Atari announces Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark

Atari and BioWare Corp., under license from Hasbro, Inc., are set to expand the award-winning Neverwinter Nights, the best-selling, fantasy roleplaying game based in the Forgotten Realms world from Wizards of the Coast's classic Dungeons & Dragons game. Following the release of the first official expansion pack, Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide in June, Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark pits players in a battle to save the embattled city of Waterdeep from an ancient evil buried deep within the earth and stone of Undermountain. Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark is scheduled for release this November.

Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark will include a new 20-hour single player campaign, designed for high-level characters and set amidst the famous city of Waterdeep and the foreboding Underdark from the D&D game's Forgotten Realms campaign setting. Hordes of the Underdark will significantly expand upon the Neverwinter Nights universe, most notably with the addition of Epic Level gameplay. Based upon the rules published by Wizards of the Coast in the D&D game supplement Epic Level Handbook, Epic Levels will be available for characters who have reached level 20, allowing them to advance as far as level 40.

In addition, Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark will introduce several new prestige classes, including the Shifter, a druidic class specializing in shape shifting; dozens of new feats, such as Epic Reputation, Craft Weapon and Armor Skin; a multitude of new weapons and spells, many designed solely for epic level characters; challenging new creatures pulled straight out of the Underdark, including Mind Flayers, Beholders and Driders; several new character voice sets for even greater character customization; and 17 new epic soundtracks from composer Jeremy Soule.

"Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark will expand on the already massive Neverwinter Nights franchise by adding a number of features requested by the extensive fan community," said Dr. Greg Zeschuk, BioWare Corp. joint CEO and Co-Executive Producer of Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark. "The inclusion of Epic Levels alone should open up great new ways for people to play the game and create their own high-level adventures, further extending the value of their original game purchase, " added Ray Muzyka, BioWare Corp. joint CEO and Co-Executive Producer.

Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark will equip module makers with two new tilesets and additional content for the Neverwinter Nights Aurora Toolset, the groundbreaking software included with the full game that allows players to create their own universes, quests and storylines. The two new tilesets will be based around the new campaign and will include exciting new features specific to certain denizens of the Underdark itself.

Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark is scheduled for release in November 2003. Additional information about Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark can be found online at www.bioware.com.