Epic In-Game Events You Might Have Missed

21 September 2025

Video games aren’t just about racking up killstreaks or grinding for loot anymore. These days, games are loaded with storylines, world-changing decisions, and yes—jaw-dropping events that literally reshape a game’s universe. Some of these events are one-time-only experiences, happening in real-time, and unless you were logged in at the right moment, poof... gone forever.

So, if you blinked, went AFK, or just weren’t playing that game at the time, you might’ve missed some truly epic moments. Don’t worry, though. I’ve got you covered.

Let’s rewind the game clock and dig into some of the most unforgettable in-game events you probably missed—but really shouldn’t have.

Why In-Game Events Matter More Than Ever

Before we jump into the list, let’s hit pause for a second. Why all the hype around in-game events?

Well, think of them like live concerts, but in a digital world. Developers use them to:

- Celebrate special occasions (think holidays or anniversaries)
- Progress a game’s story in real time
- Drop clues about future updates
- Bring the community together

It’s a way to turn players into witnesses of history within the game. Once it happens, it’s gone—your presence (or absence) becomes part of your gaming credentials.

Alright, let’s plug in and check out some epic events that slipped under the radar.

1. Fortnite's Black Hole (2019)

Let’s start with the biggest mic-drop moment in gaming: Fortnite’s black hole event.

What Happened?

In October 2019, players gathered for the end of Fortnite’s Chapter 1. Instead of a typical season-ending update, Epic Games did something completely crazy. The entire in-game universe collapsed into a black hole.

Everything. Gone.

For nearly two days, all anyone could see was a swirling void on screen. No menus. No matches. Just... darkness.

Why It Was Epic

Fortnite basically ended itself—in real-time. It was bold. It was confusing. And it was genius marketing. When Chapter 2 launched, millions flooded back, curious to see what came after the void.

Missed It?

If you didn’t log in during the event, all you saw were insane screenshots or confused tweets. You missed experiencing the digital apocalypse first-hand.

2. World of Warcraft's Corrupted Blood Plague (2005)

Let’s throw it back to 2005, before MMOs even thought of running cinematic events.

What Happened?

A boss named Hakkar could infect players with a disease called “Corrupted Blood.” It was supposed to stay in the dungeon, but players found workarounds and accidentally unleashed the virus on cities like Ironforge and Orgrimmar.

NPCs and low-level players were dropping like flies. Healers were trying to save others. Panic ensued. It was utter chaos—imagine a fantasy version of a zombie outbreak.

Why It Was Epic

It was so realistic that scientists studied it to understand disease spread. No joke. A glitch turned into a full-blown digital pandemic.

Missed It?

You missed one of the rawest, most unscripted MMO events ever. This wasn’t planned—it just happened.

3. Destiny 2’s Almighty Destruction (2020)

Bungie took a page from Fortnite’s playbook and tried something wild.

What Happened?

For months, Destiny 2 players were hearing about a massive space station called the Almighty. It was on a crash course with Earth, and players were prepping for impact.

On June 6, 2020, the sky above the Tower lit up, and for about an hour, players watched the Almighty slowly burn up and crash in a live event.

Why It Was Epic

This was Bungie’s first attempt at a live universe-changing event. It wasn’t perfect—the pacing was slow—but being there felt special. Like watching fireworks with thousands of other Guardians.

Missed It?

If you logged in late, all you saw was an explosion and some debris. Totally different vibe.

4. GTA Online’s Alien War (2020)

This one wasn’t even developer-planned—and that’s what made it awesome.

What Happened?

GTA Online players started dressing up as green aliens and forming gangs. Then, rival players teamed up in purple alien suits and started an all-out turf war for the streets of Los Santos.

Social feeds blew up with mini-stories, ambushes, and full-on alien gang wars using golf clubs and baseball bats. Hilarious, chaotic, and totally unexpected.

Why It Was Epic

It was pure player-driven content. No dev involvement. Just virtual costumes and a whole lot of imagination. This was gaming community creativity at its peak.

Missed It?

If you weren’t there, you missed GTA Online turning into Area 51 meets The Warriors.

5. Minecraft’s Ender Dragon First Kill (2011)

Hard to believe, but there was a time when the Ender Dragon was the final boss in Minecraft before all the custom mods and servers.

What Happened?

When Mojang added The End and the Ender Dragon, players raced to be the first to take it down.

The first documented kill sparked a wave of YouTube videos, strategy guides, and fan fiction. It was both a mechanical challenge and a cultural event in Minecraft’s history.

Why It Was Epic

This wasn’t a one-time global event, but it was a milestone that signified Minecraft growing from sandbox to legend.

Missed It?

Unless you were playing Minecraft back then, you missed experiencing the dragon as the new "final boss" before it became old news.

6. Final Fantasy XIV’s End of the World (2012)

Yep, FFXIV literally blew up its game world.

What Happened?

Original FFXIV wasn’t doing great, so instead of quietly shutting down, Square Enix went out with a bang. In 2012, they dropped a cataclysmic event that ended the world of Eorzea.

Players battled in-game until a meteor named Dalamud crashed into the planet. The servers went dark, and the cinematic became legendary.

Why It Was Epic

It wasn’t just a story twist—it was a literal reset. FFXIV was reborn as “A Realm Reborn,” and that moment stitched the storyline and real development together in a masterstroke.

Missed It?

If you weren’t online at that moment, you missed one of the most dramatic do-overs in game history.

7. Call of Duty: Warzone's Nuke Event (2021)

You can’t talk about battle royales without nukes, right?

What Happened?

Warzone nuked its own map. Verdansk went boom during an event called “The Destruction of Verdansk.” Players fought zombies, tried to survive, and watched everything go up in smoke.

The next day, the map was replaced by a 1980s version. Total time-travel twist.

Why It Was Epic

Call of Duty doesn’t do stuff halfway—this was a full-scale, action-packed, cinematic-style event. Miss the timing, though, and all you got was a cutscene replay.

Missed It?

If you weren’t there live, you missed the confusion, the panic, and the joyride that came with nuking an entire city.

8. Apex Legends' Harbingers of Change (Seasonal Teasers)

Apex Legends is known for its teasers that hint at what’s to come. But some of them are really easy to miss.

What Happened?

Before major map changes or new characters, Respawn hides in-game teasers for days or even hours. Think floating objects in the sky, mysterious earthquakes, or strange sounds echoing through the map.

They’re short, subtle, and often gone in a blink.

Why It Was Epic

These teasers create suspense and a sense of community discovery. If you spotted one, you were part of something exclusive. It's like being at a secret concert that only a few heard about.

Missed It?

Don’t worry—you’re not alone. Most players don’t catch these until they’re all over Reddit.

9. The Elder Scrolls Online - Molag Bal’s Dark Anchors

This one’s for the MMO fantasy fans.

What Happened?

In ESO, Daedric Prince Molag Bal invades Tamriel through massive Dark Anchors falling from the sky. These are live world events where players band together to destroy the anchors and send his forces back.

Why It Was Epic

The feeling of rushing in with random players, battling waves of enemies, and watching the sky open up? Chills. It’s the kind of moment that makes MMOs great.

Missed It?

If you weren’t leveling or exploring during one of these anchor drops, you didn’t get the full ESO magic.

Final Thoughts: Blink and You’ll Miss It

The beauty of modern games is they’re alive. Worlds change, stories evolve, and players can witness history in the making—if they’re online at the right time.

Some of these events were scripted by devs. Others? Completely born from the community. But they all share one thing: they were once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

So next time you hear about an in-game teaser, event countdown, or weird mystery—log in. Be there. Because in the world of gaming, FOMO is very, very real.

Bonus Tip: How to Never Miss an In-Game Event Again

Worried you’ll miss the next big event? Here’s a quick cheat code:

- Follow official game social media accounts
- Join community Discords
- Enable in-game event notifications
- Keep an eye on patch notes
- Subscribe to gaming news blogs (like this one 😏)

You never know when the sky might fall—literally.