AUSTIN, Texas, April 24, 2008 – NCsoft^® today announced the release of Hellbound^™, the newest addition to the Lineage^® II franchise, in conjunction with its 4^th Anniversary Edition retail package. Continuing the storyline and content from December’s popular expansion Kamael^™, Hellbound increases the game’s level capacity to 85 and adds significant quests and skills. Players finally get the chance to best the diabolical boss Beleth fighting their way through multiple towers in the Steel Citadel. Enhancements to the pet system enable players to grow their wolf pet into a mount called a Fenrir. Additionally, this update adds more transformation options, where players earn the ability to temporarily transform into a powerful alter-ego with special skills that will aid them in their ventures.

The Hellbound expansion is free to current Lineage II subscribers; however, there are many added bonuses for those who purchase the 4^th Anniversary Edition, available this week in stores. Customers who purchase this game pack receive the game client, all Lineage II expansions including Hellbound, plus an unprecedented sixty days of game time. Customers also receive two exclusive in-game items, and Lineage II fans that have had accounts for a year or more can take advantage of special discounts on account services, including gender, character name and server changes.

Lineage II is known as the gaming market’s premier player-versus-player (PvP) online role-playing game, with a customer reach of more than 19 million players worldwide.

“The content in our Hellbound expansion really rounds out what we started in Kamael,” said Tim Tan, NCsoft’s North American producer of Lineage II. “The expansion was very popular with our players and we’re happy to follow up with more content so soon after its launch. Players can now really sink their teeth into the Hellbound area of the game, and the raised level cap gives them a fighting chance against Beleth! The 4^th Anniversary Edition box we’re releasing today adds value for our current players, but we also encourage our former players to check out the unique account service loyalty benefits and start playing again.”

The Lineage II 4^th Anniversary Edition retail pack is available starting this week for an estimated street price of US $39.99. For more information about the retail box contents go to: www.lineage2.com/4thanniv.html.

To find out more about the game, please visit the Lineage II web site at: www.lineage2.com.

The game is rated Teen by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.

The Lineage II team has just released a dev diary that talks about several features in the Hellbound update (slated to go live on 4/23), as well as why they think the 4^th Anniversary Edition retail box is a cool thing for players to get. They’ve included 15 screens that illustrate items they mention, like transformations, the two in-game items in the 4^th Anniversary box, and fighting in the Underground Coliseum. They also show the lighter side of Lineage II, with screens of Agathians and a parade that goes through Fantasy Isle approximately four times a day.

you can Download the Developer Diary Here:

lineage 2 hellbound-whysocool (Developer Diary)

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and if your interested the sales sheet:

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The Lineage II team has just released new details on their 4th Anniversary edition package that will launch in conjunction with Hellbound, the game’s upcoming update.