Recently we have been reading and having players write in about rumors and their worry over the future or iRO, and I just want to offer assurance that iRO’s future in good hands. As summertime arrives we will soon be officially celebrating our 23rd anniversary and updating “Episode 20 : The Undying” as well. Rest assured that the culmination of 20+ years of iRO player adventures will continue to grow on our Chaos server.
Continue reading…
Hangin’ with Gravity: Games That Have Our Attention
We’re back with more game talk! Let’s catch up with the team to see what’s up!
The summer games showcase season has finally wrapped up and we thought we’d share some upcoming titles that we’re interested in.
One game I found innovative and fun recently is After School Grounds (방과후 운동장).
At first glance, it looks like another Vampire Survivors-style survival game, so the core gameplay itself is not completely new. However, what makes it stand out is how it connects with Korean streaming platforms and allows viewers to directly participate in the streamer’s gameplay. For example, a streamer can set donation options such as $1 to summon 10 enemies on the field, or $5 to drop a healing item. This means fans can either help or interfere with the streamer in real time. Even more interestingly, it seems that viewers can actually appear as enemies and chase the player around.
I thought this was a very unique and modern approach to game design.
As streaming platforms, streamer culture, and screen time continue to grow, this kind of interactive system feels like a perfect combination for the current generation of gamers and viewers.
— Justin J, Asst Project Manager
Out of all the incredible titles showcased at Summer Game Fest, two games stand out as my absolute must-plays.
First is Kingdom Hearts 4. I am incredibly eager to dive into an entirely new setting and continue unraveling the franchise’s wonderfully complex narrative.
The second is the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
While some might see it as just another remake, this particular title is an absolute classic for me. Having played both of these franchises since childhood, they hold immense sentimental value.
My expectations are incredibly high, and I am genuinely hoping these upcoming releases live up to the legacy of their predecessors.
— Kevin D, Client Success
While I do not consider myself a Nintendo gamer, I often spend a lot of time thinking about how they approach gaming and the interesting ways they stay relevant and innovative in a highly competitive environment. Many found this latest Nintendo Direct humdrum, but I found it just as interesting as any other.
One title which stood out was Rhythm Heaven Groove. Music games have really fallen off since the crash of Guitar Heroes but this game appeals to different audience more interested in a quirky party-game feel, with lots of variety, more similar to Mario Party or Warioware than notes-streaming from the sky approach. The art direction is nostalgic and has a nice flair for the ridiculous that appeals to fans of niche titles like Katamari Damacy, LSD: Dream Emulator, or Incredible Crisis</>.
The Pokémon series is a major part of gaming pop culture, but Pokémon Pokopia takes a different path. I really like how Nintendo is once again reshaping Pokémon from “enslaved pets forced to fight so you can climb the ladder” into a gentler, friendship-building experience that feels closer to Animal Crossing. Fans of the more cozy side of Pokémon may want to check out Pokémon Snap or Pokémon Friends.
No longer a fan of being strapped to a desk at home like at work, I welcome the chance to try Runescape on console – from the comfort of my couch! RuneScape Dragonwilds looks exciting and kinda bare bones which I find appealing.
Critics of the series say every game in the Dynasty Warriors series is the exact same – they are both right and wrong. IYKYK. Regardless, Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered (wow that title…) aims to bring the fight back to ancient China with new features and improvements which empower would-be generals to, once again, slash their way to glory… against the same foes they’ve probably defeated countless times. I can’t wait!!
While not a big fan of FPS-type experience, Magicians: The Devil’s Deal has a unique visual style and aims to delight fans of more magical skills and abilities which is right up my alley. Probably worth considering if you like games like Lichdom: Battlemage or Immortals of Aveum but want that industrial age, victorian culture aesthetic so popular now.
In the wake of the huge titles with 20min long features are cute and art-driven games like Vivarium. I always appreciate titles which look to appeal to gamers who want a more focused, less dopamine-splashing jaunt which takes it time to reveal the secrets and small moments that make a title feel made just for you.
Last, and top of my list of anticipated titles is No Rest for the Wicked.
I’m a big fan of cross-platform titles and I’m ready for this one. The promise of camaraderie, action, and open class customization really fits my taste. I’m not the biggest fan of Souls-like and games with 3D jumping but this adventure looks worth it.
— Mace T, Project Manager
Thanks for hanging out with us and seeing what we’re looking forward to in the world of games!
See you next time!!
National Hug Your Cat (or Doram) Day!
Alright all you cat lovers, your big day is here!
You’re officially invited to hug your cat – especially if you haven’t done it in a while.
No real-life cat? Honestly, that still counts.
If you have a Doram, a Poring plush or any in-game furball you’re attached to, you’re in.
Give the hugs freely!
Here are 5 huggable facts about cats:
1. Most house cats can sprint up to about 30 miles per hour in short sprints.
2. Cats usually sleep around 12 ~ 16 hours a day.
3. A group of cats is called a “clowder” and a group of kittens is called a “kindle.”
4. House cats have around 95 percent of the same DNA as tigers.
5. Cats have 32 muscles in each ear which lets them rotate their ears to track tiny sounds.
RO3 Dev Diary Video Released!
Ragnarok Online 3’s first Dev Diary has arrived!
Join producer Yu as he shares an update on the game’s development, the team’s vision for RO3, and what’s ahead for the next chapter of Ragnarok.
Check out the latest RO3 gameplay then join us on Discord and tell the team what you think:
https://discord.gg/BKKH7VCyd
Gravity Vault Unlocked | National Museum Day 2026
For National Museum Day (May 18), we went digging through the Gravity vault and filmed what we found.
Limited CDs, old trophies, fan-art books, figures, promo stuff we genuinely forgot we had.
It’s a pretty good snapshot of how far things have come.
Check it out
Thanks for sharing this bit of Gravity’s past.
Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!
-the team at Gravity Interactive
Drinking in Games
This week we’re celebrating a few social holidays (May 11–17: American Craft Beer Week; May 13: World Cocktail Day; May 16: National Mimosa Day) by talking about drinking in games.
For RPG players, the journey almost always started in a tavern.
From tabletop D&D to MMOs, watering holes have been setting the mood since the very beginning.
A Brief History—
Tabletop:
1974–1990s: D&D planted the tavern at the start of many adventures; later systems like GURPS and Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay added explicit “Consume Alcohol” skills and intoxication scales.
2000s–present: Indie titles like Drinking Quest make real-world drinking a core mechanic instead of just flavor, with content effectively self-regulated by social norms and retailers rather than any formal rating board.
Digital
1980s: Castle Wolfenstein and Tapper ( a Budweiser-branded beer-serving arcade game) showed early digital alcohol use, from schnapps affecting gunplay to pure beer-serving arcade loops later reskinned as Root Beer Tapper for family markets.
1990s: ESRB is founded and gradually standardizes substance descriptors so alcohol reference/use becomes visible to players and platform holders instead of being purely an internal platform concern.
Late 1990s–2000s: EverQuest introduces Alcohol Tolerance as a skill; drinking lowers some stats, adds blur and stagger, and in some encounters a group-wide drunkenness is a mechanic where a boss gets everyone drunk unless they’ve trained the skill. World of Warcraft lets players get tipsy through completely smashed, with edge blur, wobble, garbled speech, and even apparent level shifts on enemies.
2010s–present: In Fallout, you can drink your way across the wasteland, from recruiting the beer‑brewing robot in Trouble Brewin’ to crafting potent booze in Wasted on Alcohol. Guild Wars 2 tracks alcohol consumption via the Thirst Slayer achievement (up to 100,000 drinks), with alcohol items applying a Drunk effect and titles as rewards. Elder Scrolls Online uses festival items like Breda’s Bottomless Mead Mug and New Life drinks as repeatable XP buffs and quest steps, with beer/ale explicitly consumed in holiday content and some visual impairment effects layered on top.
In most games, if you do decide to throw one back, there’s usually a trade-off. A boost to your charm or strength, but then the you have to face the consequences… much like in real life!
So, have you ever had an adult beverage in a game? Did it feel fun or kinda weird? Let us know in the comments!
Written by
— Kevin D, Client Success
— Mace T, Project Manager
And now, for those bold mixologists brave enough to try something new…
Here are some fun RO inspired drink recipes (courtesy of Grok) to try out in your own private tavern.
If you try any of these drinks we’d love to hear your feedback!
*Drink responsibly. This post is for entertainment purposes only.*
Red Potion Cocktail
Inspired by the iconic Red Potion from Ragnarok Online — the reliable HP recovery item every adventurer relies on. This cocktail is bright crimson red, refreshing, slightly sweet with a tart kick, and has a magical, bubbly finish.
Ingredients (1 serving):
– 1.5 oz Vodka
– 1 oz Cranberry juice
– 0.75 oz Fresh lime juice
– 0.5 oz Grenadine syrup
– 0.25–0.5 oz Simple syrup (to taste)
– 2 dashes Angostura bitters
– Soda water (to top)
– Ice
Garnish:
– Skewer with fresh strawberry, blueberry, and maraschino cherry (like Jellopy drops)
– Fresh mint sprig
– Red sugar rim (optional, for extra potion flair)
Image by ChatGPT
Blue Potion Cocktail
This is the magical Blue Potion variation — the iconic mana (SP) recovery item. It has a striking deep blue color, a refreshing citrusy taste with a tropical twist, and a sparkling finish that feels like restoring your magical energy after casting spells.
Ingredients (1 serving):
– 1.5 oz Vodka (or white rum for a more tropical feel)
– 1 oz Blue Curaçao (the signature vibrant blue color)
– 1 oz Lemonade (or fresh lemon juice + simple syrup)
– 0.5 oz Coconut water (for smoothness and a subtle island vibe)
– 0.25 oz Simple syrup (adjust to taste)
– 0.75 oz Fresh lime juice
– Soda water or lemon-lime soda water (to top)
– Ice
Garnish:
– Skewer with blueberries and a lemon twist or slice
– Fresh mint sprig or a small edible blue flower (optional)
– Blue sugar rim (highly recommended for extra potion aesthetics)
Image by ChatGPT
Berserk Potion
Inspired by the Berserk Potion — the item that sends players into a frenzied rage with massively boosted attack speed. This whisky-based cocktail is bold, fiery, and powerful: deep blood-red, smoky, spicy, and dangerously drinkable.
Ingredients (1 serving):
– 2 oz Rye Whisky or Spiced Bourbon (the aggressive, fiery base — rye gives extra spice)
– 1 oz Cranberry juice (deep red “rage” color)
– 0.75 oz Fresh blood orange or regular orange juice
– 0.5 oz Honey syrup or maple syrup
– 0.25 oz Ginger liqueur (or 2 dashes ginger bitters)
– 1–2 dashes Chili tincture or cayenne pepper tincture (for the burning berserk heat — adjust to your tolerance)
– 2 dashes Angostura bitters
– 0.5 oz Cherry liqueur (e.g., Luxardo or Heering) — for extra depth and blood-like richness
Garnish:
– Flaming orange peel (express and briefly light the oils for a dramatic fire effect)
– Skewered luxardo cherries + a small dried chili or cinnamon stick
– Optional: Red sugar rim mixed with smoked paprika or chili powder
Image by ChatGPT
That’s all for this week.
Thanks for reading a have a fun and safe weekend!
We’ll see you next week!