Sony Online Entertainment has announced the cancellation of four long-running MMOs by the end of 2014. Free Realms and Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures will be discontinued on 31 March, with Vanguard: Saga of Heroes and Wizardry Online ending on 31 July.
“At Sony Online Entertainment, we are always evaluating our portfolio to ensure we’re providing players with the best gameplay experiences,” said SOE representative Michele Cagle. “At times, as part of this commitment, we have to make the difficult decision to sunset a game so we can refocus our resources on other areas in the best interest of our company and player community.”
Sony Online Entertainment, a division of Sony Corporation, was founded in 1995 as Sony Interactive Studios America, an in-house Sony game development studio. Sony Online Entertainment was later formed in the merger of Sony Online Ventures with Sony Pictures Entertainment in 1998.
As SOE, the company has published MMOGs primarily for the North American market, including EverQuest, EverQuest II, The Matrix Online, PlanetSide, Star Wars Galaxies, Free Realms, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, DC Universe Online, and PlanetSide 2.
