DC Universe Online - Development and Updates

Development and Updates

The first conceptual art for the game was released on July 4, 2008, and the first trailer was released on July 14, 2008.

A Beta was released on December 14, 2010 and was closed on January 5, 2011. There were a number of technical issues that came to light when the beta was closed which were only partially resolved by the game's release.

The game has had eighteen major updates that it has released in addition to hot fixes since it officially launched.

In August 2011, there was a global server merge implemented by the developers to consolidate all PC servers and PS3 servers into 4 individual servers, one for each platform per region.

On September 6, 2011 the first downloadable content pack was released, called Fight For The Light. This pack included a new, seventh power, Light, and the ability to join the Green Lantern Corps or Sinestro Corps as reservists. It also included three new Group Combat Alerts and a Duo. The pack was free to all current subscribers.

The second downloadable content was released on December 6, 2011, called Lightning Strikes. This pack included the eighth power, Electricity, the new Central City zone, along with new gear, characters and a duo. Like the first DLC it is free to all Legendary subscribers and can be purchased by Free or Premium members.

A third downloadable content entitled Battle for Earth was announced for release soon after Update 10. Along with a new, ninth power; Earth, the DLC introduced new raids, duos, alerts, and gear. The Brainiac story arc finally reached a conclusion in the South Gotham zone, which was filled with new content, while a new arc arose.

DLC 4 was made available to all players on June 19, 2012, entitled The Last Laugh and featuring a storyline twist by The Joker. In this storyline arc, The Joker has stolen and made public the access codes to Police headquarters and nightclub safehouses for opposing factions, giving access to them in duo and arena scenarios. The DLC also features the introduction a new weapon type: Shield. Also, new legendary iconic hero and villains were made available for Legends PVP play, featuring Kryptonian and Lantern Corps related characters.

DC Universe Online is a free to play MMO as of November 2 of 2011. There is Premium as well as Legendary memberships available. All new players are created with Free membership. All existing lapsed paid accounts were transferred to Premium membership. All current paid accounts were transferred to Legendary memberships. Premium membership requires a single purchase equivalent to $5, Legendary members pay a monthly fee.

DLC 5, The Hand of Fate went live September 2012. This new DLC added Doctor Fate and Felix Faust as playable characters in Legends PVP and introduced a new type of mission - Operations - which are carried out in the open world in groups of 4 to 8. This update also expanded the number of slots players can use to carry trinkets and consumable items with the Utility Belt Attachment item.

The sixth DLC title Home Turf was announced, which will include secret lairs and one-on-one battles to protect them.

In late December future DLC packs for 2013 were announced titled Origin Crisis, Halls of Power, and Trials of Trigon. With the later to feature a brutal hellscape of Gotham City.