Neopets, the beloved virtual pet website that was launched in 1999, is entering a “new era.” The Neopets Team (TNT) recently announced through an extensive blog post on Medium that they will be launching a new “unified website” and fixing some of the old Flash games in the near future.
The new website, set to launch on July 20th, aims to be a one-stop-shop for all Neopets-related content. It will serve as a hub for brand announcements, links to different games and products, and provide a repository of Neopets articles and related links. Despite the introduction of the new website, Neopets.com will still be available, but the team plans to give it some “extra care” to address any issues, including the Flash games.
One of the exciting developments is the revival of some of the old games. The team plans to integrate the Ruffle emulator for the now-defunct Adobe Flash, allowing more than 50 games to be brought back starting on July 25th. Additionally, the team has aspirations to convert many of the most beloved games to HTML5 in the long term.
However, the changes go beyond bringing back the classic games. TNT is also introducing a new mobile game called “World of Neopets.” Described as a social life-simulation game, players will assume the role of a Neopet. The release date for the game is set for next year, as mentioned in a video provided by TNT. The team promises that the game will not be crypto-focused, indicating a deviation from their previous venture into NFTs. Furthermore, TNT plans to transition away from their Neopets Metaverse game, which may come as a surprise to some players who were unaware of its existence.
With these exciting updates, organizational changes have also taken place. Neopets used to be managed by JumpStart Games, which unfortunately struggled to find success for the beloved website and eventually shut down on June 30th. However, Dominic Law, an individual who had fond memories of playing Neopets in the early 2000s, persuaded JumpStart’s parent company, NetDragon, to save Neopets from the brink of closure. This led to a management buyout deal that allowed Neopets to become an independent company called World of Neopia, Inc. Dominic Law now leads the new leadership team.
TNT expressed their enthusiasm for the future of Neopets, stating, “The Neopets Team is, for the first time in over a decade, equipped to make meaningful changes in pursuit of a Neopian renaissance.” Going forward, the team promises monthly updates, regular Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions, and a brand ambassador program that is set to launch within the next few months.
Overall, the Neopets community has a lot to look forward to in this new era. With the launch of a unified website, the revival of classic games, the introduction of a mobile game, and the promise of more regular updates and engagements, Neopets is poised to regain its popularity and captivate a new generation of players. The dedication and passion of the reinvigorated Neopets Team is sure to usher in a bright future for this iconic virtual pet website.
