9 More Amazing Video Games (You Can’t Actually Play Anymore)

9. The Matrix Online

Matrix Online Sega
SEGA

It might be difficult to remember now, but The Matrix movie franchise was never supposed to be the main vehicle for the IP. When the sequels were concocted, the Wachowskis wanted the story to live on in a variety of mediums, including video games.

The Matrix Online was part of this initiative, a canon venture that would continue the story via players occupying the role of Matrix operatives working alongside the likes of Morpheus, and it was pretty darn fun. It launched in 2005 and, despite the muted reaction to the two films and other game tie-ins, managed to find a playerbase to survive the always rocky first few years of an MMO's life.

However, it wasn't to last, and by the time Sony decided to shut the game down in 2005, the title reportedly only had about 500 active players.

In a stroke of genius though, the shutdown was marked by a major event, with the Matrix programme in-universe going haywire, everyone getting superpowers regardless of their level, and a final note of "not like this" being sent out to players before the simulation was shut down for good.

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Josh has over 11 years of experience as a published writer, having worked nine of those years as a full-time content producer at WhatCulture. In that period he has created hundreds of articles, videos and podcast episodes for multiple WhatCulture channels, specialising in gaming, horror and film & TV. He now primarily works as a senior content producer and presenter on WhatCulture Gaming where he co-hosts the WhatCulture Gaming Podcast, a top 3 UK most listened to gaming podcast that he co-created in 2018. Over the years he has reviewed several high-profile gaming releases, covered industry events with on-site reporting, opined on breaking news, and even kicked off his interviewing career by chatting to childhood hero, Tommy Wiseau.