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Champions Online, the superhero MMORPG released in September last year, is a “middling success”, developer Cryptic has admitted.
But the studio insisted subscriber numbers “are good”, and promised the game “isn’t going anywhere”.
Champions Online endured a difficult launch, with mixed review scores and player criticism of a launch day patch that significantly changed gameplay.
While Cryptic refuses to disclose subscriber numbers, new executive producer Shannon Posniewski told VideoGamer.com that Champions Online now enjoys a “solid” subscriber base, and plans are already in place for content “a year out”.
“I would say it’s a middling success,” Posniewski said.
“It’s not necessarily as big as what we were hoping, but the subscriber numbers are good and they’re solid for us. We wanted more, like everyone would like more!
“But on the other hand the game itself is bringing in enough revenue that we can maintain and expand it over time. That is a good measure of whether or not a game is sound: whether or not it’s still being worked on. Once you hear a developer isn’t working on a game, that’s when you know that they probably have a problem with the subscriber base.
“The proof is in the pudding. We’re still putting money into it. We’re still working on it. We’re excited for the next year. We’re making plans at least a year out now.”
Following the phenomenal success of Blizzard’s World of Warcraft, a number of high-profile MMOs, including Age of Conan, Warhammer Online, and Cryptic’s Champions Online and Star Trek Online, were released.
While none have troubled WoW as the undisputed number one MMORPG, many continue to exist and improve.
Champions Online recently saw the release of a free expansion, Revelation, which introduced new level 37-40 content, superhero costume parts, and tier four powers.
