Sony and LucasArts Announce Free-to-Play The Clones Wars MMO

With the launch date for DC Universe Online now set for November, Sony Online Entertainment has announced that it has partnered with LucasArts in order to create a new free-to-play virtual space built around the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series, which can be seen on Cartoon Network and which aims to bridge the gap between the third and the fourth full length movies in the science fiction series.

The entire experience of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars MMO will happen in a browser window, allowing players to pilot their own starfighter and take on other starships, duel with adversaries seen on the animated series using their own customized lightsabers and play minigames linked to the series like Speeder Bike Racing and Droid Programming. SOE is also promising to include a collectible card game with characters, creatures and vehicles seen on the show and well known to the fans.

The experience will be free to play but a membership option will be included, although it's not clear what advantages it will include. There are microtransactions linked to items and accessories as well. Star Wars: The Clone Wars is also bringing with it a set of customizable safety options, trying to become a very family-friendly experience.

John Smedley, who is the president of Sony Online Entertainment, stated, “Clone Wars Adventures is the ultimate destination for fans of The Clone Wars series and will bring the action and excitement of the show to players online so they can experience The Clone Wars universe firsthand. We've worked with LucasArts and Lucasfilm to create a virtual world that is seamlessly integrated with the TV series and a true extension of the show. It's also just flat-out fun to play.”

While Star Wars: The Clone Wars is being created, BioWare and Electronic Arts are also working on a more mature MMO based on the universe, called The Old Republic, which will probably arrive in 2011.