As a way of saying “thank you” to the user community and celebrating the sixth anniversary of its free-to-play Neverwinter title, Cryptic Studios has just announced and released a special update for the PlayStation4 and Xbox One versions. Titled Neverwinter: Undermountain, this enhancement brings with it five new Adventure Zones via the Yawning Portal social hub. Here, adventurers will meet with the owner of a well-known tavern named Durnan, the proprietor of a well-known tavern. Also present will be Obaya Uday, a Chultan priest of Waukeen. Both of these respectable figures will guide players through Undermountain’s new content including the Undermountain Story Campaign, a variety of exciting Expeditions, and a special Endgame Dungeon. In addition to this new playable content, there have also been some significant updates to existing systems. Neverwinter’s level cap has now been increased to 80, level-scaling for new players in earlier zones has been improved, Class Powers and Feats have been overhauled, the Boons system has been completely revamped, and the developers now promise a “richer loot drop experience”. To get a first look at the update, have a look at its launch trailer below.
A brief description of each new addition in the Undermountain update can be found in the quoted text below:
Undermountain Campaign – The many levels of Undermountain hold secrets, exceptional rewards, wondrous beasts and remarkable experiences. The Mad Mage has called adventurers to the cavernous halls below Waterdeep, but for what purpose? Players must survive five brand new Adventure Zones to find out.
New Expedition Feature – This all-new feature introduced in Undermountain highlights the unknowable nature of the levels beneath Waterdeep. Expeditions will challenge adventurers with scaling, dynamic, repeatable quests in the search for magic relics, lost routes and some of the expansion’s greatest rewards.
Class Revamps – All eight of Neverwinter’s classes will receive varying levels of balance and adjustments in this expansion. Each class has also been renamed to align with the Fifth Edition of Dungeons & Dragons. The goal with these changes is to align classes with their roles and make customization within each path viable, fun and more straightforward.
Halaster Encounters – The Mad Mage himself will make unpredictable appearances throughout Undermountain, presenting opportunities to match wit and force. Some encounters will be a challenge, while others may be more bizarre; it’s impossible to tell. After all, he has full control over this domain he has created.
Rewards Overhaul – The most notorious dungeon in all of Faerûn will reward adventurers with the best loot in all of Neverwinter. With a level cap increase to 80, new sources of powerful loot including tiered artifact sets can be earned throughout Undermountain and from its caverns’ inhabitants.
Endgame Legacy Campaigns – Neverwinter’s many older and non-leveling-zone campaigns now offer three weekly bounties earning currency for rewards that are in-line with their endgame characters, regardless of whether the zone these quests were completed in are considered “Endgame”, e.g., Underdark or Sharandar.
Redesigned Companions System – Player Companions now fall into one of five categories. The more companions owned within each category, the stronger active companions will be with power upgrades. Synergy will create the biggest bonuses, however, the goal of these changes is to ensure all players can use whichever companions that they want, without punishment.
In addition to the Undermountain update, there will also be a celebratory week of festivities held from June 20-27. This event (dubbed The Protector’s Jubilee) will offer a full week of free in-game giveaway items and a number of special rewarding events. A list of these events can be found below.
- Elminster’s Messages
- Protector’s Speech Skirmish
- Merchant Escort Missions
All activities hosted during the Jubilee will provide players with Figurines and Renown. These can be used to purchase unique Thrones, mounts, and fashion items, but only during the celebration.
The Neverwinter: Undermountain update is available right now for players on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The PC version of this update arrived back in late April, but that version will see the arrival of The Protector’s Jubilee tomorrow as well. For more information on this update and others like it, be sure to check out the Neverwinter developer blog for a full description of this update and others like it.
SOURCE: Press Release
