Champions Online: official details

By Oli Welsh Published 20 February, 2008

Cel-shaded, self-published, out next year.

Following the Game Informer leak last week, Cryptic Studios has officially announced Champions Online, its next superhero MMO, and revealed the first details on the title.

You can read the press release, look at some screenshots, and start wild speculation in the forums over on the official website, which is now live.

As suspected, the game is licensed from the 1980s pen-and-paper RPG, Champions. It boasts a very comic-influenced cel-shaded look, the "fast-paced gameplay" of fighting or action games, exploration of outer space and alternate dimensions, and a "near infinite" level of character customisation. You will be able to create your hero's back-story, modify the appearance of your powers, and design your own personal arch-enemy.

Cryptic is planning to release Champions Online in spring of 2009, and for the first time, has decided to self-publish the game. Cryptic previously had agreements with NCsoft (City of Heroes) and Microsoft (the cancelled Marvel Universe Online, of which Champions Online is believed to be a direct descendant).

"Bringing the operating side of the business in-house enables us to be more efficent, get our developers even closer to the customer, and ultimately make a better game and long-term experience," said Cryptic president Michael Lewis.

Notably, the press release and website make no mention of formats. However, the Game Informer preview apparently confirms that Champions Online will release on both PC and console (most likely Xbox 360), and feature cross-platform play.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (11) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • LFMartins #1 4 years ago

    Clicked on the news thinking it would be some Champions League...
    Another MMO??How many of these are around?500???
    I know everyone wants a piece of the WOW money but a person only plays one MMO at a time,there´s not enough time nor money for more.

  • Madafunkola #2 4 years ago

    As a previous player of the "City Of..." series (do 2 games count as a series?) I can't wait! However, this type of game could sink or swim on the 360.

  • Benno #3 4 years ago

    the mmo market is the future, and its growing insanly quickly thanks to world of warcraft

    paying monthly for a game isn't so taboo anymore, when people realise for a year of play they need to give up a few nights out

    its nothing

  • asphaltcowboy #4 4 years ago

    Screenshots look nice, I'm just not interested in MMOs...
    Looks a lot like the Crackdown engine (which is not bad thing).

  • MrChuckles #5 4 years ago

    CoH/CoV was pretty good, just lost it in the midgame as the grinding popped up.

    If they do proper drops and more interesting quests and improve the customization it should be pretty good.

  • Benno #6 4 years ago

    yeah i agree

  • jiveguy #7 4 years ago

    Excitement levels rising!

  • AOFanboi #8 4 years ago

    Champions, like CoH/CoV, is untainted by the curse of an existing character franchise; the curse so far has killed Marvel Online and it's been ages since I heard anything about DC... this might succeed as long as it doesn't try to be a City of Spandex clone.

    And Champions (Hero system) kicks GURPS butt! - just to drag that old chestnut out of the coffin...

  • riz23 #9 4 years ago

    But..But.. isn't this just COH under another guise? Sorry it all seems pointless to me. Champions was a great RPG though. You needed buckets, and I mean buckets of D6 to play that.

  • Madafunkola #10 4 years ago

    From the look of the website - it is just city of heroes, cell-shaded and without NCSoft. None of which I see as a crippling issue.

  • BradMillette #11 4 years ago

    God dammit. I went so long without City of Heroes, and now this.