The "On Alerts" update was launched yesterday on the live servers.  It has the new Alerts system, specialization, and the complete revamp of the crafting system, among other things.

These are the features included with the update:

Features

• Systems Update – We’ve updated the way most Statistics, Roles, and Super Stats work to improve the way statistics work together and provide for better game balance in the future. Additionally, we’ve re-itemized the entire game, improving the rewards available from levels 1-40, providing not only increased power, but also more meaningful rewards from both world drops and quests.
• Specializations – These new specializations allow for even greater customization for your Champions Online character - players can become even stronger than before! Unlocked at level 10, Specializations give you all you need to make an even more unique hero.
• Alerts – Focused on classic super villain confrontations, the new Alerts system allows players to come face to face with an array of old and new super villains, stopping them cold in their tracks! You might catch them in the middle of a robbery, kidnapping, wreaking havoc, or taking advantage of an unlikely situation to bring them even more power! Keep an eye out for your Nemesis and some new teams of Villains as well!
• Recognition – Champions will now be able to build up Recognition with various heroic factions in the Champions Universe and can use their newly found clout to purchase various rewards, including special costume pieces, travel powers, and powerful new gear.
• Questionite – A new time-based currency, players will earn Questionite for completing missions in game, daily quests, and other activities. Players may then use their Questionite to purchase in-game items through the Questionite Store, or trade it to other players for Cryptic Points!
• Modifications & Fusion – Our new Modifications and Fusion Systems further enhance the customizability of Champions Online. Through this new system, players will be able to modify their gear, customizing it with new modifications to provide more of the statistics they want, as well as fuse modifications together to create even more powerful mods.

As a Gold player, I have to say that I'm really impressed with this so far.  I am starting a new hero to play up, and seeing what the changes will do for my ability to make a different, unique hero.  It definitely adds more customizability to the archetype heroes.

Having played all three of the Superhero games - DCUO, CoH/CoV, and Champions Online, Champions remains my favorite, and this looks to be a promising remake of the game.

Maestro / Greenspell / SmileBot / Cyberrock

Pvp'ing other heroes is lazy developer thinking, and ignores most of the comic book turned movies and most of the industry.

And yet they still don't have the most basic common sense to remember that most people love to compete against other players - that follow opposing factions. 

In a comic books setting this means 2-3 factions with good vs evil vs evil being quite logical.

How boring to fight npcs.  How uncreative to not be able to make possible epic conflicts between multiple factions.  But, c'est la vie in the industry these days.  Luckily the other two titles, DC Heroes, CoH/CoV, in this genre, have more sense.