Cosmic Rift

Lore & Background

Cosmic Rift was provided as part of the Station Pass package by Sony Online Entertainment, which also included Infantry and Tanarus. Its gameplay was comparable to Virgin Interactive Entertainment's Subspace, another two-dimensional space shooter written by Jeff Petersen prior to joining Sony's team. Subspace remains available in a freeware flavor known as Continuum. The game was released as an open beta in April 2001, which lasted until May 2002. After that, players were required to pay a monthly fee for full access, with limited capability for non-subscribers.

Reader's Guide

Cosmic Rift's significance lies in its role as a niche multiplayer title within Sony Online Entertainment's Station Pass ecosystem. One of its largest draws was the 4 on 4 league, which sustained the game's generally low popularity until August 2004, when the league completed its sixth and final season. Remaining subscribers lingered for about a year playing only in the Rift Ball league until August 2005, after which the player base became essentially non-existent. Starting in June 2007, all Station Pass games, including Cosmic Rift, became completely free, and a map editor was worked on in hopes of public release. This prompted a temporary population increase, but the game's population remained largely insubstantial. Cosmic Rift was shut down in March 2012 along with Infantry, Star Chamber: The Harbinger Saga, and EverQuest Online Adventures, with Sony citing a need to redirect development resources to newer games. Its legacy is that of a short-lived but dedicated community game, remembered for its diverse gaming zones and competitive leagues.

Did You Know?

• Cosmic Rift was designed by lead programmer Jeff Petersen, who also wrote Subspace.
• The game featured 13 spaceships, each with unique strengths and weapons.
• Its 4 on 4 league completed six seasons before ending in August 2004.
• Cosmic Rift was shut down in March 2012 along with three other Sony Online Entertainment titles.