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PlanetSide 2 mashes up MMO and FPS once again

JC Fletcher — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:25:00 EST

Sony Online Entertainment's PlanetSide Next didn't make it out in the first half of the year, and it's no longer called PlanetSide Next, but it's still coming. During its Fan Faire event, SOE officially took the wraps off of PlanetSide 2, the sequel to its MMO FPS

Players in one of three empires (the Terran Republic, the New Conglomerate, or the Vanue Sovereignty) will be able to customize their fighter, vehicle, and weaponry, and build up the character with "ranks, unlockable traits, and skill sets." Creative director Matt Higby talked up the "massive scale of PlanetSide battles" in the announcement.

The new game is being built in SOE's new Forgelight engine, and will feature Nvidia's PhysX tech for in-game physics. Check out a new trailer above, and some new screens in our gallery, and then get right back to waiting -- SOE tellingly declined to provide a date, saying only that it's "currently in development" for PC.

Gallery: PlanetSide 2 (7/8/11)

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PlanetSide 2 mashes up MMO and FPS once again originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE suspends services after discovering 'an issue'

James Ransom-Wiley — Mon, 02 May 2011 10:30:00 EST

Uh-oh. While Sony Online Entertainment had assured its customers last week that, "to the best of our knowledge, no customer personal information got out to any unauthorized person or persons" during last month's breach into Sony's systems, the MMO division today suspended its games and services, including its websites and Facebook titles.

"We have had to take the SOE service down temporarily," the group said in a brief statement this morning. "In the course of our investigation into the intrusion into our systems we have discovered an issue that warrants enough concern for us to take the service down effective immediately."

SOE added that it would provide an update later today. In the meantime, the notification page suggests you download and play some (offline) casual games to distract you from that horrible feeling in the pit of your stomach.

Update: SOE has announced that it has lost 12,700 customer credit card numbers as the result of an attack, and roughly 24.6 million accounts may have been breached. Check out our follow-up post for more information.

SOE suspends services after discovering 'an issue' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 May 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE confirms studio closures, cancels The Agency

James Ransom-Wiley — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:52:00 EST

Following earlier reports of studio closures and mass layoffs, Sony Online Entertainment has issued an official statement regarding its "strategic decision to reduce costs and streamline its global workforce." The company confirmed the closings of its Denver, Seattle and Tucson studios and the elimination of 205 jobs.

Additionally, SOE announced the cancellation of The Agency, the long-delayed, cross-platform spy MMO under development at SOE Seattle. The company said it's discontinuing production of the title to "focus development resources on delivering two new MMOs based on its renowned PlanetSide and EverQuest properties, while also maintaining its current portfolio of online games."

SOE added that the Denver and Tucson studios' projects would be transitioned over to its San Diego headquarters. The company's full statement is posted after the break.

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SOE confirms studio closures, cancels The Agency originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free Realms PS3 due 'sometime early Feb.,' Planetside Next in Q1 or Q2

JC Fletcher — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:40:00 EST

Sony Online Entertainment just did the impossible and launched an MMO on a console ... and it's got several more on the way in the near future. According to SOE president John Smedley, the long-awaited PS3 release of Free Realms has been submitted to Sony and will be out soon. "If I was a betting man," Smedley told Eurogamer, "I'm betting sometime early February it gets launched on the PS3 in SCEA. And probably, and this is a guess, sometime in March for SCEE. And that will use a free-to-play business model on PS3."

And that's not all! The Planetside sequel currently code-named Planetside Next is on the way to unspecified platforms. "We're looking at late first-quarter, early second-quarter [2011]," Smedley said. He even reaffirmed plans to release The Agency in the second half of 2011. "We're not giving out a specific date yet because we don't know it," he said. In addition to those, "There are [unannounced projects]," Smedley said. "Can't even disclose a number, but a lot."

Free Realms PS3 due 'sometime early Feb.,' Planetside Next in Q1 or Q2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: PlanetSide Next launching in March

Justin McElroy — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 20:30:00 EST

A PlanetSide sequel is sort of like the long-in-development third Ghostbusters movie. We've been hearing it's on the way for so long that we're starting to suspect the whole thing's a long con, a grift, if you will, designed to bilk us out of ... something. First Sony hinted it was in development in September of '09, then SOE's John Smedley called it "PlanetSide Next" a month later.

Now, Smedley's back on it, telling the Escapist "We have a very big launch coming in the month of March," Smedley said. "It's a big first person shooter franchise that we're really happy with." With little prodding, Smedley basically confirmed it to be the long-rumored rebirth of the MMOFPS.

Though it obviously hasn't been formally announced yet, we wouldn't be at all surprised to see it formally debut at this Saturday's VGAs. Fair warning: If it has Slimer in it, we're gonna know something's up.

Rumor: PlanetSide Next launching in March originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE's John Smedley calls PlanetSide sequel 'PlanetSide Next'

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST

Sony Online Entertainment could go all the way crazy and officially announce that it's working on the sequel to the popular MMOFPS PlanetSide, but why bother? No, SOE would much rather release a survey mentioning the sequel, only to be called "PlanetSide Next" by company prez John Smedley a few weeks later on his LiveJournal (has it really come to this, folks?).

Though few details are given, Smedley takes the time to thoroughly declare his love for the series, and in doing so speaks of SOE's intentions with PlanetSide Next. "To me, PlanetSide Next means we get a chance to take the essence of everything that was fun in PlanetSide and make it a lot better ... massive battles on a scale no other FPS will touch ... none of this 64-player stuff ... REALLY MASSIVE." We're just hoping our measly laptops will be able to handle the game's sheer massiveness.

[Thanks, Hamma!]

SOE's John Smedley calls PlanetSide sequel 'PlanetSide Next' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Sony survey hints at PlanetSide 2 development

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST

Sony Online Entertainment's PlanetSide was one of the more ambitious MMO titles of its time -- largely due to its focus on twitchy shooting action (instead of infinitely repetitive Dire Rabbit slaying). It seems Sony wants to re-energize the waning franchise with a new installment in the series -- a number of PlanetSide subscribers recently received an SOE email survey asking for inspiration as the developer begins to "plan to expand the PlanetSide universe with another game."

The language in the survey (posted after the jump) doesn't make it sound like SOE is working on a half-baked expansion or a genre-defying spinoff, as it tells participants, "the information you provide will play a critical role into helping guide the development and direction of the next hit Massively Multiplayer Online First Person Shooter." The only thing we remember from our time with PlanetSide was getting killed a whole whole lot. We're not sure what Sony can do about that, besides entirely removing death from the sequel.

[Thanks, Alex!]

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Rumor: Sony survey hints at PlanetSide 2 development originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planetside monthly subscription going up by $2

Alexander Sliwinski — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 13:11:00 EST

Filed under: PC, First Person Shooters, MMO, Business

Sony Online Entertainment announced that the cost of playing Planetside is going up by $2.00 USD. For those still fighting it out in the MMO-shooter four years after the game premiered, consider this reasonable inflation. The cost as of April 2, 2007 will be $14.99 a month.

Although we're sure that there aren't as many people playing Planetside as there were when the game first came out, it is nice to see that SOE is continuing support. Although it's very rare to see an increase in an MMOs monthly subscription, it certainly sounds like this action was done to allow the game to continue. They could have just unceremoniously canceled the game like EA did with Earth and Beyond years ago. Goodnight sweet Jenquai, we hardly knew ye.

Planetside monthly subscription going up by $2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 03 Mar 2007 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's MMOs to be available in one package

Jennie Lees — Tue, 14 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: PC, First Person Shooters, Online, RPGs

The variety of MMOs on the market can be confusing to new players, especially if you want to try multiple games out before you subscribe. Sony appear to have acknowledged this need with their new Station Access Collection which includes Sony Online Entertainment's top MMOs in one package.

The collection, available for $39.99 from March 14th, consists of EverQuest Evolution, EverQuest II, PlanetSide Aftershock, The Matrix Online and Star Wars Galaxies. Crucially, it'll include a month's free play for each bundled game, giving players a chance to try out all the offerings. Other publishers with a wide range of MMOs on offer may want to take a tip from Sony for a change; the perceived value is likely to make this product far more appealing than a single standalone game for the same price.

Sony's MMOs to be available in one package originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Feb 2006 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlanetSide plans free service

Jennie Lees — Mon, 23 Jan 2006 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: PC, First Person Shooters, Online

Sony Online Entertainment's MMOFPS title, PlanetSide, will soon feature a free-to-play service alongside its existing subscription tiers. Currently scheduled for Valentine's Day, the "Fodder Program" will allow free players full access to the game, but impose limits on their BattleRank and CommandRank, restricting their arsenal.

Also planned to kick off at the same time is an improved training system for new players, meaning that newbies should be able to jump into battle within a few minutes. SOE may be anticipating competition from the upcoming MMOFPS Huxley, or trying to attract new players in hopes of revitalising the game--but a free service should benefit anyone wishing to try out a new genre of MMO.

[via Eurogamer]

PlanetSide plans free service originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Jan 2006 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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