Atari To Divest Cryptic Studios

               As Reported at Gamasutra, Atari is planning to unload Champions Online and Star Trek Online developer Cryptic Studios in an attept to "stated strategy of fewer but more profitable releases and further expansion into casual online and mobile games." This can't be good news for fans of Champions or Star Trek Online, although they have stated the games will continue to operate as usual. Obviously if Cryptic was making money this move would not be taking place.

             Wish Stone has made a comment on the offical STO forums indicating thier plans for business as usual, "Right now I have no further details other than what has been mentioned elsewhere. Support for Champions Online and Star Trek Online will be continuing as normal, our staff is working hard on their projects (and the folks from the Champions team deserve an extra cheer for their new stuff by the way) and there are no planned changes to the way any of our games and projects will operate."

             As a present player of STO I can only look upon this news unfavorably. If Atari has already marked Cryptic for the proverbial axe, just how much money are they going to invest in expanding and updating the game? My guess is not much and more than likely Cryptic can expect to see thier budget shrink. Wether STO or Champions survives is anyones guess, but this is deffinately not good news for fans of Cryptic games.