Executive Producer Leaves Star Trek Online

Craig Zinkievich, who was the executive producer working on Star Trek Online, the Cryptic Studios made MMO based upon the successful science fiction universe, has announced that he is leaving the team in charge of the game, after more than two years of working on the project and after seven years working with the Crytpic team.

In an open letter currently posted on the official site of Star Trek Online, Zinkievich states, “I’ve decided to take a break from Cryptic Studios for a bit and focus on other things, like hanging out with my kids over the summer, walking my goat more and taking care of my bees.”

He went on to talk about his colleagues, saying “The Star Trek Online development team is the most amazing, passionate, dedicated and hardest working team that I’ve ever had the honor of working with. They constantly amaze me with the work that they put in, the care and reverence in which they approach the universe, and the sheer love for the game and its players.”

The opening paragraph of the statement seems to imply that, at some point, he will rejoin the team but he offered no date. It's not clear what impact his decision can have on Star Trek Online. Daniel Stahl, who has also been a producer on the MMO and on Champions Online, will take over the responsibilities that Zinkievich has and will apparently guide the MMO on the next phase of its life, meaning the expansion the team has been calling Seasons.

Star Trek Online was in a bit of a rough shape when it initially came out but fans of the universe still expressed an interest in the game. The developers at Cryptic Studios have promised more content for Klingon players and more opportunities for Player versus Players battles in space in the coming content packs, part of Season 2 and 3.