Cryptic Studios
Cryptic Studios business and news from across the web.
After 16 years of exploring the final frontier, Star Trek Online devs are 'trying new things' and 'trying to push the boundaries' of what they can achieveStar Trek Online is entering a new era with the return of former CEO Jack Emmert and Cryptic Studios' separation from Embracer. The recent 'Undiscovered' update signifies a shift towards trying new things, including remaking old arcs and revamping sector space encounters, aiming to make the game feel more alive and engaging for its players.- STAR TREK ONLINE: UNDISCOVERED IS AVAILABLE NOW ON PC Arc Games and Cryptic Studios announced that Star Trek Online: Undiscovered, the latest season for the free-to-play MMORPG, is now available on PC and will launch on PlayStation and Xbox consoles on July 29, 2026. This update reimagines the 'The Ultimate Klingon' story arc, featuring actors Robert Picardo and Lisa LoCicero, and introduces new features like Deep Space Encounters and the Undiscovered Event.
- Star Trek Online Undiscovered launches today, headlined by Trek’s Robert Picardo and Lisa LociceroStar Trek Online has launched its new event, Undiscovered, on PC. This update features a reimagined story focusing on the Klingon War, the return of characters Lieutenant Miral Paris (voiced by Lisa Locicero) and The Doctor (voiced by Robert Picardo), and updated graphics and cutscenes. The event aims to secure support for a peace proposal amidst ongoing conflict and a growing Undine threat.
- Neverwinter’s Celebration of Lliira returns for the week to promote ‘joy, freedom, and liberty’The Celebration of Lliira event has returned to the MMORPG Neverwinter, encouraging players to honor the Goddess of Joy, Freedom, and Liberty. Players can participate by completing daily quests and setting off fireworks, earning Tokens of Lliira's Favor for event rewards, including a celestial dragonnel mount. The event runs through Friday, July 10th.
- Champions Online’s Nightmare Invasion, Star Trek Online’s freebies, and Neverwinter’s borked patchCryptic Studios is running multiple in-game events across its titles in June. Champions Online features the Nightmare Invasion and Qliphothic Bonus Event, while Star Trek Online offers daily freebies during the Festival on Risa. Neverwinter received a patch on June 4th with adjustments to Dungeon Jotunskar and other fixes, though some changes were unintentionally not implemented correctly.
"Nobody's making games for the retired people" – The growing yet underserved market for grey gamersThe video game industry is largely overlooking the growing market of older players, often referred to as 'grey gamers.' Despite an aging global population and increasing numbers of individuals over 40, 50, and 60 playing games, developers are slow to cater to this demographic, who possess disposable income and long-term gaming literacy. Experts suggest a shift in industry mindset is needed to capture this substantial and expanding market, which is currently underserved by game design and marketing efforts.
3 years after a $2 billion implosion, studio closures, and cancellations, Embracer's new CEO hopes 'trust is…Embracer Group CEO Phil Rogers expressed hope for improving trust in the company despite a period of significant restructuring, studio closures, and cancellations. The company has undergone multiple reorganizations and asset sales, including the sale of Gearbox and the closure of Arc Games and Cryptic Studios. Rogers acknowledged the industry's challenges and stated that Embracer is focused on resetting and improving its position, with potential for future mergers and acquisitions guided by past learnings.
After outliving 6 Star Trek TV shows, Star Trek Online deserves more loveStar Trek Online, launched in 2010, continues to thrive as a free-to-play MMO despite the conclusion of multiple Star Trek television series. The game, now published by Arc Games and developed by Cryptic Studios, offers a vast amount of content for fans, including numerous ships and storylines that span the Star Trek universe. With the return of CEO Jack Emmert, there's a renewed focus on player engagement and potential for future growth.
MMOs don't need 'to be 200 hours of unique content' at launch, says industry vetMMO design veteran Jack Emmert argues that new Massively Multiplayer Online games do not need to launch with an excessive amount of unique content. He suggests that focusing on a strong core experience and a committed live team allows for organic growth based on player desires, contrasting this with the current industry trend of over-scoping.
'People want MMOs', says veteran designer Jack Emmert, it's the publishers chasing WoW-level scope that…Veteran designer Jack Emmert believes players still want MMOs, citing the sales of New World as proof, but argues that publishers' pursuit of WoW-level scope and budget leads to failure. He suggests that a more focused vision and reasonable expectations are key to creating successful new MMOs, rather than trying to replicate existing giants.- Cryptic’s Jack Emmert on hungry MMO fans and games that are ‘basically features, but without any soul’Cryptic Studios' Jack Emmert believes the MMORPG genre still has a strong audience, citing games like New World and World of Warcraft. He argues that many new MMORPGs fail due to a lack of focused design, resulting in "features without any soul" and bloated budgets, which publishers often push for.
- Evening InterviewsCryptic Studios head Jack Emmert stated that the success of New World indicates a strong demand for MMORPGs, suggesting the genre is ready for innovation. The article also touches on Josh Sawyer's journey into the gaming industry.
"People want MMOs, and the sales of New World proved it" – Cryptic Studios head Jack Emmert on why MMOs are ripe for reinventionCryptic Studios CEO Jack Emmert believes the MMORPG market is still strong, citing the sales of New World as proof, despite recent cancellations. He argues that successful MMOs should focus on a distinct vision and niche audience rather than trying to appeal to everyone, which often leads to diluted experiences. Emmert also emphasizes the importance of rapid prototyping and controlled scope for long-term success in the genre.- Star Trek Online creates a ‘watch list’ to help you track upcoming patchesStar Trek Online studio Cryptic Studios has launched a new 'Watch List' page to inform players about upcoming patches and projects. This initiative aims to increase player awareness of potential game changes, such as buffs or nerfs to consoles, weapons, and abilities like the Boimler Effect, allowing for more informed gameplay decisions.
Former Embracer CEO says Fellowship Entertainment spin-off is the "most effective long-term solution"Embracer Group's former CEO Lars Wingefors has stated that spinning off Fellowship Entertainment is the most effective long-term solution for its undervalued intellectual properties. The new entity will focus on IPs like Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Tomb Raider, and Lord of the Rings, aiming for industry-leading profitability and organic growth. This move is part of Embracer's broader restructuring efforts following significant layoffs and asset sales.- Neverwinter’s Module 33 Biting Cold is live today with a new zone, heroics, dungeon, and battlepassCryptic Studios and Arc Games have launched Neverwinter's Module 33, titled Biting Cold, for PC. This update introduces a new glacial zone called Reghed Edge, six heroic encounters, a new dungeon with three bosses, and a battle pass. The module also features new gear, environmental effects, and survival elements.
- JOURNEY TO THE NORTH IN NEVERWINTER: BITING COLD, NOW AVAILABLE ON PC, PLAYSTATION AND XBOXArc Games and Cryptic Studios have released Biting Cold, the 33rd module for the free-to-play Dungeons & Dragons MMORPG Neverwinter. Available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, the module introduces a new Adventure Zone called Reghed Edge, a new dungeon named Jotunskar, and new Heroic Encounters set in the northern lands of Icewind Dale.
- Champions Online’s tiny community is in an uproar over the furious exit of top content creatorsChampions Online is experiencing community turmoil following the return of a former lead developer and the subsequent departure of key content creators. Players are upset over perceived changes to game mechanics and moderation practices on Discord. Arc Games community manager Mikey Fatum addressed concerns, stating the goal is to build upon previous work and maintain a respectful community space.
- Star Trek Online’s latest patch fixes pistol and boss issues on PC and console after allStar Trek Online's latest patch, initially planned for a later release on Xbox, has been deployed to both PC and console players. The update addresses issues with the MACO Phase Pistol's alt-fire, a spawning problem with muHwi', and a bug that allowed the Crystalline Entity to be killed before completing its absorption/release phases.
- Neverwinter dates Biting Cold module release, extends quick start promotionCryptic Studios announced that Neverwinter's Module 33: Biting Cold will be released on May 19th. The studio is also extending its Quick Start event through May 26th, allowing new players to choose a pre-built level 20 character. The Biting Cold update introduces a new adventure zone, mechanics, encounters, and a dungeon.