The Star Trek Online Website has a "Special Communiqué from DStahl," as Daniel Stahl explains he is departing Cryptic Studios, where he has served as executive producer on Star Trek Online for three years. In his final captain's log he offers reassurances that the game will continue to boldly go on without him:

For the doomsayers, I encourage you to have faith in this team. While I have been honored to sit in the Captain’s chair, it is really the amazing talent of this team and company that have set the course for this game and kept it as strong as it is. There is no one to blame for my departure but me. In my opinion, Perfect World is going to be an amazing partner for Cryptic to work with. Free-to-play is something that I’ve always wanted for this game because I have seen the value and success of that business firsthand by watching Champions.