Looking at the trailers it feels like a lot of the aesthetics could fit well in Anarchy Online (Rubi-Ka desert areas, some sci-fi indoor areas, even Shadow Lands?). And the PvP mechanics would fit so well for Omni vs. Clan warfare.
I feel the same way, but in my opinion, that doesn’t necessarily mean AO2 is any closer to becoming a reality. What makes AO unique - beyond its lore and aesthetics - is its complex skill system. However, I think younger players (the target audience) no longer seek out games with such steep learning curves. If AO2 is ever released in the future, I imagine it would resemble Dune: Awakening more than AO, at least in terms of gameplay and mechanics.
I feel like if Funcom jumped the shark and made a 3rd survival game and used AO as the theme I would honestly give up on the company entirely. Survival games are so overdone, and they’re not even fun. Like, sure, okay. Go gather and build things for 80 years and pretend that’s something that constitutes a game lol
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A lot of AO was based or at least was influenced on Dune, if you came to AO back in 2001 like I did or any day since and had previously read the Dune books before that it’s pretty hard to miss, as for the game; it’s actually pretty great, not an MMO but having a pretty great time with other AO players there atm feels like the old days or the early days of the 2019 server; skill system very much less complex than AO no implants or skills other than those of Witcher3/FPS games but perks and gear, gear really matters, combat is closer to an FPS/Witcher3 barriers would be it’s demanding on system requirements to have any hope of decent frame rate compared to AO which matters due to the combat system, oh they figured out npc pathing so there’s hope for pet pathing, the Dune game it’s self is worth it for the asking price, I got in around 200 hours playing solo as an RPG the storyline and side quests is worth the asking price.
Sounds like I’m being a Dune Awakening cheerleader I guess, well spent a few years doing that for AO didn’t I.
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I had hoped that Dune would be a bit more towards AO, but after playing it for a while it made me feel like it was Conan Exiles with less content (or simplified).
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I started AO in beta. When I saw Dune Awakening I instantly felt some familiarity with AO as well.
Well tbqh i think AO could benefit the exact same skill/buff system with some visual/gplay enhancement over what new engine brought, but i don’t honestly think it’ll come in current state of art. Which is sad as i’m sure there’d be a lot of people ready to contribute this if that was more opened …
Also there’d be way more immediate issues to solve that are 100% serversided, i indeed look toward lag/crash/cheat/abuse of game that annihilates both of its fondation & soul.
Still i appreciate to see the game’s still online in 2026, as unsure of seing any more-opened alternative so far. Idk for how long we’ll have it up … quite honestly i’d hope to see such games as old mmos enter abandonware publicity so to be saved from voiding.
Anarchy Online 2 would need a combat system similar to Conan Exiles (except with guns) & a deep twinking & leveling system that keeps people coming back for years. What made Anarchy Online great was the social aspects of it. You played with the same people for years, love it or hate it & got to know people. There was respect, drama, admiration, sadness & it was all real but over the web.
Funcom would have to launch it in a non-alpha status. That means complete. It would need a functioning chat system, friends list, implants, armor, utility slots & tons of shit to hunt/gather/find.
A literal remake of the game with some minor tweaks would be a beautiful way to make money for Funcom.
AO2 = No loading screens, modern combat systems, more instances but overall more of the same shit.
I’d love if they included the weapons, mechs & vehicles as part of the grinding & upgrading system as well. Gearing up your favorite mech after you finished your character, or upgrading your Yalm.
Pipe dream, but if I ever get rich-rich I’ll buy the I.P. & throw every dollar I have at it.