Ten Ton Hammer - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

Last December, Cryptic Studios gave fans of upcoming Star Trek Online a pleasant holiday surprise in the form of the first in-depth look at one of the game’s multi-role ships, the NX-91001. When I first reported the news, I also pointed out that speculation surrounding a possible release date contained within the ship’s numbers had already begun popping up on the game’s official forums:

One particularly clever member of the official forums also pointed out that this might potentially be a hint at a possible release date – 10.01.2009 (the numbers from the NX-91001 sequenced backwards)  Considering the shorter development cycle for Cryptic's other announced title, Champions Online, an October '09 release date doesn't sound too far off the mark.  Mind you this is all just wild speculation at this point, but if it proves to be accurate it would certainly be a much bigger holiday gift than anyone realized!

Does Foxbat know when the STO beta will begin?

The rumors died down shortly after, and by the time it was announced that the launch date for Champions Online was being pushed back to September 1, 2009, an October ‘09 launch for STO seemed all the more unlikely.

Flash forward to the present, and it seems that Cryptic may indeed be dropping hints to players in the form of a mysterious set of posters found on the side of random bus stops in CO’s Millennium City. Each of these signs bears the same date – October 8, 2009 – curiously only a week off from the date that may or may not have previously been hinted at with the NX-91001. Adding fuel to the STO fire, the recently announced 6-month and lifetime subscription offers for Champions also include “access to the Star Trek Online Closed Beta, beginning later this year!”

Could October 8th be the magic date that players will get their first taste of the captain’s chair in STO’s closed beta? Or does Cryptic have some other super secret announcement or event for planned that week? Be sure to share your thoughts right here in our forums!