Apocrypha, EVE Online's 10th expansion, is here! There's all sorts of ways to get involved in the action if you haven't yet. First, check out the features page for a trailer, details on the storyline and a massive list of updates, from wormholes to the New Player Experience, which helps ease the learning curve for gamers who are entering New Eden for the first time.

Next, prepare to download a huge patch (1.35 GB for PC or 2.17 GB for Mac), as well as some smaller patches to get to the final build. If you have any questions or problems on the patching process, this post should help.

CCP is known for making New Eden come alive through the high level of roleplaying found in its announcements. The team has gone all out for Apocrypha, filling its news feed with items "chronicling the cataclysmic arrival of Apocrypha." Read the "End of the World" chronicle series here for details on the expansion's storyline, and keep an eye out for the epilogue, which will be published today.

Also, EVE Online is now available in retail stores in U.S. and Canada, and will be available elsewhere beginning tomorrow. More information on Apocrypha and the retail box can be found after the jump.

Reykjavik, Iceland March 11, 2009 - CCP, one of the world's leading independent game developers, has deployed EVE Online: Apocrypha, the tenth free expansion for EVE Online. Delivering a massive amount of content in a shortened production schedule, Apocrypha is sure to satisfy pilots of all types with the mysterious appearance of unstable wormholes that lead to dangerous and rewarding, hereto unexplored regions of space, a new level of technology that allows for a staggering echelon of ship production and a re-imagined introduction for rookie starship pilots to a life in EVE's challenging universe. The release also coincides with a return to retail stores for EVE Online.

"Incredible rewards and certain death await explorers brave enough to fly into the unstable wormholes that have opened across EVE Online's universe," says Torfi Frans Olafsson, Senior Producer for EVE Online. "While EVE is certainly darker and more dangerous, it has also become accessible with our revamped new player experience, improved UI and renovated graphics and effects. Beginning your chosen path in EVE has never been easier."

Apocrypha's improvements include these highlights and more:
• The sudden appearance of unstable wormholes in space, making the universe 41% larger and much more dangerous. On the other side, a first acquaintance awaits to a formidable NPC group that guards the key to the next level of technology. This unknown, uncharted space allows for a true sense of exploration for those brave enough to grab hold of the dynamic new scanning mechanics.
• Strategic Cruisers come with the introduction of ancient technology into production. These modular ships allow for an extravagant level of customization and versatility.
• The first Epic Mission Arc joins an enhanced new player experience to guide fledgling pilots toward the opportunities space has to offer. This massive branching set consists of dozens of missions that are guaranteed to forge any soft-shelled rookie into a battle-hardened veteran.
• Massive sensory improvements for every player: an upgraded sound engine, brand-new animations for almost every effect in game and beautiful original assets in wormhole space.
• A newly designed skill queue allows EVE's unique character progression system to truly shine and Neural Remapping provides an opportunity for players to refocus their development as they so choose.
• We are releasing our Premium Graphics client for Mac users and introducing Premium Lite as our new lower-end graphics suite for a more beautiful experience all around.
• Full Russian language support.

A full list of features for EVE Online: Apocrypha can be found on the features page: www.eveonline.com/apocrypha

Since our last expansion was released in November, CCP has introduced Pilot's License Extensions (PLEX) to EVE Online, which basically allow players to trade subscription time for in-game assets with another player like any other item. You can find more about PLEX here: http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/30_Day_Concord_Pilot_License_Extension

EVE Online is available at retailers throughout the United States and Canada and will be available elsewhere beginning March 12th. The retail box includes EVE Online: Apocrypha, each of the nine previous free expansions, 60 days of game time, an exclusive shuttle and an in-game standing certificate.

EVE Online: Apocrypha will be available for subscribers as a free download at www.eveonline.com/download/. Non-subscribers should visit the EVE website to sign up for a free 14-day trial account.