However, The Matrix Online never quite took off. The game, developed by Monolith Studios for Warner Bros., released to middling reviews. Worse, it launched in the wake of Blizzard's behemoth World of Warcraft, which was busy reshaping the entire subscription-based MMO landscape. It also probably didn't help that the two Matrix sequels were not as well received as the original movie, helping to take some of the luster off of the franchise. Thus, The Matrix Online limped along for about three months before SOE picked up the rights to operate the game.
In a post on the Station forums, SOE's Daniel "Walrus" Myers announced the upcoming closure of the game. Current subscribers will not be billed past June 1, and those who previously paid a multi-month subscription in advance will have their accounts refunded for any time paid for after June 1.
