Marvel Universe MMO - Axed!

**UniToxic**

US, February 11, 2008 - In an interview with MTV, Microsoft Game Studios Corporate Vice President Shane Kim confirmed that the Marvel MMO has been cancelled. In 2006, Microsoft signed Cryptic Studios, makers of the popular PC MMO City of Heroes, to create a game based in the Marvel Universe. It was expected to tap in to current Marvel comics storylines and feature storylines from yet-to-be-named Marvel writers.

"Marvel and [Microsoft] have agreed to end development on the MMO," Kim told MTV. "It's just something that we felt that, for us and for them, it would be better if we ended development... When we first entered into the development and agreement of the development of 'Marvel Universe Online,' we thought we would create another subscription-based MMO. And if you really look at the data there's basically one that's successful and everything else wouldn't meet our level or definition of commercial success. And then you have to look [and say]: 'Can we change the business model for that? Is that really viable given how far we are in development? And so forth. Does Marvel want to do that?' There's a whole bunch of factors."

This marks the second high-profile MMO to be cancelled. Previously, Microsoft dropped the axe last generation on Level-5's True Fantasy Live Online. Microsoft's original Xbox and Xbox 360 have had a long-standing flirtation with MMOs. So far this has yielded almost no massively multiplayer games on either console.

http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/851/851078p1.html

This means that SonyOnlineEntertainment is now going to win the battle with their title DCComics Online as long as they can get a release. Takes of some pressure hey? (even though I still think Marvel > DCComics)

**Roukan**

UniToxic wrote:

US, February 11, 2008 - In an interview with MTV, Microsoft Game Studios Corporate Vice President Shane Kim confirmed that the Marvel MMO has been cancelled. In 2006, Microsoft signed Cryptic Studios, makers of the popular PC MMO City of Heroes, to create a game based in the Marvel Universe. It was expected to tap in to current Marvel comics storylines and feature storylines from yet-to-be-named Marvel writers.

"Marvel and [Microsoft] have agreed to end development on the MMO," Kim told MTV. "It's just something that we felt that, for us and for them, it would be better if we ended development... When we first entered into the development and agreement of the development of 'Marvel Universe Online,' we thought we would create another subscription-based MMO. And if you really look at the data there's basically one that's successful and everything else wouldn't meet our level or definition of commercial success. And then you have to look [and say]: 'Can we change the business model for that? Is that really viable given how far we are in development? And so forth. Does Marvel want to do that?' There's a whole bunch of factors."

This marks the second high-profile MMO to be cancelled. Previously, Microsoft dropped the axe last generation on Level-5's True Fantasy Live Online. Microsoft's original Xbox and Xbox 360 have had a long-standing flirtation with MMOs. So far this has yielded almost no massively multiplayer games on either console.

http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/851/851078p1.html

This means that SonyOnlineEntertainment is now going to win the battle with their title DCComics Online as long as they can get a release. Takes of some pressure hey? (even though I still think Marvel > DCComics)

COH is better than both IMO

The Leo

I don't think they spoke of SOE as the competitor though... more like f'ing WoW... someone must bring it down...

**Sentrik**

I wonder what's going to happen to the DC MMO.

**Sirez**

That's a real shame. I used to play CoH/CoV quite a bit, still do off and on. I was looking forward to this seeing as I'm a Marvel comics fan. As for the DC MMO, that's give or take for me. I was never really much into DC comics. Except maybe Batman. But c'mon, it's Batman.

**Hisagawa**

Ouch, this one would have been fun until everyone noticed it was a rehashed CoH in a marvel setting. I would have bought into it though seeing as how CoH is a pretty good game.

And lol @ them looking at WoW sub numbers...

Ghostwise

Microsoft is just to chicken**** to enter the MMO realm again. Cryptic is going to use the remnants of their resources to make another superhero MMORPG from the ashes of MUO it looks like.

Champions Online.

**9mmfu**

the Marvel IP is in the top 3 worse IP holders to work with or so says the rumor mill. And there was some crazy stuff going on in the contract for that project again the rumor mill.

So while I personally believe MS doesn't have the grit to really produce an MMO in this case I think it was just a good business decision not to try.

**MotorZ**

9mmfu wrote:

the Marvel IP is in the top 3 worse IP holders to work with or so says the rumor mill. And there was some crazy stuff going on in the contract for that project again the rumor mill.
So while I personally believe MS doesn't have the grit to really produce an MMO in this case I think it was just a good business decision not to try.

Where do the Matrix/WB and Star Wars/Lucas Arts rank in the rumor mill?