Sony to Kill Half of Its Star Wars Servers

By Kevin Parrish
published

Sony Online Entertainment is killing off 12 Star Wars Galaxies servers.

Is it a sign of the times, or has the rocky history of Star Wars Galaxy finally caught up with the MMORPG? According to this official forum post, Sony Online Entertainment plans to gather a garrison of Stormtroopers and terminate twelve of the game's twenty-five servers execution style, killing off just under half of the entire SWG subscriber network. Apparently, the shutdown has been extended due to SOE's "overwhelming success" with the recent Free Character Transfer Service.

"In accordance with the server closure date, the Free Character Transfer service has been extended through October 15. 2009," SOE said in its official announcement. "Between September 15, 2009 and October 15, 2009 at 4:59 PM PT all characters on the affected servers are eligible for a one way, one time Free Character Transfer to any of the remaining thirteen (13) Star Wars Galaxies servers. After October 15, 2009 at 5:00 PM PT, any characters and their associated items and structures remaining on the identified servers being closed will no longer be accessible on your Star Wars Galaxies or Station Access account."

Sony said that character creation will be disabled on the servers due for termination effective immediately (September 15, 2009 at 4:00 AM PDT). For those not wanting to click on the forum link, here's the list of servers SOE will shut down next month:

  • Corbantis
  • Europe-Infinity
  • Intrepid
  • Kauri
  • Kettemoor
  • Lowca
  • Naritus
  • Scylla
  • Tarquinas
  • Tempest
  • Valcyn
  • Wanderhome

Star Wars Galaxies currently costs a monthly subscription fee of $14.99 USD, although SOE offers discounts for 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month block payments. SOE also offers a 14-day free trial for the uninitiated. You really, really want to play this game; you are SOE's only hope.

Kevin Parrish
Topics
Software
31 Comments Comment from the forums
  • webbwbb
    It's sad to see the old go but kind of inevitable with all of thier changes. Pre-CU is still available free and legally at http://swgemu.com We have nearly 100,000 registered members. We actually just finished testing a major patch that has made its way onto the public test server.
    Reply
  • ColMirage
    I wish SOE wouldn't have gave up on Planetside. Sigh, such an awesome game.
    Reply
  • Montezuma
    I started playing SWG during its initial beta. I am not a huge Star Wars buff, but I do enjoy the movies and did enjoy the game a little. After the game went retail, my interest dropped drastically and I went back to the other MMOs I was already playing.

    I was just wondering if SWG was still going and I admit that I am surprised that it is. I figure SWG might fall victim to the same fate as MxO and other MMOs with dwindling numbers. Even though most of those were not that great, it is sad to see a game get shut down.
    Reply
  • El_Capitan
    I played for the first 3 months on the Ahazi server, it was pretty fun at the beginning. Was looking forward to patches and gameplay as well as bug fixes, but instead, it got worse... and worse... and worse.
    Reply
  • Hellbound
    I still play it. I'm on Bria.
    Reply
  • IronRyan21
    Yawn..........
    Reply
  • icepick314
    once SW: Old Republic goes online, i doubt SW: Galaxies will survive much longer...
    Reply
  • falchard
    SOE is braindead. They still think they can charge $14.99 for the majority of their titles. Not 1 of their titles is worthy of that monthly cost. Any halfwit would have reduced prices to 12.99 or even below $10. However, John Smedley is one of the biggest retards allowed to run a publishing studio. How this guy keeps his job is a mystery.
    Reply
  • captaincharisma
    falchardSOE is braindead. They still think they can charge $14.99 for the majority of their titles. Not 1 of their titles is worthy of that monthly cost. Any halfwit would have reduced prices to 12.99 or even below $10. However, John Smedley is one of the biggest retards allowed to run a publishing studio. How this guy keeps his job is a mystery.
    anyone with common sense wouldn't even go buy an expensive game when they know they would have to continue paying for it on a monthly basis
    Reply
  • JonathanDeane
    There was a disturbance in the force as if a 100 users where moved to different server... Hehehehe just kidding I am sure it was more then that but I know the game has not really been a mega hit. Maybe they should just rip off WoW and change it all too Star Wars stuff.
    I think SciFi games are going to be hard to make into an MMO unless they can ditch the level grind and switch to other motives to get people to play.
    Reply