Cryptic Studios Celebrates 20 Years of Game Development with Launch of Neverwinter: Avernus and Star Trek Online: House Divided for PC
Studio commemorates major milestone with limited time 20th anniversary giveaway bundles for Neverwinter and Star Trek Online
REDWOOD CITY, Calif – June 30, 2020 – Today, Perfect World Entertainment Inc., a leading publisher of live service games, and Cryptic Studios announced the launch of exciting, new game updates for the studio’s most popular games, Neverwinter and Star Trek Online. Neverwinter, the enduring free-to-play action MMORPG based on the acclaimed Dungeons & Dragons franchise has unveiled its 19th major content release, Neverwinter: Avernus. The update continues and concludes the events of Infernal Descent, as it sends players on a thrilling journey across the Waste of Avernus. In addition, Star Trek Online: House Divided ushers in the 20th season of the fan-favorite MMORPG that has explored and expanded the iconic Star Trek universe for 10 years. House Divided gives returning players the chance to experience an epic Klingon-centric war story alongside Martok from Deep Space Nine. For a limited time, both games have released in-game giveaway bundles to commemorate Cryptic Studio’s 20th anniversary.
“It’s a proud moment for all of us at Cryptic Studios, to be celebrating our twenty-year anniversary,” said Stephen D’Angelo, CEO of Cryptic Studios. “What the studio has accomplished through the years is nothing short of spectacular and humbling. We want to thank our fans for the amazing support they’ve shown us these past two decades. We are excited to continue our legacy of delivering epic gameplay experiences for franchises that players love, including the upcoming launch of Magic: Legends.”
About Neverwinter: Avernus
Following the events of Infernal Descent, the previous major update for Neverwinter, Avernus sends players on a thrilling journey across the Wastes of Avernus, the first layer of the Nine Hells, where players will meet Lulu, a curious hollyphant and Archdevil Zariel’s old companion, who arrives in what remains of the Vallenhas stronghold. With a locked infernal puzzle box in the player’s possession, Lulu offers aid in opening it, the only problem is, she’s lost her memories. With the only hope of restoring her memories being to take an odyssey through Avernus, players must team up with two unlikely companions, Makos and the opportunistic merchant, Mahadi, to take on this dire quest.
Along the way, players can expect to explore new story content as they fight their way through hordes of demons to continue the Descent Into Avernus storyline and take part in a brand new Path of the Fallen campaign. This new journey also lets players drive infernal war machines, unravel the mysterious past of the Archdevil Zariel and experience how their actions directly impact and evolve the world of Avernus.
For more game details, visit:
https://www.arcgames.com/en/games/neverwinter/news/detail/11464193
About Star Trek Online: House Divided
House Divided, the newest update for Star Trek Online, gives returning players the chance to experience an epic Klingon-centric war story alongside Martok from Deep Space Nine. After accidentally sending herself and players through time with stolen Federation technology, J’Ula, sister of T’Kuvma (Discovery), finds herself at war as the modern Klingon Empire has done the unthinkable and allied themselves with the Federation. J’Ula and her lieutenant Aakar (Grandfather of Gowron) have taken it upon themselves to right this wrong, and call their true Klingon brethren to arms. It’s now up to the player to quell this rebellion alongside Martok (Deep Space Nine) and maintain the newly founded peace within the Federation.
This new epic war story brings two new playable episodes to Star Trek Online that all Star Trek fans are bound to enjoy. In addition, the new update includes a new month-long House Divided event for players to participate in to receive the Red Angel suit/armor, a 5-person space TFO over the Klingon Penal Colony of Rura Penthe, along with a new Angel’s Wake Lockbox — which contains the Ba’ul ship seen in the Star Trek: Discovery episode “The Sound of Thunder,” and Ba’ul Obelisk from Season 2 of Discovery.
For more game details, visit https://www.arcgames.com/en/games/star-trek-online/news/detail/11461043
About Cryptic Studios’ 20th Anniversary
Founded in Silicon Valley, CA in 2000, Cryptic Studios is best known for its popular legacy titles, Neverwinter and Star Trek Online, which have delighted millions of players across multiple platforms for seven and ten years, respectively. The studio launched its first title, City of Heroes in 2004, and continued expanding its portfolio with City of Villains in 2005 and Champions Online in 2009. Cryptic Studios remains an industry leader by continuing to create unique player experiences that transcends the traditional MMO genre. With a bright future ahead with Magic: Legends, Cryptic Studios’ upcoming free-to-play Online Action-RPG based on the iconic strategy card game, Magic: The Gathering, and even more exciting content for Neverwinter and Star Trek Online, the studio aims to keep creating unforgettable online role-playing games.
Available starting today are 20th Anniversary giveaway bundles for Star Trek Online and Neverwinter for PC. The bundles include the following:
- Star Trek Online
- Platinum Vanity Shield – A colored overlay for the shield that protects your starship against energy-based attacks
- Platinum Tardigrade Pet – Summons a non-combatant Tardigrade pet that will follow the player around
- Platinum Phaser Sniper Rifle – Discovery Era Rifle for Ground Combat
- 3x Specialization Points or Tech Upgrades
- New Title: Cryptonian
- Neverwinter
- Platinum Fashion Set – Cosmetic clothing used to change a character’s appearance. It has no effect on stats.
- Platinum Vanity Pet – Summons a non-combatant pet that will follow the player around.
- Rank 15 Enchantment Choice Pack – Contains your choice of a special enchantment that will change the stats of in-game items.
- Bag of Companion Upgrade Tokens – A currency used to upgrade companions.
- New Title: Cryptonian
- Champions Online
- New Title: Cryptionian
- Exclusive Platinum Aura
- Platinum Defender Action Figure
- Platinum Backup! Defender Device
To claim the items for Star Trek Online, players can find them in 1 MT, which can be found in the Bundles Tab of Mudd’s Market in the Zen Store.
To claim the items for Neverwinter, players must log in between June 30 – July 6 and talk to the Rewards Agent.
To claim the items for Champions Online, players can find them at the Zen Store.
Sharing this news on Twitter? Please tag @NeverwinterGame and @TrekOnlineGame.
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Neverwinter is a free-to-play action MMORPG that features fast-paced combat and epic dungeons. Players explore the vast city of Neverwinter and its surrounding countryside, learning the vivid history of the iconic city in the Forgotten Realms and battling its many enemies. Neverwinter is available on PC and is free to play digitally on Xbox One (with Xbox Live Gold*) and PlayStation®4 (PlayStation®Plus not required).
*On Xbox, Xbox Live Gold membership (sold separately) required.
© 2020 Wizards of the Coast LLC in the USA and other countries. Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, Neverwinter, Forgotten Realms, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the U.S.A. and other countries
Star Trek Online is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online game that allows players to explore the Star Trek universe from within. Players can forge their own destiny as Captain of a Federation starship, champion the Empire through the far reaches of the galaxy as a Klingon Warrior, rebuild the Romulan legacy as the commander of a Romulan Republic Warbird or carry out daring missions on behalf of the Dominion as a Jem’Hadar soldier. Captains can also explore iconic locations from the Star Trek universe, make contact with new alien species and battle alongside other players in customizable starships. Star Trek Online is currently available on PC, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One. To download and play Star Trek Online today for free, visit playstartrekonline.com.
® & © 2020 CBS Studios Inc. STAR TREK and related marks and logos are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.
ABOUT PERFECT WORLD ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Perfect World Entertainment is a leading online publisher of live service games in North America and Europe. Founded in 2008, Perfect World Entertainment is known for creating and publishing titles based on well-known global entertainment franchises, such as Star Trek and Dungeons & Dragons. The company’s popular live service MMO games, including Neverwinter, Star Trek Online and PWI, have cumulatively grossed over $500M in their lifetimes. Perfect World Entertainment also partners with third-party development studios, including Gunfire Games, developer of Remnant: From the Ashes, and Unknown Worlds, developer of Subnautica, to help bring their games to market on a global scale. Perfect World Entertainment is a subsidiary of Perfect World Group, and is headquartered in Redwood City, California. For more information, please visit: perfectworld.com.
ABOUT CRYPTIC STUDIOS, INC.
Cryptic Studios, Inc. is a leading developer of online games committed to delivering the next level of gameplay. Cryptic Studios, Inc. develops AAA titles for PC and is rapidly diversifying its portfolio of games to expand beyond the traditional MMORPG genre. Its successfully launched titles include Champions Online: Free for All, Star Trek Online and Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter. Cryptic Studios, Inc., a subsidiary of Perfect World Group, is located in Los Gatos, CA.
ABOUT WIZARDS OF THE COAST
Wizards of the Coast LLC, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS), brings people together through their shared love of games. Dedicated to the global community of players and fans bound together by their love of both digital and in-person play, Wizards of the Coast prides itself on bringing unique gameplay, deep strategy, and fun to all its gaming experiences, which include an array of beloved and powerful brands such as Magic: The Gathering, and Dungeons & Dragons. For more information about Wizards of the Coast’s world-renowned brands, visit www.wizards.com.
