Storm King’s Thunder stomps into D&D’s Neverwinter online game on PC

The Sword Coast has had a rough few years. It’s suffered the predations of dragons. It’s weathered the evil elemental princes. It’s even held off the insanity of a rage of demons. But now this adventure-laden corner of the Forgotten Realms’ north trembles under the feet of giants — and it’s up to you to stop them.

Today, Perfect World and Crytic Studios released the Storm King’s Thunder expansion for Neverwinter, the Dungeons & Dragons massively multiplayer online role-playing game. It’s the 10th update, and it’s out now for PC. It’ll hit the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One later. Along with aligning the free-to-play MMO with D&D‘s upcoming storyline, Storm King’s Thunder brings a new campaign, three zones, and a dungeon.

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It all starts in Icewind Dale, one of the centers for adventure in Neverwinter. Frost Giants (think vikings but a lot, lot bigger and bluer) have invaded this northern area, and your character heads to Bryn Shander of Ten Towns (both famous places in the Forgotten Realms) to stop the incursion. You’ll encounter some of the Realms’ greatest heroes, like Catti-brie and Wulfgar of author R.A. Salvatore’s Drizz’t novels, and even Harshnag, the friendly Frost Giant who helps protect’s Waterdeep (one of the great cities of the Sword Coast).

The update also makes balance adjustments to three classes: the Hunter Ranger, the Scourge Warlock, and the Guardian Fighter.

The storyline carries the feel of one of D&D‘s classic adventures from the 1980s: Against the Giants. But Storm King’s Thunder isn’t an update or retelling of that series.

“Storm King’s Thunder is an original story using the giant lore of the Forgotten Realms. It’s inspired from many sources such as the work of Ed Greenwood [creator of the Forgotten Realms] and William Shakespeare,” Wizards of the Coast spokesperson Greg Tito said in June. “The daughters of the storm giant King Hekaton vying for their father’s throne feels a lot like King Lear in its gravitas.”