<a href="http://community.riftgame.com/en/2012/02/01/welcome-to-rift-1-7-carnival-of-the-ascended/"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-941" title="Header_EN" src="http://community.riftgame.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Headersteam_EN.jpg"/></a>

At last the day has arrived - since the release of Update 1.6 and Ember Isle the big question since last year has been: What's next?!

As the first update of 2012 Update 1.7 answers that question with a mighty bounty of new features, content, and improvements. No matter your play style there's something waiting for you in 1.7! We've added a new chronicle, powered-up PvP and endgame items and are introducing Ascended Weddings as our first Gathering. There's no doubt 1.7 is a biggun - lucky for you there's tons of information to sink your teeth in or log in to see it for yourself!

<h3><font color="FFFFFF">RIFT 1.7 Key Features</font></h3>
<h4><font color="FFFFFF">Endgame Gear & Expert Dungeons get an upgrade</font></h4>
Tons of <strong>level 45+ equipment gets a boost in power</strong> to help you better face your foes across Telara. In addition advanced dungeoneers now have more adventures to choose from, as <strong>Tier 1 and Tier 2 have merged</strong>. Expert Mode dungeons become a single category in LFG, sporting trials and rewards on par with Tier 2.
<p style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://community.riftgame.com/en/2012/01/27/expert-dungeons-items-see-big-changes-in-update-1-7/">Learn More</a>

<h4><font color="FFFFFF">PvP improvements</font></h4>
The <strong>Prestige system gets major improvements</strong>, changing the number of ranks to 40. We’re <strong>removing Prestige requirements from PvP gear</strong>, and rolling PvP Soul abilities and benefits into their own Planar Attunement tree.
<p style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://community.riftgame.com/en/2012/01/30/pvp-power-up-get-ready-to-rumble-in-1-7/">Learn More</a>

<h4><strong><font color="FFFFFF">RIFT™ Lite</font></strong></h4>
Introducing RIFT Lite - <strong>Play levels 1-20 of RIFT, with no charge or time limit!</strong> Now you or your friends can check out Telara at your own pace with no credit card or subscription required. All RIFT Lite accounts still share the same restriction to chat, trade, and mail, however.
<p style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.riftgame.com/trial">Check out RIFT Lite</a>

<h4><font color="FFFFFF">Ascended weddings & A World Record Attempt!</font></h4>
Even immortal Ascended need to share eternity with the one they love. Amid the horrors of the rifts, Guardians and Defiant have each created a ritual to pledge undying devotion. <strong>Invite your friends and allies to witness your in-game nuptials</strong>, just in time for Valentine’s Day. But that's not all - join us on <strong>February 14th, Valentines Day, for a Guiness Book of World Record attempt </strong>for the most marriages in a virtual world in a 24 hour period. If you and yours are looking to make the day even more special - we've got a great contest for you to win a personally planned in-game wedding and shard-wide broadcast when you tie the knot!
<p style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://community.riftgame.com/en/2012/01/25/save-the-date-get-hitched-and-be-part-of-a-world-record-this-valentines-day/">Learn More</a>

At last the day has arrived - since the release of Update 1.6 and Ember Isle the big question since last year has been: What's next?!

As the first update of 2012 Update 1.7 answers that question with a mighty bounty of new features, content, and improvements. No matter your play style there's something waiting for you in 1.7! We've added a new chronicle, powered-up PvP and endgame items and are introducing Ascended Weddings as our first Gathering. There's no doubt 1.7 is a biggun - lucky for you there's tons of information to sink your teeth in or log in to see it for yourself!

Tons of level 45+ equipment gets a boost in power to help you better face your foes across Telara. In addition advanced dungeoneers now have more adventures to choose from, as Tier 1 and Tier 2 have merged. Expert Mode dungeons become a single category in LFG, sporting trials and rewards on par with Tier 2.

Learn More

The Prestige system gets major improvements, changing the number of ranks to 40. We’re removing Prestige requirements from PvP gear, and rolling PvP Soul abilities and benefits into their own Planar Attunement tree.

Learn More

Introducing RIFT Lite - Play levels 1-20 of RIFT, with no charge or time limit! Now you or your friends can check out Telara at your own pace with no credit card or subscription required. All RIFT Lite accounts still share the same restriction to chat, trade, and mail, however.

Check out RIFT Lite

Even immortal Ascended need to share eternity with the one they love. Amid the horrors of the rifts, Guardians and Defiant have each created a ritual to pledge undying devotion. Invite your friends and allies to witness your in-game nuptials, just in time for Valentine’s Day. But that's not all - join us on February 14th, Valentines Day, for a Guiness Book of World Record attempt for the most marriages in a virtual world in a 24 hour period. If you and yours are looking to make the day even more special - we've got a great contest for you to win a personally planned in-game wedding and shard-wide broadcast when you tie the knot!

Learn More

<center><iframe width="430" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BKYk8bzRTJw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center>

Here's a little extra holiday cheer from all of us on the RIFT Team - thanks for a wonderful year!

Now you can share RIFT with your friends and family for 50% off both the Standard and Ashes of History Editions of get them for yourself. Check out our store page for all the details:

<a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/39120">RIFT @ Steampowered.com

Happy Holidays,
The RIFT Team

<center><iframe width="430" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BKYk8bzRTJw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center>

Here's a little extra holiday cheer from all of us on the RIFT Team - thanks for a wonderful year!

Now you can share RIFT with your friends and family for 50% off both the Standard and Ashes of History Editions of get them for yourself. Check out our store page for all the details:

RIFT @ Steampowered.comHappy Holidays,The RIFT Team

Hail Ascended!

Last week we had a couple of announcements for RIFT:

<a href="http://community.riftgame.com/?p=727"><b>Update 1.6.1: Instant Adventure</b></a>

<iframe width="430" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AEoVkP-7Jsg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The Wanton Maw has drawn the full attention of Telara to the shores of Ember Isle – but adventure can still be found throughout Stillmoor and Shimmersand! Journey alone or with friends as you join fellow ascended to push back the bloodstorm – read on to learn more about Instant Adventure, a public group with dynamically scaling quests that you can access from anywhere!

<a href="http://community.riftgame.com/?p=727">Read more...</a>

<a href="http://community.riftgame.com/?p=727"><b>Fae Yule Feast Recipe Contest</b></a>

The holidays for many are a time for family, friends and FEASTS!

To celebrate in proper style we’re inviting all willing and able cooks to let your imaginations run wild and imagine what Telarans might enjoy during a Fae Yule Feast. How might the faceless man’s mother prepare najmok meatloaf?

<b>We’re giving away Cookie the Bogling Chef</b>, and other rare in-game items, to the top 5 recipes in celebration of your culinary creativity – you have until Friday, December 16th @ 5:00PM PST to submit your entry so read below to get cooking!

<a href="http://community.riftgame.com/?p=728">Read more...</a>

Hail Ascended!

Last week we had a couple of announcements for RIFT:

Update 1.6.1: Instant Adventure

<iframe width="430" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AEoVkP-7Jsg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The Wanton Maw has drawn the full attention of Telara to the shores of Ember Isle – but adventure can still be found throughout Stillmoor and Shimmersand! Journey alone or with friends as you join fellow ascended to push back the bloodstorm – read on to learn more about Instant Adventure, a public group with dynamically scaling quests that you can access from anywhere!

Read more...

Fae Yule Feast Recipe Contest

The holidays for many are a time for family, friends and FEASTS!

To celebrate in proper style we’re inviting all willing and able cooks to let your imaginations run wild and imagine what Telarans might enjoy during a Fae Yule Feast. How might the faceless man’s mother prepare najmok meatloaf?

We’re giving away Cookie the Bogling Chef, and other rare in-game items, to the top 5 recipes in celebration of your culinary creativity – you have until Friday, December 16th @ 5:00PM PST to submit your entry so read below to get cooking!

Read more...

RIFT 1.6: From the Embers plunges players into all new adventures across the vast and mysterious Ember Isle. Once the home of the Kelari, Ascended will battle new enemies to unlock the secrets of the island and uncover the treasures that await you!

<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/etvs-BKdBYE" frameborder="0" width="435" height="315"></iframe>

<h3>RIFT 1.6: From the Embers - Features</h3>
<a href="http://www.riftgame.com/en/community/updates/from-the-embers.php">Full Details @ The Update Page</a>
<ul>
<li><strong>New Zone: </strong>Ember Isle</li>
<li><strong>New Dungeon: </strong>Caduceus Rise, One normal mode and 2 Expert wings!</li>
<li><strong>New 10-man Sliver: </strong>Rise of the Phoenix, the first 10-player Tier 2 Raid!</li>
<li><strong>New PvP Alt Mode: </strong>Black Garden Stockpile joins the rotation</li>
<li><strong>Planar Attunement: </strong>Tier 2 unlocked!</li>
<li><strong>Ascend-a-Friend: </strong>Now you can invite your friends and track the status of your rewards!</li>
</ul>

RIFT 1.6: From the Embers plunges players into all new adventures across the vast and mysterious Ember Isle. Once the home of the Kelari, Ascended will battle new enemies to unlock the secrets of the island and uncover the treasures that await you!

<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/etvs-BKdBYE" frameborder="0" width="435" height="315"></iframe>

Full Details @ The Update Page

• New Zone: Ember Isle
• New Dungeon: Caduceus Rise, One normal mode and 2 Expert wings!
• New 10-man Sliver: Rise of the Phoenix, the first 10-player Tier 2 Raid!
• New PvP Alt Mode: Black Garden Stockpile joins the rotation
• Planar Attunement: Tier 2 unlocked!
• Ascend-a-Friend: Now you can invite your friends and track the status of your rewards!

<iframe width="435" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6v-mEjy82i8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Watch and learn how Trion developed Ember Isle, the dragon-cult-infested former home of the Kelari people and zone for level-50 Ascended.

<iframe width="435" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6v-mEjy82i8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Watch and learn how Trion developed Ember Isle, the dragon-cult-infested former home of the Kelari people and zone for level-50 Ascended.