EVE Online's Fractured Skies arrives November 10, but Conquests wait until February

Fractured Skies launches on November 10 and rebuilds Factional Warfare around a four-way contest between the empires. It is the second expansion in the Theaters of War trilogy. Its headline system, seasonal Conquests, won't be in the November release: the first Conquest is planned for February.

Ships and rigs

Each empire gets a navy attack battlecruiser. The Naga Navy Issue swaps hybrid guns for cruise missiles and torpedoes. The Tornado Fleet Issue pushes projectile damage further and is harder to hit while its microwarpdrive runs. The Oracle Navy Issue gains range, and the Talos Navy Issue gets more mobility. All four are sold only in Factional Warfare LP stores.

Synchronizer rigs get stronger with every module of the same faction you fit. There are nine sets, one each for the four empires and five pirate factions. The pirate versions offer bonuses no other rig has, along with steeper drawbacks.

Campaigns and the empire brawl

At launch, each empire starts a short military campaign with four objectives covering exploration, PvE, PvP and industry. Bonuses earned there switch on in that faction's systems from January 5. Later in January the empires meet in a large lowsec battle, and the winner gets an exclusive Drifter module in its LP store for a limited time.

New pilots get 13 free pre-fitted AIR Academy ships for combat, exploration and mining, though they only fly inside Starter Space, the PvP-free zone we covered earlier. AIR Career Program progress moves into the achievements system and resets, so everyone can earn its rewards again. The first phase of the new HUD arrives through Feature Preview and stays optional for now.

EVE Vanguard goes 24/7

From November 10, the ground shooter EVE Vanguard runs around the clock as a paid alpha. Access is sold as Founder's Access through the EVE launcher, with pricing still to come. There are three new maps. High Castle in highsec has no PvP damage, while The Vault in nullsec drops three squads of three into the same fight. Ground contracts unlock combat, hacking and mining sites in space.

Why Conquests come later

Conquests are seasonal wars with a clear end and a winner. At the end of a season each side brings its Conquest Engine online, and the first to destroy the rival engine wins. Vanguard joins that fight from February. Game director FC Okami put the delay down to the feature needing more time in the oven.

EVE Online is free to play on Steam with voiced versions in eight languages, including English. The expansion date is on the game page.