, you can have your own exclusive ~6” 3D printed figure, customised with your own name. Grand prize is this Golden Knight with dragon armor! Three players will split second place with runner-up prizes; 4” 3D printed figure of the MU Knight with Dragon Armor. Third place for the next 100 players will be 500 W Coins (P).

For more details go to the official site.

Bigpoint, developer and publisher of Merc Elite, is revealing exclusive details today on the Heavy Gunner – the second of five playable classes. Merc Elite is a military-themed MOBA, and it’s set to be launched in autumn 2013. It’s going to be a free-to-play browser title, it’s currently in closed beta testing.

The Heavy Gunner isn’t going to be most nimble member on your team. But he his abilities allow him to prepare a defensive position with his “Bounding Mine” skill, take cover from afar and unleash a hail of bullets on anyone trying to break through the defense. Included in his arsenal of elite skills are the “Shock RPG,” which releases a single powerful rocket and the “Rocket Barrage,” which blasts the target with four missiles at once. Heavy Gunners’ are going to be putting out a lot of covering fire

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Official site.

Bingyou Animation have started their closed beta signups for upcoming Naruto web RPG – Ultimate Naruto. Combining a pure anime-based plot and exhilarating combat, Ultimate Naruto players will go hands-on with their favourite characters from the Naruto anime series. You will train and build your character as you go, I would take Tsunade or Jiraiya.

Just like characters in the anime series, Ultimate Naruto players will be able to raise and train a tailed beast of their very own, available after completing a series of quests. Tailed beasts possess powerful forms of chakra and can be boosted through leveling up in battle, gaining an extra tail for every 10 levels they grow. Persist with training, and ninjas can be the owner of a nine-tailed beast – the ultimate embodiment of chakra energy.

The closed beta is starting today so head on over to the official site to sign up and play.

Notorious MMO Infestation: Survivor Stories (Formally known as The War Z) recently had its internal network compromised. An anonymous source has sent us the following imagery displaying what appears to be vital internal network information between colleagues of the game. Infestation is well-known for it rudimentary mechanics and lack luster game-play. Currently boasting a 20/100 Metascore , Infestation MMO is seen as one of the worst games of its genre and is plagued by hackers and cheaters. To create your own Infestation server , visit the following section here.

Joymax have released their next wave of limitless avatars for Silkroad Online and Silkroad-R.  The sixth and final wave of limitless avatars is only available for a limited time, so if you are interested in getting some of these permanent costumes, you can get the details at the official site.

Basically for a year now Joymax have been slowly discontinuing some older costumes to make space for new selections in the Silkroad Online shops. Before each avatar set is retired, you have a final chance to buy a permanent version which will not expire. Limited edition items always become cool so don’t miss out.

The sixth wave of limitless avatar costumes includes the General Abshad Outfit, the SNS 2013 costume, the Steam Punk outfit, the Arabia 2013 variation, the traditional Wedding Outfit and the ornate Chinese Wedding Outfit, as well as the now retired Knight Version 2 costume.

World of Warcraft may have become synonymous with the word MMORPG, but it was not that long ago that the worlds most subscribed online multi-player was just a work-in-progress. Taken in 2001, the below scans show what the game was originally an unpolished version of what came to be known as the worlds most played MMORPG. Whilst the game had a clear and apparent makeover since it’s 2001 debut in Computer Gaming World magazine, it’s easy to see the foundations of what made the game so great in the eye of millions of players.

WarpPortal has announced their latest update to Ragnarok Online 2, including the new playable race: Noel. This update will introduce the first non-human playable race in Ragnarok history. The Noel arrive ready to play tomorrow, September 11^th.

“The new options for both looks and play-style options is what I’m most looking forward to”, said Jason Koerperich, “cute immortal devil-elf children wielding death magic, with a beautiful and tragic story; what’s not to love?”

The Noel Update gives you the chance to play the game as the Noel, an Elf-like race. The Noel will begin the game as Alters, using melee attacks and some area ranged attacks. At level 25 they can become Crecentia, using their many Alter skills with the addition of debuff skills, or Soul Makers, giving up their Alter skills for death magic, healing capabilities and strengthening buffs.

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Official site.

Today Ubisoft has announced the development of Tom Clancy’s EndWar Online. They have also started sign-ups for beta keys, head to their official site to register for one. EndWar Online is a browser-based game for PC and Mac. Developed by Ubisoft Shanghai, the same team behind the console version of Tom Clancy’s EndWar. Tom Clancy’s EndWar Online is a tactical and strategic MMO that will have real time battles, HQ and army management, and massive community-based wars.

The new Endwar is set in next stage browser technology to deliver an new level of browser based experience. In EndWar Online you are the last leaders in the aftermath of WW3.  Resources and money have run dry, factions are on the brink of collapse and rogue warlords have taken over. As one of the last leaders, you must work with others to rebuild your homeland, reuniting your faction and fight for earth’s last remaining resources.  You will choose a side, the high-tech European Enforcers or Russia’s Spetsnaz who deploy brute force tactics, to lead into battle. The game has single player and player vs. player challenges, this looks like it could be quite a fun game.

“We have been looking for a way to bring EndWar back to its fans and have found an accessible way with Tom Clancy’s EndWar Online ,” said Thomas Painçon, EMEA Free-to-Play Publishing Director at Ubisoft. “By offering gameplay directly in browsers, we hope old fans and new alike will enjoy this new EndWar experience and join in the quest to lead their faction to victory.”

Check out their trailer below and don’t forget to register for a beta key.

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