When does it change owners finally?

[Laika]

Its been sold but i am not seeing any difference.
Support still terrible and can't play what i paid for. Solution by them: Pay again and delete your character.

[MysteryGrayLeaf]

The change has been ongoing since November 2023. With another superset owner change happening in the 2nd half of 2025 or later.

2023: Cryptic Studios, PWE, Embracer

2024: Cryptic Studios, PWE -> Gearbox Publishing -> Arc Games, Embracer

2024-2025: Cryptic Studios -> DECA Europe, Arc Games -> DECA Games, Embracer

2025+: DECA Europe, DECA Games, Embracer -> Coffee Stain & Friends

With that we are still waiting for the Lead Designer for Champions Online to be announced. Once that is announced then the gears will probably shift to higher gear.

The start should be this webpage changing; Champions Online steampage
Developer: DECA Games
Publisher: DECA Games

Ultimate quality check would be a video here: https://www.youtube.com/@ChampionsOnlineGame/videos

If there is no video post-DECA Europe. Then, the changes going forward will be mediocre at best.

[lilbnnuy]

Hope the game sticks around and doesn't go the way of city of heroes.

[MysteryGrayLeaf]

Originally posted by lilbnnuy:

Hope the game sticks around and doesn't go the way of city of heroes.

There is no way they are going to drop the intellectual property. Champions Online comes with the Champions IP. It also includes the Hero System license. Means the IP can evolve into the larger Hero System universe.

Fantasy Hero can replace Neverwinter.
Star Hero can replace Star Trek. However, Star Hero is closer to Star Wars and Mass Effect than Star Trek.

Mechanically, the implementation of Fantasy Hero from point system to template system. Makes Neverwinter character creation the most accurate to Hero System/Champions. Since, Champions has species and origins in the pen and paper game.

Invoke Studios is handling the next D&D Multiplayer Online experience. Scopely is doing something Next-Gen with Star Trek Fleet Command IP. Out of the gate, Neverwinter and Star Trek are more likely to get dropped. As Invoke has the backing of Wizard of the Coasts directly. With Scopely able to make higher revenue/returns to CBS/Paramount.

Which leaves Champions Online being the only one safe currently. As Hero Shooters/Brawlers don't leech players from MMOs.

We only have these titles:
DC Universe Online #1, City of Heroes #2, Champions Online #3. Till Q2 2025+ when Ship of Heroes is likely to take #3 spot and bump CO down to #4.

Nearest IP still in work with no defined release date is Project XT/Nexter Zero (Spiritual successor to 최강의 군단) and City of Titans. With PXT being a Hero-based MMO it likely doesn't have character customization.

Marvel Rivals success in China might lead towards Gacha games adopting Superheroes. Which does leech players from MMOs. Where mid-to-top tier Gacha games have copied MMOs setting progression and expansion zone formula. For example: Throne and Liberty Talandre and Wuthering Waves Rinascita.

It only takes one Wuxia/Xianxia MMO developer to switch to the Superhero genre. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueSexb7Y3HY In which, DECA Games without announcing a reboot early. Has no chance to compete against them with Champions Online. Perfect World Games could easily nuke us by reskinning Perfect New World (Xianxia) to Super New World (Superhero). The control of Superheroes by DC Universe Online is very flimsy. Any Tom, Richard, or Harry Superhero IP with standards can come and take the throne from them. Like taking candy from a child. That is how awful the Superhero MMO genre is currently.

China specifically has a huge furry community. So don't think they won't have furries in their Superhero game... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPatWG5PO-c ... *ahem* Like Throne and Liberty reskinned in a Superhero setting (a la City of Heroes 2). It would probably be as popular as Marvel Rivals. T&L has no staying power because 96% of all MMOs are Fantasy.

As well main reason DECA Games is likely to reboot.
DCEU to DCU's Chapters for DC's reboot.
Phase 1-6:: Avengers: Doomsday + Avengers: Secret Wars to a rebooted MCU.

Cryptic Studios is mostly gone with people still leaving. With that there is a huge technical + narrative debt which they can't fix quickly. At this point, the only option is rebooting for DECA Games. As it is the quickest way to knock out technical debt and narrative debt.

Three positions waiting to be announced...
- Lead Designer (top individual for overhualing)
- Lead Artist (top individual for any new art direction)
- Lead Narrative (top individual for rebooted setting)

Update like the DCUO Update: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQek09lzS6w