Champions Online turns nine with concerts, cake, and cat-rescuing missions

If you’ve been around the MMORPG ‘verse for a while, you surely remember August 30th, 2009, when Champions Online launched with its ill-fated day-one patch that essentially nerfed player abilities to slow down game progression, to much player outcry. Of course, Cryptic’s second superhero MMO has come a long way in time since those days – nine years, to be precise – which means it’s time for birthday shenanigans.

“On August 30, Cryptic Studios’ free-to-play super hero-themed MMORPG celebrates nine years of development. In honor of this exciting milestone, the Champions Online team will host a month-long celebration, featuring a giant cake, exciting challenges for rewards and for the first time ever, CATS! From now through September 27, Champions can risk one of their nine lives to participate in the game’s newest mission, to rescue stray cats from trees throughout Millennium City.”

They’re serious. “Rescue enough of them, and you’ll get access to some exciting things we’re not revealing just yet.” There’s a concert planned too; Cryptic says to “stay tuned” for more info next week.