Codemasters launching space MMO

Not satisfied with publishing one massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Codemasters Online has announced that it will be releasing a new space combat MMO sometime this year.

Jumpgate has been developed by US studio NetDevil, and will let gamers choose from one of three playable nations and trade, battle, and raid their way up the levels, deciding as they go whether they want to be an elite hero or an infamous space pirate.

Codemasters believes that the game will bring "something fresh" to the online gaming world, and praises the "twitch-based space combat" as one of the features which will set the game apart. It will be the exclusive publisher and operator for Jumpgate in Europe, and is currently working with NetDevil to also bring the game to North America.

In Europe, Codemasters already runs MMO Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar, which was officially launched on April 23, 2007. In October, the third content update, Book 11: Defenders of Eriador, was added to the game.