Cryptic announces new superhero MMO

By Oli Welsh Published 14 February, 2008

Champions Online for PC and console.

Cryptic Studios, original developer of NCsoft's superhero MMO City of Heroes and developer of the recently canned superhero MMO Marvel Universe Online, has announced its next game. It's a superhero MMO.

US magazine Game Informer has the scoop in its next issue, and has leaked a couple of details early along with the mag's cover.

The game will be called Champions Online and is planned for "consoles" as well as PC. Seems it will allow you to play as a hero or a villain.

To us, this sounds distinctly like a project salvaged from the ashes of Marvel Universe Online. That game was in development for both PC and 360 and was to support cross-platform play. Champions Online could effectively be Marvel Universe Online without the comics licence.

So it would come as a surprise if Cryptic's new game isn't destined for 360, if not other formats. Whether Cryptic can pull off cross-platform play without the support of Microsoft, which was set to publish Marvel Universe, is more of an unknown.

Champions Online will end up facing off against Cryptic's prodigal son City of Heroes, now under NCsoft's watch at an in-house studio formed by former Cryptic employees. Rumours persist that City of Heroes is being adapted to consoles as part of NCsoft's deal to produce PlayStation Network games for Sony.

Either way, the announcement of Champions Online means that massively multiplayer superhero gaming for consoles is a going concern once more, and that makes us happy.

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 (9) Latest comment 4 years ago

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  • BraveArse #1 4 years ago

    Brilliant news... I was gutted that MUO was canned. This might even lead to a bit of flexibility. Hadn't realised that there rumours about a PSN version of COH either... even better news. Lets all just hope that they've taken note of CrackDown during development :)

  • jiveguy #2 4 years ago

    Groovy. Does this have any connection other than name to the Champions pen and paper RPG?

  • ParmaViolet #3 4 years ago

    I'm glad that Cryptic are keeping on despite the cancellation of MUO. I loved COH and played it for a long time, more than any other MMO - great game, great community....it was great to watch it grow over the months leading into COV and see some major characters develop with their back stories, like the Statesman etc - it made me wonder why they'd ever need a Marvel or DC license...

    I think one of COH's charms is the fact that it really doesn't take itself too seriously and I was a little concerned that MUO would almost have to due to the licenses. It'll be interesting to see how this new MMO will differ from COH, I'm sure that there were already quite a few ideas that would've been implemented for MUO so, hopefully, we'll see something quite far removed from COH - but, with Cryptic behind it, I'm sure it'll be great and I'd certainly be interested in trying it out...

    :-)

  • BraveArse #4 4 years ago

    One thing that makes things difficult I guess, is that it doesn't just have to compare to CoH... it really has to compare to games like CrackDown too.

  • WriterUK #5 4 years ago

    @jiveguy: Well, if it doesn't, expect a lawsuit. Hero Games (makers of Champions) threatened Marvel with one when Marvel announced a comic called 'The Champions'.

    According to Hero's website, there's an announcement from them due this weekend at some RPG con. Bet you a fiver it's this.

  • Apostle #6 4 years ago

    Hmm, this is getting interesting now.

  • Kyle #7 4 years ago

    I'll get me cape.

  • neuroniky #8 4 years ago

    I can't undrstand why all the love for CoH/CoV... it's just a big grinding machine.

    Oh, and I love them too. I just can't understand why :D

  • ZuluHero #9 4 years ago

    ...because being a superhero is COOL!!! :)