Star Trek Online News

We're excited to announce that our 35th season, Star Trek Online: Corruption, will launch on February 17, 2026 for PC and on March 10, 2026 for PlayStation and Xbox consoles!

As part of the 16th anniversary celebrations for Star Trek Online, this latest content update will feature the Chimerans who threaten to invade the galaxy, with their goals and desires, so far, unknown. As the Chimerans’ influence spreads, Starfleet Captain Ezri Dax, voiced by Star Trek alum and fan-favorite Nicole de Boer, joins you in confronting the escalating crisis. Combat the Chimerans in new upcoming features, including the “Curse of Phrygia” episode, the “Belly of the Beast” Task Force Operation, and the Corruption event.

[h3]Star Trek Online: Corruption – Features[/h3]

• New Episode: Curse of Phrygia – Old allies reunite, as Captain Ezri Dax urgently summons you to the MIDAS Array. Join her in quelling a Chimeran incursion that threatens both the integrity of the corrupted comms array, and the stability of the galaxy. Battle through waves of psionic beacons that call on enemy reinforcements in space, and push through a dangerously infested environment. Peril lurks in every dimly lit corner of the array -- so watch your step, and don't look back. The fate of the Multiversal War depends on your courage.
  
• New Task Force Operation: Belly of the Beast (Ground TFO) – The MIDAS Array is under siege! Chimerans have compromised several decks of the communications array, threatening to overtake the entire structure. Starfleet Captain Ezri Dax is calling on a task force capable of tackling this relentless onslaught, and surviving until further back-up can arrive. Do you have what it takes to secure the decks, hold the line, and prevent the MIDAS Array from falling to the Chimerans?
  
• New Event: Corruption – Chimerans are spreading across the galaxy, corrupting all that stands in their way. As major fleets fall to ongoing sabotage and key Alliance structures are infested beyond repair, every victory now feels infinitesimal in the face of total annihilation. Confronting the Chimerans is no longer a choice, but the only viable path forward. Summon every ounce of your strength and join the fight, before it's too late.
  

[h3]Thomas Marrone Helms Star Trek Online as Executive Producer[/h3]
Additionally, we'd like you to join us in welcoming Thomas Marrone as the new Executive Producer of Star Trek Online! Formerly the Art Director for Star Trek Online, Thomas Marrone will be leading its current and future development. His career has helped define the visual identity and creative direction of Star Trek Online, while his starship models, like the Pathfinder-class U.S.S. Voyager-B and the Odyssey-class Enterprise-F have been featured in the television show Star Trek: Picard. Taking on broader leadership responsibilities, Marrone is focused on keeping fidelity to the Star Trek universe and working together with the community to ensure the game’s longevity for many more years to come.

We can't wait to celebrate the 16th anniversary of Star Trek Online together with you, Captains!

One of the casualties of NetEase's retreat from overseas development was Jackalyptic Games, an Austin-based studio run by veteran MMO designer Jack Emmert. That studio's Warhammer project now lies in the unreleased MMO graveyard, but there is perhaps a silver lining for fans of the genre: Emmert has returned to his old job as CEO of Cryptic Studios, the creator of D&D MMO Neverwinter, Star Trek Online, and Champions Online...
Read more.

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When I left Cryptic Studios in 2016, I thought it was to seek new challenges and adventures – to prove that I could do more than just Cryptic. I had been there for sixteen years; I was one of its founders. I was the Lead Designer on City of Heroes/Villains, the Chief Creative Officer for Champions Online, the COO for Star Trek Online and ultimately the CEO when Neverwinter launched. Cryptic Studios was my very first job in the video game industry – and to be frank, when I first started, I really had zero clue of things outside my little corner. But most of all, after sixteen years at Cryptic, I’d become stale. I’d pretty much given what I could at that point, and I needed to go to school elsewhere to figure things out.

I joined Daybreak Games to oversee DC Universe Online, and a little later Lord of the Rings Online and Dungeons & Dragons Online, though to be fair to everyone, I think I learned more from them than vice versa! I even had a chance to work alongside the venerable devs on Everquest I and II – and boy, did they have stories! But not just that, everyone at Daybreak had brand new perspectives about how to make and operate games. I saw new game mechanics and types of content that I’d never seen before. I was humbled by how much was out there.

Cryptic Studios has been through just as many changes as I have. But the teams have held strong through the past few years and continued to put out great products. It’s amazing to see the games I helped develop, Champions Online, Star Trek Online and Neverwinter still thriving several years later. The teams are only one part of the equation: what’s made those games last is you – the player. Our communities always made the Cryptic games special.

Why am I excited to return to Cryptic? First, the team is still terrific. Many faces have changed, but the commitment to the players has remained steadfast. Second, I love these games. There were very few Cryptic employees who played any of our games more than me. Third, Arc Games has promised full support to make Champions Online, Star Trek Online and Neverwinter the best they can be. I believe in the team, the games and their players. Of course, there might be more to come…but that’s a story for another day!

I cannot promise results, but I can promise effort. I’m going to do everything I can to live up to the team’s and your expectations. I want to make sure that together we make our games flourish. If you’re a current player, THANK YOU! And if you’ve once played but are reading and simply curious, COME BACK! I’ll be actively getting feedback from all our various channels and even more importantly, I’ll be holding a LIVE Q&A session regularly. Anyone can get in and ask questions – the harder, the better (and yes, I regret nerfing Invuln Tanks – inside joke there). I’m planning on doing it quarterly, but that might change depending on demand.

Thank you for reading and I’m excited to be back at Cryptic! Looking forward to what this year will bring and beyond.

~ Jack Emmert, CEO of Cryptic Studios

Mark your calendars, Captains! We will be hosting a live Q&A livestream with Jack on our Cryptic Studios Twitch channel next Tuesday, February 3 at 11:00am PT / 8:00pm CET, giving you a chance to hear more about his vision for the future of Cryptic Studios.

If you can’t make it for the livestream, don’t fret. There will also be an exclusive AMA with Jack on the Star Trek Online subreddit (r/sto), next Wednesday, February 4 at 11:00am Pacific Time / 8:00pm CET where you ask questions, share feedback and engage in an open discussion about the road ahead. See you there!

[p]Star Trek Online: Unleashed is now available![/p][p]In Star Trek Online: Unleashed, you will embark on a daring operation to capture a powerful Aetherian leader. This mission marks a critical strike in dismantling the Aetherian threat once and for all. Diving into dangerous situations on familiar territory, you will face new dangers and encounter unexpected challenges. Designed to test even the most seasoned Captains, this latest story content sets the stage for what’s to come.[/p][p]Star Trek Online: Unleashed introduces the following features:[/p][p]New Episode – Best Laid Plans: Answer a call to action from Hugh, the acclaimed Cooperative Borg Leader and Director of the Reclamation Project, who urgently requests your presence at Deep Space 9. With incoming intelligence revealing Thaseen-Fei’s location, team up with Hugh, special ops contact Seven of Nine, and other allies in a daring extraction mission that could shift the balance of power.[/p][p]New Task Force Operation – Shattered Peace: Respond to an urgent distress call as Khitomer HQ comes under siege. Join Seven of Nine in orbit to repel multiple enemy incursions while she battles threats on the ground. Tackle rifts, waves of attackers, and even former allies turned hostile in this intense new 5-player Space TFO.[/p][p]We’ll see you in the Final Frontier, Captains![/p]

Star Trek Online is celebrating its 15th Anniversary! Star Trek Online: Unveiled, the next adventurous update of Star Trek Online is now live!

Anniversary Episode: Axiom

Reunite with familiar faces in Star Trek Online: Unveiled to tackle a new and far more sinister Borg incursion in the Delta Quadrant. While responding to a request for help from Hugh, renowned Cooperative Borg Faction Leader and Executive Director of the Reclamation Project, you will discover the damaged starship of Aetherian Concordium Leader, Thaseen-Fei, in the Ram Izad system. Mount a search-and-rescue mission and uncover the truth about what went wrong aboard the Harmony!

This episode features beloved Star Trek franchise star Jonathan Del Arco who returns to our universe as Director Hugh is known for playing Hugh in the fifth and sixth seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation, as well as his reprisal of the role in the first season of Star Trek: Picard.

Content warning: This episode contains scenes depicting loss of agency (NPC) and unsettling auditory elements (SFX). Player discretion advised.

Anniversary Event:

Our Anniversary Event allows you to earn a new T6 Ship, the Garrett Command Alliance Dreadnought Cruiser. Advancements in experimental technology born from the brightest minds and the varied experience of veteran crews from all over the galaxy led to the creation of the Garrett Command Alliance Dreadnought Cruiser. Not only a main force on the frontlines and mobile HQ, it can command, enhance, and direct combat effectiveness of nearby troops.

Don’t forget to give the Partners in Crime Lockbox a try for a chance to receive our new Grand Prize starship: the Breen Keth Sarr Intel Courier [T6], and many other rewards inspired by Season 5 of Star Trek: Discovery! Wonder what else might be waiting for you?

Captains - are you ready to unveil the truth?