After over four years of operation, Sony has announced that its MMO The Matrix Online will be shutting down permanently in roughly two months.

"On July 31, 2009, we will be jacking out for the last time," wrote Matrix Online producer Daniel "Walrus" Myers on the game's forum. "It's a bittersweet moment for everyone involved with the game; as a player or as a developer." Read more »

There's a Matrix Online Q&A on MMORPG.com, talking to SOE community manager Dan Myers about this struggling MMORPG. Topics include the recent account suspension mishap, storyline plans, Live Events, combat revision plans, the reconfigurable ability system, new missions and more content featuring characters from the movies.

GameCloud has a Matrix Online Q&A posted today, asking Sony Online Entertainment's Dan Myers about transition from Monolith to Sony Online and future plans for this MMORPG.

Data Node One, the official community site for The Matrix Online has word that Sony Online Entertainment is soon merging several world servers. There are currently nine worlds, but after an August 2 merger there will be only three. Two servers will run under normal PvP rules, the other server will be a Hostile one. Thanks VE3D.

GameCloud has another Q&A about the sale of Monolith's MMO business to Sony Online Entertainment, today talking to SOE's Chris Kramer. There are questions about The Matrix Online, as well as the DC Comics based title.

Also on GameCloud today is a brief Q&A with WB Interactive's Jason Hall about the sale of The Matrix Online to Sony Online Entertainment.

Not quite official yet, but it's pretty clear at this point that Sony Online Entertainment has acquired from Monolith both The Matrix Online and an in-development DC Comics MMO. This move marks the end of Monolith's MMO productions and it is being reported that certain staff members have been given a 60 day notice whereas others are being offered positions at SOE. The DC Comics MMO hasn't been announced yet, so hopefully more will be revealed whenever SOE and Monolith make an official announcement. Looks like City of Heroes has a bit of competition while they battle Marvel in court.

Games Domain has a Matrix Online Q&A posted, which was sent out by SEGA (the European distributor of the game). Story writer Paul Chadwick answers questions about the critical failure of the second and third movies, challenges in writing for a videogame, rules he was bound by, and proudest development moment.

IGN has a brief new Q&A about The Matrix Online, asking The Wachowski Brothers about Monolith's new MMORPG.

The first update for The Matrix Online is now available, adding several new features and improvements to the game. The game now features an in-game media player, and Organization vs. Organization combat has been enabled on the hostile server worlds.

GameSpot and GameSpy both have post some early impressions of The Matrix Online, checking out the retail version which recently launched.

There's a preview of The Matrix Online on Worthplaying, offering hands-on impressions of the game and also including plenty of new screenshots.

Also new at Computer Games Magazine today is this Q&A with the folks at Monolith about The Matrix Online. There's also a new preview at Boomtown and RPG Vault has some new screenshots. The Matrix Online launches March 22.

RPG Vault has posted their second The Matrix Online development diary. In this installment, Monolith's Toby Ragaini writes about storytelling in the game.

There's a new The Matrix Online preview on The Matrix Online Vault, offering more beta impressions. On GameSpy you can find an article about the creation of the game world.