This is Terminally Online: PC Gamer's very own MMO column. Every other week, I'll be sharing my thoughts on the genre, interviewing fellow MMO-heads like me, taking a deep-dive into mechanics we've all taken for granted, and, occasionally, bringing in guest writers to talk about their MMO of choice. Like our own Lincoln Carpenter, who's been enjoying a version of the galaxy far, far away from a long time ago.

After completing the initial tutorial on a private server for Star Wars Galaxies—the Star Wars-themed MMO that launched in 2003, was updated until 2005, and was shuttered in 2011—I was dumped out of a shuttle in Mos Eisley and into a warzone. Squads of rebel and imperial players were exchanging blaster fire and lobbing thermal detonators. When I asked the passing combatants why Tatooine was worth fighting over, a man in stormtrooper armor said I was lucky I wasn't PvP-flagged.

Despite the early-2000s assets and stiff animations, it was the most dynamic that an MMO had felt for me in years. But in the week I've spent revisiting Star Wars Galaxies, I've seen very little other excitement. I've killed no impressive enemies. I've done barely any quests. It's an MMO that's content to let me log in and do little of note whatsoever—and that's exactly what I've been missing.

In comparison, whenever the WoW itch gets strong enough for me to reup my subscription, I end up doing nothing but doing. Logging into WoW in 2026 means enduring a bombardment of refreshed weekly prompts and directives urging me to get on my flying mount and accelerate at breakneck speed towards whatever prescribed activity with prerequisite player count will provide my next predictable gear score increase.

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