Jack Emmert has returned to Cryptic Studios as its new CEO, coming back after doing his own thing for the past decade.
In 2000, Emmert co-founded Cryptic Studios. He went on to work on the studios’ biggest MMO titles, like Star Trek Online, Neverwinter, and Champions Online. Emmert was hailed as an MMO visionary, and he stayed with the studio for 16 years.
Now, Emmert is back as the CEO, and his goal is to “recapture the spirit and ambition” of Cryptic Studios that initially led to these highly-successful MMOs. His vision includes honoring this legacy, chasing after the potential of the studio, creating stellar experiences for players, and supporting the studio’s workers.
Part of Emmert’s return is thanks to the fans, and he’s dedicated to creating and expanding on the worlds they already love. Emmert also thanks Arc Games, which has given Cyrptic Studios the means to grow its games.
To reconnect with players, Emmert will have a Q&A livestream on Cyrptic Studios’ Twitch next week on February 3 at 11 am PT. There will also be an AMA on Neverwinter’s subreddit on February 4 at 9 am PT, followed by another AMA on Star Trek Online’s subreddit at 11 am PT.
Jack Emmert also revealed a message to fans as he returned as CEO of Cryptic Studios, which can be watched below:
Emmert also shared more thoughts on his return:
“Coming back to Cryptic feels like coming home in a way. Cryptic’s incredible games have always been more than projects to me — they’re living, unforgettable worlds that I loved helping create alongside players and our team. Coming back to these worlds feels like revisiting old friends and rediscovering the spark that inspired us from the beginning. I’m profoundly thankful to return to the studio I helped build, and that has always held a special place in my heart. Now, I’m eager to guide it into a new era defined by creativity, ambition, and renewed purpose. I’m excited to bring new ideas that honor our past while evolving the studio like never before!
“Cryptic Studios has always been defined by deep worldbuilding, incredible player experiences, and a commitment to raising the bar for what’s possible in massive worlds. We’re ready to push those boundaries again.”
Yoon Im, the CEO of Arc Games, also expressed excitement over the news:
“Few people in this industry have had the kind of impact that Jack has had, especially on the MMOs we brought into the world together – games that still resonate with fans today. His return marks an important and major chapter not just for Cryptic and for all of us at Arc Games, but for the future of what’s possible in online gaming. We’re thrilled to have him back and excited to partner with him as he leads the Cryptic into its next era.”
For more news about MMOs, check out the MMO-like server on Tower of Fantasy that removes the gacha feature and the Final Fantasy XIV expansion that was teased earlier this month.
