25 years later, this forgotten sci-fi MMORPG pioneer is stuck in limbo and has no plans to leave

The MMORPG genre has seen a lot of changes and brand new franchises over the years. However, one of the most notable developers in the genre is Funcom. The Norwegian developer has been creating games of various genres for over 30 years, with its most recent MMORPG being last year Dune: The Awakening. Bringing Frank Herbert's science fiction world to life is no easy task, but Dune: The Awakening turned out to be one of the biggest online games of 2025. However, there is another Funcom title that is still holding on to life after 25 years: Anarchy Online.

Anarchy Online was released by Funcom in the summer of 2001 and became famous as the first game in the genre to focus on an actual sci-fi setting. Fast forward 25 years and MMORPGs still somehow manage to stay afloat in a sea of ​​gaming that often leads to online server shutdowns after a few years. Anarchy Online may have made history by being the world's first true sci-fi MMORPG, but it's also a good example of how some games can survive, even if it's “survival” in the mildest sense of the word. Although still active, it hasn't changed significantly or added new content in quite some time.

After 25 years, Anarchy Online is stuck in a limbo that will probably never end

For those who don't know the game, Anarchy Online takes place on the desert planet Rubi-Ka, so Dune: The Awakening and Conan's Exiles this is definitely not the first time Funcom has created desert biomes. Thriving in Rubi-Ka can sound an awful lot like surviving in the Dune: The AwakeningIt's the desert of Arrakis, but the former has its own identity. This is one of the main reasons why it keeps players even after so many years without updates.

A quick overview of everything Anarchy Online has to offer

• 14 character classes to choose from

• Treaty based missions

• Struggle for territory and resources

• A wide variety of biomes to explore

• Unique vehicles

• Basic building

Anarchy Online boasts all the ingredients a strong MMORPG needs, and that's why its community sticks around. Whether you're a die-hard fan who's been playing since day one, or a newbie looking to experience an old-school MMORPG, Anarchy Online is a special game for many people. That's not something to brag about Dune: The AwakeningNumber of players, but the player base is still quite active on the internet. There's even an official Reddit page that has players asking for tips and linking to the game's link.

Image via Funcom

Anarchy Online is a nostalgic MMORPG that represents the genre in its purest form

As one of the longest running MMORPG games, Anarchy OnlineThe visuals are far from Dune: The Awakening's graphics, but that honestly makes it that much more charming. A dated aesthetic Anarchy Online it's as much a part of the game's identity as its mechanics. However, aside from the visuals, one of the main reasons sci-fi MMORPGs have lived on for so long is its complexity and content-rich world. Character customization is still on par with modern RPGs, and newcomers who have been curious to try the game have hours and hours of exploration and missions to experience before they run out of new things to discover. For most online games, it's hard to get past a few years, but Anarchy Online remained safe from shutdown. But what's most confusing of all is that the game has lasted this long while still having a monthly subscription attached to it.

Anarchy Online has both a free-to-play and a paid version

For the most part, the free-to-play option is enough to spend many hours in the game. However, there are players who are invested enough to want the premium content that Funcom has to offer. The paid version unlocks access to all game expansions, monthly points and rewards, no character restrictions and allows maximum leveling to level 220. It's definitely a controversial move by Funcom, but there are players who continue to subscribe. Over the years, not every Funcom game has managed the kind of longevity it does Anarchy Online all the more impressive. .

• LEGO Minifigures Online (2015)

• Hide and Shriek (2016)

• Secret World Legends (2017)

• Conan Exiles (2018)

• Dune: The Awakening (2025)

This has been the past decade for Funcom, with three out of five games being adaptations of major franchises. LEGO minifigures online was closed in 2016 after failing to meet Funcom's financial goals. hide and scream was a decently fun co-op horror game Secret World Legends was a free-to-play reboot of another beloved Funcom MMORPG, The secret world. While Secret world legends' servers are active, the game does not have the same draw as Anarchy Onlineand reworked gameplay that shortened the learning curve turned off a lot of original players. Conan's Exiles is still one of the best fantasy MMORPGs and maintains a steady and strong fan base. Dune: The Awakening however, he is currently Funcom's golden child.

What Funcom has planned after Dune: Awakening is a big mystery

Funcom already confirmed it Dune: The Awakening updates are on the table for 2026. However, the developer remained silent on the details. The general plan is for more DLC and free updates, so it will be interesting to see what the rest of the year has in store for Arrakis.

It is highly probable Anarchy Online will remain in limbo until Funcom decides to pull the plug. However, nothing is impossible. There's still a small chance that another update from Funcom could be in the cards. Dune: The Awakening it may have been one of the best co-op games of 2025, but Anarchy Online has maintained its place as the king of MMORPG titles for over two decades.