Returning to Star Trek Online in 2026
I recently took a break from Crimson Desert choosing instead to to play something familiar and easy going. As I’ve been logging into Star Trek Online daily to participate in the anniversary event, I decided to look through my various alts and see how far they had progressed through the game and what resources they had. At present I have twelve alts. My primary Captain was created in 2015 during the original Delta Recruit Event. I had previously played STO intermittently since its release in January 2010 but I never kept any of those characters. Hence this decade old Tactical Federation Captain has been my main focus when playing. The other eleven alts are the result of other recruitment events or whenever I wanted to try something different, such as playing a specific class or faction. I obviously played a lot of STO during the lockdown as several alts date from that period. Several had maximum reputation across all factions.
I created a Klingon Defence Force Captain in early 2021, going so far as to buying a Legendary D7 Intel Battlecruiser for them. So I decided to resume playing through the various story arcs with this character, while tinkering with the his gear, away team and ship as I went. It has proven a most satisfying experience because the game offers a great deal of scope for change and fine tuning. It is also a good example of a game where it is easy to pick up where you left off and if you want instant action, you can always jump straight into a Task Force Operation. STO is a process driven game with a strong set of underlying mathematically driven systems. Hence improving your overall build is an unambiguous process. However, if learning the theory behind build creation does not appeal to you, you can always just follow one of the many guides that can be found online. The story driven missions certainly provide adequate gear for all the PVE content.
Endgame in STO seems to be predominantly focused on min-maxing, increasing your DPS and running Elite level content. However, the game certainly lends itself to roleplay for those disposed to such things. Having twelve alts means I can always return to one and find some aspect that needs improvement or tweaking. The story content is also very engaging and certainly captures the heart and soul of most Star Trek shows. Having so many of the original cast providing voices helps immensely with atmosphere and immersion. Some of the minor mini-games and their subsequent accolades and benefits can become obsessive pursuits. The Lore Mission, The Path to 2409, being one example. I recently discovered that you can still breed specific species of Tribbles and despite the age of this systems, some can still offer some very useful buffs when equipped. Then there is the rabbit hole of visiting the in-game tailor and customising your outfit.
However, you cannot play STO without referencing the persistent bugs as well as the element of “jank” that is present in several aspects of the game. Despite being based upon a premium franchise, STO has always had a the air of a second tier MMORPG, with developer’s Cryptic having to fight for resources. Although I am very fond of this game and think that it captures the essence of the franchise well, it always feels like it hasn’t fully met its potential. I’m sure now that Cryptic are back in full control of the development that they have aspirations to improve the game which is currently showing its age. Yet whatever plans they may have, they will not be realised immediately. Which means that anyone returning to STO or playing for the first time, has to accept the game as it is at present. The low level bugs and glitches can be annoying at times but for me, they never make the game unplayable.
Having watched a few videos on the subject of playing STO in 2026, the issue of the C-Store comes up quite quickly. Simply put, STO monetises multiple aspects of the game. Ships, personnel, items, services and more. However, it must be said that they are always selling you more of what you have already. The resources that are available to free players are adequate. As you level a new character through the game you are given free ships that may not be the best but can get the job done. You have sufficient bank and inventory spaces. If you want more then there is scope to earn in-game currency or participate in regular events that reward you with gear or ships. As for the argument of “pay to win”, I’m not sure what you win exactly? You can create a high performance ship build made up of premium items but you can also do the same with regular gear. Skill is also an important factor and that cannot be bought.
As a franchise Star Trek is in a state of flux at present. The acquisition of Paramount Global by Skydance Media has led to all current TV productions being halted. Long term plans have yet to be announced but the new owners seem focused on feature films rather than episodic television. This leaves a substantial gap in the market for fans. Something that a persistent world game with regularly updated lore adjacent content, could address. Whether Cryptic can rise to such a challenge remains to be seen. In the meantime if you fancy trying STO, there is a convenient on going Quick Start Event running until May 21st. Both old and new players can login to the game and claim a free Tactical Vanguard Jem’Hadar character. They are level 60 by default and come with appropriate gear, skills, traits and ship. Alternatively you can start the game from the beginning, choosing between multiple factions, all of which begin with unique starter missions.
As I mentioned at the start of this post, STO is currently celebrating its 16th anniversary. That’s a long lifespan for an MMO. Developers’ Cryptic recently posted a new road map for 2026 and they certainly have plans. As a lifetime account holder, I wish them well but I do hope that they can do more than just put new events, items and episodic stories. I would like to see a comprehensive ongoing project to address the bugs in the game and to streamline and restore the existing story content. Due to the story arcs being tweaked (some have been removed altogether), what is left although narratively good, has some continuity issues. Ground combat needs to be revised and any improvement to the character models would go a long way to improve things. The game needs more story content that is in the idiom of that produced in the first decade of the game. In the meantime, I shall continue to progress my alts and play what content is available.
