Star Trek Online, the long-running spacefaring MMO, is revisiting its origins with the "Undiscovered" update. This significant patch fully remakes one of the game's oldest storylines, which originally launched with the game in 2010 and centered on the Klingon War. The update aims to bring this foundational narrative in line with the game's current state, incorporating new dialogue, maps, and rewards.
The Return of the Kuvah'magh
The original Klingon War arc introduced Miral Paris, daughter of Star Trek: Voyager's Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres. Miral was positioned as the Kuvah'magh, a prophesied figure destined to restore the Klingon Empire to its former glory. However, as the game evolved and new content was introduced, this early storyline became outdated, leading to significant portions being cut. The "Undiscovered" update marks Miral's return, alongside another familiar face from Voyager: the Doctor.
Executive Producer Thomas Marrone explained that the original content "wasn't as representative of where the game was" for the majority of players, many of whom still favored the 25th-century Starfleet starting experience. Despite the availability of diverse character origins, the TNG-era Federation start remains the most popular, meaning most players encountered an aged tutorial and subsequent missions.
A Deep Dive into Classic Trek Themes
The remade Kuvah'magh storyline is deeply rooted in classic Star Trek themes, particularly the concept of characters bridging two worlds. This theme, seen in figures like Spock, Data, Worf, and Seven of Nine, explores characters wrestling with their identity and striving for self-improvement. Marrone noted that this resonates with his favorite Star Trek film, "The Undiscovered Country," which portrays the overcoming of ingrained prejudice.
Senior Narrative Designer Flo McQuibban highlighted Star Trek's consistent emphasis on "first contact, diplomacy, empathy," and the exploration of complex topics like ethics and otherness. She believes that characters with multicultural backgrounds or those who bridge societal gaps have a unique advantage in embodying these themes. While acknowledging the "ludonarrative dissonance" inherent in an action-oriented MMO, McQuibban emphasized that the ultimate goal, especially for Federation characters, remains peace, and that "the thing that solves the problem is not violence."
Returning Voices and New Introductions
"Undiscovered" brings back voice actors reprising their iconic roles. Lisa Locicero returns as Miral Paris, a role she previously played in a single episode of Voyager and the initial Star Trek Online arc. She is joined by Robert Picardo, who reprises his role as The Doctor from Star Trek: Voyager. McQuibban described Picardo's return as an "awesome experience," noting his seamless embodiment of the character.
Beyond Miral and the Doctor, the update introduces a significant new player ship: the K'vort, a large Klingon Bird of Prey. This vessel, first seen in Star Trek: The Next Generation and re-imagined in Star Trek: Lower Decks, can be earned by participating in an in-game event over 20 days. Marrone stated that the team took inspiration from the Lower Decks design to bring the K'vort into the game as a player-obtainable reward.
Revamped Encounters and Future Optimism
For players seeking more immediate action, the "Undiscovered" update also revamps the Deep Space Encounters. These are designed as shorter, repeatable missions that represent the daily activities of a starship captain. While described as "narrative light," Cryptic has introduced new mission givers for both the Federation and Klingon Defense Force to provide context for these adventures. Marrone likened these encounters to fulfilling the fantasy of being a starship captain on patrol.
The "Undiscovered" update arrives at a time of renewed optimism for Star Trek Online. Following the studio's separation from Embracer and the return of veteran MMO developer Jack Emmert, there is a palpable sense of positive momentum surrounding the game's future.