Thursday 24th April... Brighton, England/... NCsoft Europe (http://eu.plaync.com/eu/) today announced the release of Hellbound, the newest addition to the Lineage II (http://www.discoverlineage2.com) franchise, in conjunction with its Limited Collector's Edition retail package. Continuing the storyline and content in 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 into Hellbound.

The Lineage II Limited Collector's Edition provides players with a whole host of exclusive extras. Featuring the most up to date game client, the Limited Edition includes three exclusive in-game items, discount tokens for server features, a stunning 148 page 'The Art of Lineage II' art book, the official soundtrack CD, two exclusive A2 posters and the official Lineage II world map. To complete the pack, each set also includes a highly detailed poly-resin Kamael character figurine.

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 really sink their teeth into the Hellbound area of the game, and the raised level cap gives them a fighting chance against Beleth!"

The Lineage II Limited Collector's Edition will be available from major retailers at a recommended retail price of £54.99 / €79.99. The standard edition box of Lineage II is available at a recommended retail price of £14.99 / €19.99 and at the PlayNC store (http://eu.plaync.com/eu/store/). Monthly subscription fee to the game is £8.99 / €12.99. The game is rated 12+ by PEGI (http://www.pegi.info).

About NCsoft Europe NCsoft Europe (NCE) is headquartered in Brighton, United Kingdom and is wholly-owned subsidiary of Korea-based NCsoft Corporation, the world's leading developer and publisher of online games. NCsoft operates publishing offices within North America, Japan, Taiwan, China and Thailand and has development studios in Seattle, Austin, California (North America) and Seoul (Korea). NCE recently announced the formation of the first European development studio, based within the UK.

NCE began operations on 1st September 2004 and serves as a central hub for all NCsoft sales, marketing and distribution operations in Europe, via its European distribution network. The company has successfully launched multiple online titles and continues to support its franchises, which include Lineage II (November 2004), City of Heroes (4th February 2005), Guild Wars (28th April 2005), City of Villains (31st October 2005), Guild Wars Factions (28th April 2006), Guild Wars Nightfall (27th October 2006), Guild Wars: Eye of the North (31st August 2007) and Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa (2nd November 2007). More information about NCsoft Europe can be found at http://eu.plaync.com.