Are you eager to deliver some payback in your favorite spacefaring MMO? Executive Producer Jon Lander and Lead Game Designer Kristoffer Tuoborg take us through their packed winter 2012 expansion.

Heading up the remaining features in this hefty expansion are further updates to factional warfare. The team is particularly eager to improve the benefits of owning factional space, as well as continuing to expand this area of the game. They also hope to continue developing the backstory to EVE Online, particularly through the use of in-game events.

Wrapping things up are, we’re told, a whole bundle of interface updates, including a new and improved NPC AI. EVE Online: Retribution will also include CREST, the read/write API currently under development. While third-party developers have been able to read information for some time, the winter update will enable the creation of applications that will support Corporation, Alliance and private chat channels. Future updates will include social cornerstones such as mail, but might also contain ship fitting and Corp updates as development continues.

We’ve barely scratched the surface of EVE Online: Retribution, with much more detail still to come. Lander informed us that there’s a relentless schedule of developer blogs planned between now and that launch date of December 4, where everything from ship specs to new mechanics will be shared. We’ll certainly be watching, ready to bring you the latest on EVE Online’s newest chapter.

                                                                             Gareth “Gazimoff” Harmer, Staff Writer