CCP has unveiled the patch notes for EVE Online’s winter expansion, Incursion. The patch makes some player-requested changes, as well as the usual array of fixes and netcode improvements. Also expect to see some graphical and UI tweaks amongst the changes to weapons, ammunition and the market. There’s also a new salvaging ship called the Noctis. Incursion will be released tomorrow. CCP has confirmed that they are bowing to peer pressure and will abolish Learning skills from the game. They will be removed mid-December apparently, but that might be delayed until January.

CCP has announced the 14th expansion for EVE Online. It’s called Incursion and its due out in November. Apparently, most of the expansion’s content is a result of discussions held between developer CCP and the Council of Stellar Management, whom are the elected community representatives for folks that play the game. Fleet battles will be improved thanks to CCP integrating new server hardware. Character creation will also be improved, NPCs will be made cleverer and the game’s graphics will be tweaked. They will also add a more dynamic and simplified Planetary Interaction system.

There will also be a bit more story in this expansion. Sansha’s Nation is trying to create a utopia by toasting anyone in their way. If you help to defeat them as part of public fleets, you’ll be rewarded. Incursion will also introduce changes to the EVE online portal EVEGate, including new forums for players to use.

“Incursion marks a point where our PVE experience moves towards the co-operative roots of EVE and the largest introduction of our Carbon Technology platform to date. Never before have so many players and developers contributed to EVE’s living universe,” said producer Arnar Gylfason.

Eve Online developer CCP has opened a studio in Newcastle. CCP Newcastle will work with CCP Asia on the DUST 514, an upcoming console game (PS3, 360) that ties into the Eve universe. CCP Newcastle will be focused on getting increased performance from Unreal Engine 3. After they’ve got that under control, they will start work on researching technology for the next generation of consoles. The studio has been formed from ex-members of Midway Newcastle, whom developed The Wheelman and Test Drive.

“The North East has a distinguished heritage of game development, an experienced console-development talent pool and local universities producing exceptional graduates. We have been able to assemble a world-class team of console developers with unparalleled Unreal Engine expertise and integrate them with CCP’s global organisation,” said CCP Newcastle’s Richard Smith.

CCP has a lot of jobs on offer across the globe, and it’s obvious they want to scale up and make strides into the highly profitable console sector.