Star Trek Online MMO switches to new developer

by Scott Jon Siegel { Jan 15th 2008 at 11:00AM }

P2 Entertainment -- formerly known as Perpetual Entertainment -- will no longer be developing the Star Trek Online MMO. Instead, the IP has been passed on to an as-yet-unnamed California-based studio, who will be continuing development while P2 refocuses on the casual games market.

WarCry reports that the unnamed studio will be receiving rights for the Star Trek IP, and the game's content, but will not have access to the code previously developed at P2. This will inevitably slow development of the MMO even further, as the new studio must start from scratch with the title's back-end.

Star Trek Online was the only title currently in development at P2, following news of Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising being placed on "indefinite hold." P2 is also embroiled in a legal battle with former PR firm Kohnke Communications, who are suing for finances owed them after the effective cancellation of Gods & Heroes. Coupled with news of Spacetime's MMO cancellation, we're beginning to think that it's not a good time to be a MMO developer (unless, of course, you're Blizzard).

[Via Massively]

Tags: p2, p2-entertainment, perpetual, star-trek-online, startrekonline

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

NotASenator @ Jan 15th 2008 11:27AM

I dig Perpetual's passion towards this, but I think it's for the best. I think in the long run, they would realize that the type of hardcore Trek geek who would make up the core demo would not necessarily dig the casual angle.

Feigr @ Jan 15th 2008 11:30AM

I've been following development of STO for a long long time now, and it's been hard times before. It is my favourite IP and I hope it will be a good game when it comes out, but it needs to be handled by a studio that know their stuff well, otherwise it wont be competetive on the cramped MMO market.

Feigr @ Jan 15th 2008 11:35AM

h8rain @ Jan 15th 2008 11:34AM

"We're beginning to think that it's not a good time to be a MMO developer (unless, of course, you're Blizzard)."

Look it prints money :) Especially with the new expansion coming. I bet they will hit 10 million subscribers/customers.

FidliousWong @ Jan 15th 2008 11:36AM

I'm wondering who cared about this to begin with, let alone enough to follow the project this far. I can't imagine any joy to be had with a server full of redshirts driving forward until they practically run into the next danger.

"To Boldly go... cause we ain't got the goddam sense to drive around."

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Jan 15th 2008 11:38AM

Is posting broke?

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Jan 15th 2008 11:38AM

Guess not

Feigr @ Jan 15th 2008 11:40AM

It didn't show any comments at all after I had posted mine and I didn't get a confirmation, that's why it was posted twice. Sorry about that.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Jan 15th 2008 11:41AM

No, I've posted like 5 messages in 3 boards, and I'm not seeing any of them. Even when I go back now. The Smash thread shows 104 comments, but when I enter the thread, it only shows 98 (on the post count)

Something is fishy in the lands of Joystiq.

JonFitt @ Jan 15th 2008 11:42AM

That sounds like it's going to be a great game.
Games always benefit from legal wranglings, and do-overs; what's really important is that the IP is preserved.
Because that's what really makes a good game, the IP. As long as you get handed a good IP, you're golden. No original ideas or passion for the subject material needed.
Then ...

JonFitt @ Jan 15th 2008 11:45AM

Sorry, the sarcasm portion of my brain hurts. I had to stop.

NATO_Duke @ Jan 15th 2008 11:55AM

All I know is that when this comes out I am not gonna be the guy in the red shirt.

JonFitt @ Jan 15th 2008 11:59AM

I want to be Romulan: their haircuts are awesome.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Jan 15th 2008 11:58AM

Anybody else notice that Star Trek has gone from an intellectuals series with a hint of action to an action series with only a hint of Intellect?

Bluebrake @ Jan 15th 2008 1:37PM

Eh, the franchise has always had its ups and downs like that, often from week to week. I don't think this is part of any longterm trend.

UltimateQ @ Jan 15th 2008 3:57PM

I didn't notice it actually, but your right, which is probably why I lost interest in the newer shows. TNG was awesome, Voyager was tolerable. I didn't care much for the rest after that. TNG is still the best star trek of all time =)

UltimateQ @ Jan 15th 2008 3:10PM

Haters can eat my turd. This game will rock. You just think it'll be lame cause you are afraid to admit you like star trek. The fact of the matter is star trek has done a lot more for modern technology than you would care to admit. ("You" being the haters of star trek.)