14 DAY TRIAL // Sony Online Entertainment has announced that it plans to launch its new superhero-oriented MMO, called DC Universe Online, in November for both the PlayStation 3 home gaming console and the PC.
The publisher and developer also seems to be preparing for a beta stage on both platforms but representatives were not ready to say when it might be launched and whether it will be open to all players or closed and accepting only those who had been vetted by Sony.
Sony Online Entertainment is working closely with Warner Bros. on the creation of DC Universe Online, mainly because the new MMO makes extensive use of comic book characters and of locations like Metropolis, the city Superman protects, and Gotham City, the home city of Batman, two of the most instantly recognizable heroes that appear in comics. Key people at DC, like Jim Lee, focusing on art assets, and Marv Wolfman, focusing on the narrative, are working on the MMO.
The player will not actually take on the mantle of an already existing superhero in DC Universe Online. Each gamer will create their own superpowered persona and will then enter public spaces where they will be able to fight alongside recognizable characters. Traditional elements of MMO play, like level progression, raid instances and world development will be present but the developers are also saying that the level of interaction with the game world is yet unseen in the genre.
With DC Universe Online coming on both the PlayStation 3 and the PC, gamers had their hopes up that cross platform play would be including, allowing those using the two to share the same in-game world. Sony has claimed that the final launch of the title will only include this feature if they manage to limit the impact each platform will have on the gameplay experience.