The first major update for DC Universe Online is scheduled to launch this month. Game Director Chris Cao talks with us about the new Catwoman content, the Valentine's Day event, the auction house and more!

Auction House

The broker system will finally be implemented in the Watchtower and the Hall of Doom with the launch of the February update. “We're going to do it in phases,” Cao said. “The first phase is a simple 'put stuff up for prices' type of thing. You'll be able to trade not only your styles, but all the things you've collected. The broker locations are already set up in both headquarters, which will make them social hubs.”

Chat System Fixes

According to Cao, fixes for the chat system will be implemented on a continual basis. “Right now we're doing ongoing fixes and changes to the chat system and those are going out well before the update,” he said. “They include being able to control chat channels more clearly and being able to set default chat channels. These are steps that aren't going to completely revamp everything, but it's definitely all feedback based on how we'd like to improve the game. This is the first round of stuff. We're taking it issue by issue.”

Batcave Raid Part 2

A new 8-player raid zone will be implemented in the Batcave that adds more challenging encounters to the game. “We've rebuilt it since we ran it in beta. We've really stepped up the fidelity and ferocity,” Cao said. “It's actually going to be a quite a bit harder. We've assumed that everyone has 40 skill points spent and has some tier 2. It doesn't make it impossible, but it means that skill is going to be a bigger factor. It's definitely going to be that next step up that raiders are after.”

Bane Duo Instance

Two players will be able to face new boss fights and earn new loot at the Cape Carmine Lighthouse. “We added more archetypes, which those are the guys will the skulls above their heads that perform special attacks,” Cao said. “You can get poisoned and will need to cleanse yourself buy running over to water that's coming out of pipes. We've added more fighting alongside legendary characters, like Killer Croc and Nightwing. It's definitely a step up on the challenge side of things. The playroom is a big vertical space, so we've added all sorts of new traps and environmental damage. Be on your toes.”

Additional February Content

A new PvP zone will be permanently placed in Gotham. Also, new collections, investigations and races will be added to the game. Cao reminds players that the update will be good for progression since it adds more opportunities for skill points through new feats.

Future Monthly Content Updates

While this month's update is packed with a variety of content, Cao said the focus could change from month to month depending on what the most players are enjoying at the moment.

“The audience is very spread out right now. In March we might still do some cool St. Patrick's Day stuff, but we might invest that time in an alert or something else instead. We're going to redistribute where we put the stuff,” Cao said. “We want to make sure we're providing the most fun for the most people. The great thing is we'll be able to actually sit there and see what you guys like to play and make more of it.”

Darryl Gangloff, Editor-in-Chief