The big "Dragonborn" expansion to the hit role-playing game "Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" will take flight (literally) come Dec. 4. But while you're waiting for the downloadable content that will reportedly let you hop aboard dragons and go for a ride, the developers at Bethesda are offering a sneak peek of what's to come.
Check out the screenshots above and below for a look at the "Dragonborn" add-on. Meanwhile, Bethesda on Thursday revealed a few more details about what to expect from the new gameplay content.
"Dragonborn" will take players to the island of Solstheim where they will find new towns, dungeons, and quests to explore not to mention new armor and new enemies, according to Bethesda's press release. The highlights:
Explore Beyond Skyrim – Leave the province of Skyrim and travel to the coastal island of Solstheim. Encounter the Dark Elven settlers of Raven Rock and the native Skaal, as you unravel the mystery of a Dragonborn’s return. Become the Ultimate Dragonborn – Harness the power of the Voice as you face off against the first Dragonborn. Wield new shouts and spells including Dragon Aspect – allowing you to summon the inner power of a dragon to deliver colossal blows and strengthen other shouts.New Powers – Discover dark powers as you journey into a new Daedric realm. Collect books of forbidden knowledge and choose new paths for your skills and abilities.New dungeons, creatures, weapons, and more – Suit up in Bonemold and Chitin armors and wield Stalhrim weapons as you navigate through a myriad of dungeons. Battle formidable foes like Ash Spawn, Rieklings, and more.
Though Bethesda said "Dragonborn" will give players a chance to master a new shout that will "tame dragons," the developers have yet to reveal much about the dragon-riding that "Skyrim" fans are all excited about. Dragon riding was first revealed when a player dug through some of the game's patch code. And then we got a glimpse of it in the first trailer for "Dragonborn," which you can check out here.
But it looks like we'll have to wait until the add-on launches Dec. 4 on the Xbox 360 (at a price of $20) to find out what this dragon-riding business is all about. In the meantime, you can take a look at some of the new enemies and locales below:
Winda Benedetti writes about video games for NBC News. You can follow her tweets about games and other things on Twitter here @WindaBenedetti and you can follow her on Google+. Meanwhile, be sure to check out the IN-GAME FACEBOOK PAGE to discuss the day's gaming news and reviews.