In an era rife with day-one DLC, paid Early Access to broken games, and more crowd funding initiatives than you can shake an internet-sized stick at, it’s good to see some development studios are still getting it right. The fifth major expansion is coming soon to Aion, and will follow with the Truly Free model adopted by the game back in 2012.

Aion: Upheaval will be available as a free expansion on June 17, and with it comes a host of new features and content. A brief rundown of what’s bundled in the expansion would look something like this:

• Two new zones, Cygnea and Enshar, full of never-before-seen creatures and brand new quests.
• Two new raid instances — an ancient fighting ground named Stonespear Reach and Drakensipre Depths, a living prison with a very special prisoner.
• An overhaul to existing skills, a revamped Stigma system, and improved Skill User Interface.
• Incredible new armor and weapon sets, inspired by the new lands discovered in Upheaval.
• The ability to claim bases and areas of land for your legion with the all-new Territory Battles system.

New zones and gear are always a welcome thing in established MMOs, but there is something about doing a proper pass on existing skills that I find most exciting when it comes to expansion includes. As players scramble to consume the new content and strive to attain upgraded gear, doing so with a fresh perspective on how you approach combat is both exhilarating and fun.

The official announcement for the expansion launch date also helps provide some background on the expansion, as it’s always good to have some context for these things.

As the Elyos and Asmodians fought amongst themselves to claim territory, Beritra used this distraction to capture the Linkgate Foundry. There, he was able to unlock secrets of dimensional research that would allow passage through the protective veil of Atreia. Though the Daevas had begun to unravel Beritra’s plot, they had not done so soon enough. As mechanized invaders poured into Atreia, the Daevas scrambled to protect their lands. Ravenous machines, powered by Ide, pressed on all fronts but their purpose was far more devious than conquest.

Long buried in shadowed reaches of Katalam and Danaria, the Sealing Stones hummed with ancient commands. Under the cover of the invasion, Beritra managed to destroy the Sealing Stones. With their magic halted, the land under Sarpan, Tiamaranta, Katalam and Danaria began to quake as an ancient island rose from the ocean. A massive tidal wave crashed into Balaurea and broke apart the Reian lands, banishing them forever to the ocean floor.

Now, Beritra seeks a powerful ancient relic in the emerged lands of Cygnea and Enshar.  With so much already lost, it is finally time for you to face the Dragon Lord!

The brave Elyos and Asmodians out there among you who seek further wisdom on Aion: Upheaval should turn your gaze towards the official website.