SOE unveils The Agency News • News • Eurogamer.net

News PlayStation 3

PS3 gets first MMO.

Sony Online Entertainment has confirmed it's working on a spy-themed MMO for PlayStation 3.

It's called The Agency and will be based around franchises like James Bond and the Bourne series. It's expected to be available before the end of the year, and a full announcement is due early next week.

The Agency lets you take sides for one of two factions, then participate in player-versus-player combat and espionage. Although there's no word on exactly how character progression will work, it seems your equipment will play a pivotal role. If you have light and flexible armour you'll play a spy role, for example, rather than be a kevlar-clad action hero.

Sony Online Entertainment is best known for creating EverQuest and Star Wars Galaxies. EverQuest Online Adventures appeared on PlayStation 2 back in 2003 but failed to attract the amount of subscribers it predicted.

Expect more information next week.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

Comments (27) Latest comment 5 years ago

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quantumsheep #1 5 years ago

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At least it's something different, MMO wise.

Though from the stuff about equipment, it sounds a bit 'Planetside withouth future things in it' to me...
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Steroyd #2 5 years ago

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Wow a MMO that doesn't involve fairies, trolls and rats.

I'd almost subscribe just cos it's different.
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JediMasterMalik #3 5 years ago

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Interesting concept, let's just hope it's fun.
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souljacker2000 #4 5 years ago

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could b good idea
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AcidSnake #5 5 years ago

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They should implement this into Home...
Imagine you show some movies you have on your hard drive to one of your friends in Home, only for a spy to enter, snap your necks and make of with the video...

It could work...
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Hugundo #6 5 years ago

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This is going to be terrible. Or it might not be.
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SeesThroughAll #7 5 years ago

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Hugundo said it best.

Just look at every other MMORPG SOE got their hands on.

There's but a slight chance this will turn out good.
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Schiraman #8 5 years ago

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Actually I kind of see what quantumsheep means, somehow the talk of equipment does make me think of Planetside.

Although I've got very little faith in SOE (not least because of the mess they made of Planetside itself), I would sign up for a decent PS-style MMO in seconds. Shan't get my hopes up though...
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dirigiblebill #9 5 years ago

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To do list-

No auto-attack
No grinding
Save universe
Make tea
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Goolz #10 5 years ago

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It's doomed to fail, why? It's SOE destroyer of MMO's
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Gurgeh #11 5 years ago

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"Sony Online Entertainment is best known for creating EverQuest and Star Wars Galaxies"

Technically it was Verant Interactive that created Everquest, Sony published it. Sony bought VI in 2000 shortly after VI had started to develop Star Wars Galaxies.
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Stormflood #12 5 years ago

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Looking forward to more info.
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dudefella #13 5 years ago

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ohhh, SoE...

/is wary
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SBfistfun #14 5 years ago

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Planetside?

I played for the free month.

Planetside? Pants-a-side more like
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kissthestick #15 5 years ago

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ohhh, SoE...

/is wary

Lets be honest now, is it really fair to misjudge every game cause of their previous game you didnt like?
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Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #16 5 years ago

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Looks as though it's based around an old indie RPG.
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Steroyd #17 5 years ago

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Lets be honest now, is it really fair to misjudge every game cause of their previous game you didnt like?

I guess it's more fair if they have a track record, but that doesn't stop people getting excited over a Bungie, Rockstar or Insomiac Game, or a game made by *insert developer*

Come to think of it if it's being unveiled early next week that fits right into the... "PS3 game that will get the Playstation Nation Smiling", and "Xbox fans could only dream of this" or along those lines.
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Psi #18 5 years ago

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Sony will piss all over any decent content. I do sub to EQ2 mind lol

SWG they will never be forgiven for. You can't ruin Starwars for nerds and expect to ever get away with it.
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jonsaan #19 5 years ago

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Sounds like a great idea.
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spongebob #20 5 years ago

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So very nice that it's a deviation from the usual MMO formula.
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vane101 #21 5 years ago

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I don't see much of a future for the Matrix Online then if this is the case. That had a lot of espionage type elements in it, although admittedly poorly implemented.
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dirigiblebill #22 5 years ago

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I think it all depends whether they have the vision to get the most out of the idea. If the Agency just equals WoW but with everybody wearing a watch-laser they can fuck right off. If, on the other hand, they develop a mechanic other than stats-based combat as the centerpiece- sort of like a sociable puzzler, or something... pooling abilities, managing stuff- I dunno. Think Second Life but with actual gameplay, or a less abstract Uru... ghnargh.

/gropes for inspiration
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urban #23 5 years ago

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playstation 2 mmo was a doomed failure..much like final fantasy on the 360 is..mmo's on consoles just aint time yet...will take many many failures before one hits home.
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infoxicated #24 5 years ago

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I'd be well up for an MMO with the atmosphere of Syndicate - sounds like this could be it.
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The-Bodybuilder #25 5 years ago

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Finally, an MMO that doesn't involve orcs and goblins.
This is on my watch list.
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Vandrius #26 5 years ago

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You know, though there's a 75% chance this will suck bollocks, I'll just hope for the 25% chance that its amazing.

*crosses fingers*

infoxicated - Gods, I hope you're right. Syndicate style in a MMOG... I'd... I'd hit that in an instant. Even if it was fat and a double-bagger. Even if I had to pull out the eye-bleach (for when the goggles don't work).
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YourMessageHere #27 5 years ago

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Hell yes, +1 for the Syndicate MMO.
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