Take-Two drops Champions Online

Publisher no longer championing superhero-themed MMORPG following Atari's acquisition of its developer, Cryptic Studios.

When Atari announced its acquisition of Cryptic Studios last week, it answered the question of who would publish Star Trek Online. However, it raised doubts about the publisher of the Los Gatos, California-based shop's other massively multiplayer project, Champions Online for the PC and Xbox 360. On the eve of the E3 Media & Business Summit this past July, 2K Games announced that it would distribute the pen-and-paper RPG-inspired title, which began life as the now-canceled Marvel Universe Online.

"Um, yeah...I just don't think this is going to work out. We can still be friends!"

With none of the parties commenting, the publishing status of Champions Online lingered in purgatory for a week. Today, though, 2K parent Take-Two Interactive gave a definitive answer on the publishing question--in the negative. "We no longer intend to publish the MMOG Champions Online due to Atari's acquisition of Cryptic," said Take-Two president Ben Feder in a post-earnings conference call with analysts.

Take-Two's exit wasn't totally unexpected, as acquisitions often scupper preexisting publishing agreements. The biggest exception to this is Star Wars: The Old Republic, which continues to be developed by BioWare for LucasArts despite Electronic Arts' 2007 purchase of the former. Speaking to GameSpot, executives from both BioWare and LucasArts pointed to the success of their previous joint venture, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, as a reason for their continued collaboration.

With Atari now firmly ensconced in the publisher's seat, it remains to be seen whether or not Champions Online will stick to its previously announced spring 2009 release date. On the one hand, the game only bore a general "2009" release window when mentioned in the Atari acquisition announcement. On the other, Cryptic has ramped up work on the project, enlisting famed Diablo and Hellgate: London cocreator Bill Roper to work on the project.

For more on Champions Online, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

48 Comments

  • 01-cannon-mpc

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 1:36 am GMT

    Champions Online cinda looks interesting. But im not sure if i whould play it. After all Cryptic have deleted my subscription to Ciry of Heros two times. Without asking or telling me about it. I just tried to log on and it sed i cant because i dont have an active subscription. But why whouldent BioWare and LucasArts work together? And why whould EA care about that? EA will or might get there fair share of the cash. Atleast thats what im guesing.

  • cjtech

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 3:03 pm GMT

    I hope this game get teleported to a good develepor -Live long and Prosper -Spock

  • _AbBaNdOn

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 3:35 am GMT

    I about crapped my pants when I heard this was also going to be able to be played from an Xbox 360!!! I pray to the gaming gods that Atari will go ahead and support a 360 version!!! I was already trying to figure out how much it would cost to upgrade my 360 and stuff. 40$/month for broadband, 10$/month for XBL, 15$/month for CO subscription + a new hard drive for the 360 arcade + an xbox keyboard....



    Finally I had hope of playing a current MMORPG again. I would rather play City of Heroes/Villians but CO did sound appealing with its focus on action based combat and the ability to totally customize your hero even down to the color of his powers.

  • kakotan

    Posted Jan 18, 2009 10:21 pm GMT

    Has there been any news anywhere about if this game is still a go ????

  • DTH17

    Posted Jan 7, 2009 9:52 am GMT

    dude, jason19 I can barely understand a word of what you said.

  • jason19 posted Dec 23, 2008 3:37 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    jason19

    Posted Dec 23, 2008 3:37 pm GMT (hide)

    taht games suck gusy i cannot see why can build new star was 2 or new stor so and who not bay it was time bay that games maye new star wars sure you konw waht happin to end so dort get taht games lest lol money go for it but was time keed build oild star wars in pass off star you konw all the leader del in the oild star wars 3 why im not get it sure buiild new star wars the tell waht happin to end

  • ChudWarrior

    Posted Dec 22, 2008 9:13 am GMT

    So still no word on the whole pay to play thing then? No one knows? Anything? If you do have to pay to play, then how much will it be per month? Hopefully they will realize that people do not want to not only pay for xbox live, but pay to play a game on line on top of that. That's just outlandish and scary. I do not think I can deal with that. Gruug.....oh well, guess we'll just have to wait and see. Hopefully they will be nice and only charge the P.C. users.

  • thealternativex

    Posted Dec 21, 2008 5:44 pm GMT

    BlackAce...More like StupidFACE...Huh...huh!!
    Seriously, shut up. These are the guys who made City Of Heroes, so it is not, in anyway, a "wannabe". Also, they are not generic heroes considering YOU make them. Man you suck..

  • illuminutty

    Posted Dec 21, 2008 2:02 am GMT

    Why does this news not surprise me one bit?

    I guess no one wants to go "Where no man has gone before."

  • Media_Mind

    Posted Dec 20, 2008 10:30 am GMT

    o'well

  • BloodMist

    Posted Dec 20, 2008 12:55 am GMT

    Gruug, your name fits.Quite an ogreish thing to say.

  • Gruug

    Posted Dec 19, 2008 9:34 pm GMT

    Not interested in anything "cross platform". That means I have removed Star Trek Online and Champions from my wish list.

  • mcginnism

    Posted Dec 19, 2008 1:25 pm GMT

    I haven't played a MMO in years, and I was really looking forward to this one. Hopefully someone else will take it on; there's a lot of potential in this property.

  • Chico_Azteca

    Posted Dec 19, 2008 12:03 am GMT

    why is there always people complaining about charges?

    usually MMORPG's work that way....95%of the times

    even free ones charge you for some stuff for those with very high levels....

  • Turkeysoup1

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 6:04 pm GMT

    Blackace, it is not generic super heroes. It is based off an already established IP created in 1981. Is it me or do people not even bother to research a game before they bash it? Here is an interesting idea, look into a game and see what it is about before you just trash it. Play it before you judge it. Oh and read an article before you call a game dead.

  • xitwenty20ix

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 6:01 pm GMT

    "$9.99 - $14.99 a month" is nothing. Stop complaining about games that charge, there are good reasons for this price.

  • Gamingcucumber

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 5:46 pm GMT

    To be fair. It remains unseen if an MMORPG can actually be pulled of in a good way on consoles. I highly doubt it since it's best of on a PC platform that has easy Internet connection, Keyboard and mouse, Ventrilo etc.

  • makemeweak

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 4:35 pm GMT

    I'm relieved - Take-two is not a good publisher. They will probably be better off in someone else's hands.

  • blackace

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 4:22 pm GMT

    I'm not overly excite about Champions Online. When it had the Marvel characters in it, it seemed interesting. Using generic super heroes will make this game a CoH wannabe MMO. If it's FREE maybe I'll have a look, but I refuse to pay $9.99 - $14.99 a month for another MMO. More MMO's need to be like Guild Wars.

  • Qwickilller117

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 4:12 pm GMT

    why are game companys falling to the Gamer Godz

  • sergio_afonso

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 1:59 pm GMT

    Bring Marvel Online back!!

  • king_bobo

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 1:12 pm GMT

    I wouldn't care much if this game wasn't published at all - especially if you it's not a 'pay-once' MMO. It had potential, but after seeing previews and stuff it really doesn't sound up to much, especially when compared with other '09 games.

  • Vegeta-sama

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 12:19 pm GMT

    The saying is "you can polish a turd, but it's still a turd" not "you can't polish a turd" I really don't know how people got confused about that

  • CyboDeus

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 10:40 am GMT

    Actually, Zoomer30, you can polish a turd. Mythbusters have proven this... youtube it.

  • Zoomer30 posted Dec 18, 2008 9:19 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    Zoomer30

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 9:19 am GMT (hide)

    Now all they need to do is drop Star Trek Online. I mean you cant polish a turd. We all know STO is a cancelled game just waiting to happen. Pull the plug.

  • mark632

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 8:31 am GMT

    What in the world are you guys worrying about? The game is not cancelled. They're simply changing publishers. Atari is going to publish the game instead of Take Two. That makes perfect sense now that Atari owns the IP. There is no reason for Atari to pay Take Two to do something Atari can do itself - publish the game.

  • jazilla

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 8:09 am GMT

    this will change budgeting and content even. At least this is something that could go either way. I hope this allows them to do some stuff that their former publisher wasn't allowing. Who know though.

  • xxxTristamxxx

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 6:40 am GMT

    It seems that this is very common trend among game companies...the industry is changing.

  • ChudWarrior

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 5:52 am GMT

    Yes, but the problem with delays like these is that this game will probably be pushed back until a tentative late 2010 release. Which would be too late. Kind of like what happened with Too Human, by the time it finally came out no one really cared and had more than likely forgotten about its existence. You cannot over hype games like this and then release them in 3 years. Waiting is annoying, unavoidable most of the time, but still annoying. I will still buy it and play it no matter what.
    I have one question though, if anyone has an idea what the answer might be that would be great. Will you have to pay to play this game, like phantasy star,(I only played the demo, don't worry) or will it be free to play? Cause if you have to pay for your Live membership, and then pay to play this on top of that, it would be really bothersome.

  • Devvy01

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 5:46 am GMT

    please no more nails

  • GeigerdolylWodd

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 2:36 am GMT

    I could be wrong but I thought I saw a demo of this game the other day on X-Play XL. http://www.n4g.com/pc/News-241925.aspx

    The official x-play vids:

    http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/previews/35346/Hands_On_Champions_Online_Part_One.html

    http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/videos/35353/Hands_On_Champions_Online_Part_Two.html

    for some reason their tail ends were cut off

  • Pete5506

    Posted Dec 17, 2008 10:50 pm GMT

    I will watched it, havent seen much for this game

  • Oni

    Posted Dec 17, 2008 9:08 pm GMT

    People this game is not canceled! Stop freaking out. Atari bought the studio that is making "CO", Take two was publishing. Just put two and two together and calm down. sheesh.

  • newb16

    Posted Dec 17, 2008 8:21 pm GMT

    I dont think Take-Two Interactive has done all that great of a job for a very long time anyway.

  • chikahiro94

    Posted Dec 17, 2008 8:04 pm GMT

    No surprise there. Fewer companies involved, less money to have to share. Given Atari is publishing the retail version of EVE, plus The Witcher? Looks like they're wanting to get a name for themselves in RPG's.

  • Adam_the_Nerd

    Posted Dec 17, 2008 8:01 pm GMT

    NO please don't cancel this!

  • shade1978x

    Posted Dec 17, 2008 7:39 pm GMT

    I don't know. I was hyper-interested in this game when I heard about it, then I heard that the same devs behind City of Heroes was making it. Now, if CO is just another COH, I'll pass. I don't need to waste time on another "Treadmill Online" game.

  • Cobra5

    Posted Dec 17, 2008 7:30 pm GMT

    We'll see. I'm interested in the gameplay- MMOs thus far have not had enough action for me. It feels more like I'm watching my guy fight, then actually fighting... click a button now and then... and wait for fights to be over so I can... well, do it again. Depending on how far this game diverges from that formula is how much I'll like it, I think. They say its going to be more "action packed" then other MMOs, but the videos so far don't seem to indicate that.

  • 1valiantknight

    Posted Dec 17, 2008 7:23 pm GMT

    Settle down it's not like it's dead in the water. I suspect we will still see the game. Look at Brutal Legend and Riddick, you never know what's gonna happen.

  • BloodMist

    Posted Dec 17, 2008 7:19 pm GMT

    Umm...big....deal?Different publisher, same game.

    BTW it's kinda funny that they didn't mention how Lucasarts is required by contract to at least semi-produce any game that uses the Star Wars license.Odd that they downplayed that.

  • BoomLazMan

    Posted Dec 17, 2008 6:53 pm GMT

    Lol I guess COH and COV dont have any competition still.

  • djmillard2

    Posted Dec 17, 2008 6:52 pm GMT

    im psyched for champions online

  • Ghutch55

    Posted Dec 17, 2008 6:27 pm GMT

    Thats kinda sad i was looking forward to it, but what's the deal with the DC universe online I really want to play that one

  • Moop25

    Posted Dec 17, 2008 6:22 pm GMT

    NOOOOO!!!!!!

  • jrabbit99

    Posted Dec 17, 2008 6:00 pm GMT

    Oh well, I was looking forward to the game.

  • tyler2tyler

    Posted Dec 17, 2008 5:42 pm GMT

    PLEASE don't cancel it

  • Wezker619

    Posted Dec 17, 2008 5:36 pm GMT

    Lets hope it isn't canceled.

  • firedrakes

    Posted Dec 17, 2008 5:19 pm GMT

    well that sucks... but cant be help

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