Ship of Heroes, a long-awaited successor to the MMO City of Heroes, has launched with a price point of $45 and a $15 monthly subscription. Despite high hopes, its initial reception has not been encouraging.

The Launch and Early Reception

The game first emerged nine years ago with promises of carrying on the legacy of City of Heroes, a beloved MMORPG that was shut down years ago. Its developers aimed to create a spiritual sequel, including familiar gameplay mechanics like archetypes and power sets.

Unfortunately, the launch did not meet expectations. The game has struggled to maintain a substantial player base. At launch, it attracted approximately 100 players, but that number dramatically decreased to seven players within three days.

Forums depicting frustrated player sentiment show locked threads and complaints about community management. One community member highlighted the negativity plaguing the game’s discussion areas.

“Never before has a group made it so obviously apparent why rude and insulting people should be kept out by our purchase price.”

Despite ongoing development efforts, which include the recent launch, Ship of Heroes may need to reconsider its pricing strategy, as traditional subscription models have increasingly struggled in a market shifting towards free-to-play offerings.

The launch trailer can be viewed here.

Final Thoughts

It is disappointing to see Ship of Heroes floundering, and with such a steep monthly fee, it seems the developers may need to regroup and rethink their approach to attract and retain players.