NCsoft and Cryptic Studios have announced the features for the next free expansion to City of Heroes and City of Villains called ¡°Issue 9: Breakthrough. This expansion gives players with an invention system and auction house, which delivers new levels of depth to the games.

Issue 9: "Breakthrough"
SUMMARY:
Issue 9: Breakthrough, the ninth free expansion to the City of Heroes® universe, introduces an entirely new level of depth and gameplay to the franchise. Players acquire and invent new "loot," and have the option to buy and sell it using the new hero and villain auction houses. Along with Issue 9¡¯s other great features, this brand new system results in a wealth of new gameplay for players.

FEATURES
Invention System (Heroes and Villains)
Using the highly anticipated Invention system, players acquire and collect "loot" in the form of Salvage and Invention Recipes. These will be used together to invent uber-enhancements, costume pieces, new powers, gadgets, and more. This creates a world of new activities, rewards and character evolution!

Auction Houses (Heroes and Villains)
Where better to buy and sell all of these new items than in the new auction houses! Wentworth¡¯s Fine Consignments have sprung up throughout Paragon City™ while the villains prefer to do their bidding alongside "black-market" trucks placed throughout the Rogue Isles™.

Statesman¡¯s Task Force (Heroes only)
This high-level PvE content allows eight heroes to team up in order to face and defeat Paragon¡¯s greatest enemies! Completing this difficult challenge results in some of the game¡¯s rarest loot!

New Hamidon Encounter (Heroes and Villains)
Not only do villains get their own end-game raid encounter with the "Hamidon," but the new experience is also brought to the Heroes side where players must use new tactics to bring down one of the "City of"s greatest threats.