Sony acquires Matrix Online

By Ellie Gibson Published 17 June, 2005

And rights to DC Comics MMO.

Following earlier rumours of a deal between Sony Online Entertainment and Warner Bros., it's been confirmed that the EverQuest creator has taken MMO The Matrix Online off the hands of developer Monolith.

SOE has also signed a licensing agreement to develop a DC Comics MMO "for PC and next-generation consoles," starring the likes of Batman, Superman Wonder Woman and the Sandman.

"SOE will work closely with Warner Bros and DC Comics to maintain authenticity," promises SOE bigwig John Smedley.

"We will also take steps to continue the same high level of service that subscribers have come to expect from The Matrix Online game." Phew.

Rumour has it that only 26 members of Monolith's Matrix Online team are being kept on, with the rest facing up to a life on the dole. Or "welfare" as they say in America.

It's also been suggested that Monolith is now stepping away from MMOs all together, preferring to concentrate on single player games and multiplayer titles that aren't quite so massive.

No further details of the DC comics MMO have been revealed, other than the fact that it's scheduled for a release in winter - wait for it - 2007. Expect some screenshots some time in 2006.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (13) Latest comment 7 years ago

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

  • Hunam85 #1 7 years ago

    Does this mean that they will make MXO good? is that even possible?

  • IronGiant #2 7 years ago

    Hmmm a DC Comics game has piqued my interest much more than the Matrix one did..

  • AOFanboi #3 7 years ago

    MxO is rather good, but like every other license-abusing MMO it has very little of the movie's feel to it. Levels can ruin any game that use them.

    SOE apparently have kicked the live team, which means one of the better aspects to the game is gone. Ah, well, SOE Hell.

  • Tweakmonkey #4 7 years ago

    I would have thought there's not much money left in the Matrix franchise after the awful 3rd movie...

  • kalel #5 7 years ago

    Sandman's lvl 32 power is that he bores you to death ;-)

  • Sko #6 7 years ago

    Maybe they can bring the wonderful SOE expertise that made SWG what it is today to the Matrix universe.

    .
    .
    .
    Oh.

  • Xerx3s #7 7 years ago

    MXO = a piece of shit.

    And the "ow you need to call a canadian number to get out of this contract" tactic sux even more.

  • PinkSpider #8 7 years ago

    "awful 3rd movie..."

    Dont forget the second! They should have just left it at the first :/

  • Hunam85 #9 7 years ago

    I didnt mind the second two films, but there is nothing that is a shade on the first movie

  • PinkSpider #10 7 years ago

    Well yes, first movie is an ace action film with an interesting story, which need not have been carried on.

    The second was just action pretty much constantly, the third slightly better but the magic of the first had been raped.

  • #11 7 years ago

    no way was the 3rd film better than anything ever made.

    revolutions was a steaming bag of foodoo.

    at least reloaded actually featured scenes set in the matrix...

  • Psi #12 7 years ago

    \o/ sony support \o/

  • AOFanboi #13 7 years ago

    <em>And the "ow you need to call a canadian number to get out of this contract" tactic sux even more.</em>

    It's not their fault you bought the American version. For the European version you call a number in Britain.

  • vane101 #14 7 years ago

    Being a member of insane the The Last Free City site, I tried hard to get into MxO but the get mission, go to apartment, kill//escort/give/ collect then leave building, gameplay was just too ordinary. I didn't like the close combat either which I found confusing at times. It was a shame as it's a nice gritty world with lots of stylish gear but hopefully SOE can make more of it.