Neocron

Lore & Background

Neocron takes place in a post-apocalyptic 28th century, following World War III in 2143, which lasted less than six hours. Two cities, Neocron and Dome of York, rose from the ashes centuries later, aided by the Ceres Project, a global scientific endeavor to store human knowledge. Neocron declined due to coups and a mass exodus to the colony Irata III, while Dome of York was destroyed by an internal catastrophe.

Reader's Guide

Neocron holds a unique place in gaming history as the first cyberpunk-genre MMORPG, blending traditional role-playing mechanics with first-person shooter elements. Its hybrid nature sparked debate, with some calling it an MMOFPS, though most consider it a hybrid. The game's 2004 sequel, Neocron 2: Beyond Dome of York, was originally planned as an expansion and released under a new publisher, 10tacle Studios AG. After a transitional period, the original Neocron servers closed, but Neocron 2 servers continue to run. In 2016, an updated version, Neocron Evolution, was released by community volunteers known as the Neocron Support Team, featuring extensive system overhauls, especially to weapons. The game's reception was mixed, with praise for its intuitive first-person interface but criticism of combat as dull. Its legacy includes influencing later MMOFPS hybrids and maintaining a dedicated fanbase through volunteer-driven updates.

Did You Know?

• World War III in the game's lore lasted less than six hours.
• The 2016 update Neocron Evolution was developed by community volunteers called the Neocron Support Team.
• WWII Online, released in 2001, holds the Guinness World Record as the first MMOFPS, not Neocron.