Planet Partner Programme

Introduction
The Planet Partner Programme is one of MindArk’s most ambitious and distinctive innovations. Introduced in 2009, it allows external studios and creative teams to develop their own planets within the shared Entropia Universe platform. Each planet offers its own lore, visual style, missions, and gameplay focus – while still running on the same real-cash economy and infrastructure provided by MindArk.

This collaborative model expanded Entropia from a single-world MMO into a full-fledged universe, where players can travel between planets with persistent avatars, gear, and PED balances.

MindArk functions as the platform provider, managing:

• The game engine and server infrastructure.
• Core systems (avatar handling, PED economy, auctions, etc.).
• Payment processing and account security.
• Platform updates and client deployment.

Partner studios are licensed to:

• Create their own planet (terrain, cities, missions, mobs, and storyline).
• Design exclusive items and loot pools.
• Build community events and branding.
• Share revenue generated through user activity on their planet.

In short: MindArk handles the platform, the partners build the content.

Developer: Originally by MindArk → later managed by First Planet Company (a MindArk subsidiary)

Status: Live

Released: 2003 (as Project Entropia) / 2009 (officially rebranded)

Theme: Sci-fi colonisation, military and corporate factions

Notable: The original planet and central hub of the Entropia Universe

Developer: NEVERDIE Studios (Jon Jacobs) under Next Island LLC

Founder/Funder: David Post (2008)

Status: Live

Released: 2011 (relaunched 2020)

Theme: Tropical archipelago + time travel to ancient worlds

Notable: Resurrected and maintained by a passionate community development team

Developer: NEVERDIE Studios (Jon Jacobs)

Status: Live

Released: 2010

Theme: Post-apocalyptic fantasy meets pop culture (zombies, King Kong, Lemmy, etc.)

Notable: Known for its humour and eccentric themes

Developer: Digital Scryers / Creative Kingdom

Status: Live (in long-term beta)

Released: 2012

Theme: Alien technology, conflict, and evolving factions

Notable: Focus on PvE systems and layered lore

Developer: Arkadia Studios

Status: Live

Released: 2011

Theme: Treasure hunting, archaeology, military conflict

Notable: Introduced instances, underground areas, and deep lore

Developer: Originally by Beladcom → Acquired by Virtualsense (Monria team)

Status: Live

Released: 2014

Theme: Middle Eastern fantasy with djinn, magic, and rich cultural influence

Notable: After new ownership, development increased and Toulan was expanded with more engaging content.

MindArk’s openness to partnerships led to several ambitious but ultimately cancelled or indefinitely postponed projects:

Project: Planet Michael

Partner/Studio: SEE Virtual Worlds

Status: Cancelled

Note: A virtual world themed around Michael Jackson

Project: Theryon Wars

Partner/Studio: Unknown

Status: Cancelled

Note: Sci-fi FPS-themed; never launched

Project: Planet Calypso 2 (secret projects)

Partner/Studio: N/A

Status: Abandoned concepts

Note: Mentioned in older interviews, never confirmed

Benefits

• Variety in theme and content
• New player experiences
• Revenue opportunities for independent developers
• Shared playerbase between worlds

Challenges

• Technical complexity and content sync across planets
• Varying update frequency and quality
• Failed partnerships damaging player confidence
• Player migration between planets makes it hard for small teams to retain active populations

Sources & References

• MindArk – Platform Overview
• Entropia Universe – Planet List
• Archived forum announcements and developer updates (PlanetCalypsoForum, Next Island Blog)
• Official sites of individual planets (where available)