Neverwinter Shadowmantle Module to be Released on December 5th

Perfect World Entertainment fired over a press release today announcing that Shadowmantle, the second content module update for Cryptic Studios' Neverwinter, is due out on December 5th. They also treated us to a strange-and-yet-curiously-interesting "From Beauty to Beast" video that features a bikini-clad woman being transformed into a fiend through the use of makeup, props, and special effects:



On to the details:
NEVERWINTER SHADOWMANTLE MODULE LAUNCHES DECEMBER 5TH

Second Free Expansion to Popular Action MMORPG Introduces Hunter Ranger Class and Dread Ring Zone

(Redwood City, CA) November 21, 2013 - Perfect World Entertainment, Inc. and Cryptic Studios are pleased to announce that the widely-praised free action MMORPG Neverwinter, set in the Dungeons & Dragons® Forgotten Realms® universe from Wizards of the Coast, will launch Shadowmatle, its second expansion, on December 5, 2013. This free content update introduces the Hunter Ranger as a new character class, and an entirely new zone, the Dread Ring, an ashen field buried deep within the Neverwinter Woods.

(We're incredibly excited to share the release date of Shadowmantle - our second free expansion), said Cryptic Studios Executive Producer and COO, Craig Zinkievich. (With Neverwinter, our plan has always been to release massive regular updates that provide new unique online experiences with exciting new content for players to explore.)

(Shadowmantle continues to fuel excitement and great adventures for D&D fans. Supporting great storytelling through our digital partners continues to be a priority for the brand and this latest module delivers on that promise,) said Nathan Stewart, Brand Director for D&D at Wizards of the Coast.

Shadowmantle, the second Module for Neverwinter, is a free content expansion in which players tackle the Dread Ring campaign. Within the Dread Ring is a massive structure built for ritual magic. Players explore the surroundings of this broken but still powerful structure and fight Valindra Shadowmantle's army, including an epic battle with the lich herself. In addition to the Hunter Ranger class and new playable content, Shadowmantle features new systems including Artifacts and Collections, and new Paragon Paths for the original classes.

Neverwinter is an action MMORPG that features fast-paced combat and epic dungeons. Players explore the vast city of Neverwinter and its surrounding countryside, learning the vivid history of the iconic city and battling its many enemies. In Neverwinter, players can create their own quests and campaigns with the Foundry, a powerful content creation tool that allows players to seamlessly integrate their adventures in to the live game world.

For more information about Neverwinter Shadowmantle, and to begin playing now for free, please visit the official website: http://www.PlayNeverwinter.com

ABOUT PERFECT WORLD ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Perfect World Entertainment is a leading North American online games publisher specializing in immersive free-to-play MMORPGs. Founded in 2008, Perfect World Entertainment has published a number of popular titles, including Blacklight Retribution, Forsaken World, Perfect World International and Star Trek Online. The company works closely with its American development teams and partners such as Cryptic Studios, developer of the highly acclaimed MMORPG Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter, and Runic Games, developer of the hit Torchlight series, to provide unparalleled quality of service and game experiences to its players. A subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), Perfect World Entertainment is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California. For more information, please visit: www.perfectworld.com

ABOUT CRYPTIC STUDIOS, INC.
Cryptic Studios, Inc. is a leading developer of online games committed to delivering the next level of gameplay. Cryptic Studios, Inc. develops AAA titles for PC and is rapidly diversifying its portfolio of games to expand beyond the traditional MMORPG genre. Its successfully launched titles include "Champions Online: Free for All," "Star Trek Online" and "Dungeons & Dragons: Neverwinter." Cryptic Studios, Inc., a subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), is located in Los Gatos, CA.

ABOUT WIZARDS OF THE COAST
Wizards of the Coast LLC, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS), is the leader in entertaining the lifestyle gamer. Wizards' players and fans are members of a global community bound together by their love of both digital gaming and in-person play. The company brings to market a range of gaming experiences under powerful brand names such as MAGIC: THE GATHERING, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, and KAIJUDO. Wizards is also a publisher of fantasy series fiction with numerous New York Times best-sellers. For more information about our world renowned brands, visit the Wizards of the Coast Web site at www.wizards.com.