Sony acquista i diritti di The Matrix Online e altri MMO

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E' stato ufficializzato l'acquisto dei diritti di Sony dell'MMORpg 'The Matrix Online' e di tutti i proggetti presenti e futuri che aveva la Monolith.
Di seguito verrà riportato il comunicato ufficiale.

In an announcement on Friday Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) made official what we'd rumored up just earlier: the company has bought the rights to The Matrix Online, previously held by Warner Bros. Interactive and SEGA.

In addition, SOE is in agreement with Warner Bros. to produce an MMORPG based on the vast worlds and characters of DC Comics. SOE hopes to release the new game in late 2007, and is currently targeting the PC, PlayStation 3, and PSP -- though platform plans still aren't set in stone.

Developed by Monolith (No One Lives Forever, Tron 2.0), The Matrix Online promised not only the setting and characters of the hit sci-fi franchise, but an active storyline played out by live actors performing in the game.

"Our goal is to deliver quality content and consistently advance our key properties within the online games space," said Jason Hall, senior vice president of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. "We've done just that with The Matrix Online. Because of our compelling work in developing and launching that game we can now move it over to the leaders in the MMO space, SOE. We look forward to working with SOE to enhance our overall services to massively multiplayer online gamers for The Matrix Online and a new DC Comics game."

UPDATE: We checked in a representative for SOE, who explained that Matrix Online players will not see any changes in the game or subscription pricing due to the switch. In-game live actors will continue to appear, for instance, and the Matrix story will continue as planned. Due to SOE's strong privacy policy, players will eventually be asked to create a Station ID. The Matrix Online will also be folded into Sony's Station Access Plan, a subscription bundle which includes EverQuest, EverQuest 2, and Star Wars Galaxies.

The representative also said that SOE has made offers to more than 25 members of Monolith's Matrix team, that "a majority" have accepted, and will being working at SOE's Seattle office, just a few blocks away.