The Matrix Online: Overview

Original developer Monolith launched The Matrix Online on March 22nd, 2005. Monolith along with publishers Warner Brothers and Sega, sold the game and everything related to it to Sony Online Entertainment under three months after its initial launch. The transition was relatively smooth and now The Matrix Online enjoys a healthy existence as part of Sony’s “Station Pass”, which enables access to a fleet of MMOs for a single flat fee.

The game’s hallmark has and continues to be live events. SOE, like Monolith before it, operates frequent events that build on the lore of the films and advances it in digital form. Most notably, the game famously killed off Morpheus early in its cycle. However, with a reduced development staff after the game’s slow start, these events are often smaller and tightly focused.

The game has three base classes (Hacker, Programmer and Operative) that branch out into a web of subclasses. Players also can choose between one of three factions. Those who select Zion support the humans as they fight against their controllers, the Merovingian are a sort of middle group, and the Machines are pitted against the humans and for the maintenance of order.

The Matrix Online attempts to capture the signature combat of the films in a massively-multiplayer world. Characters fight with kung-fu and weapons in a way that is totally distinct to this game. Also, thanks to the IP on which this is based, the game allows players to easily reconfigure their abilities as they enter the Matrix.

SOE has made The Matrix Online available for a monthly fee and through their Station Pass plan.