Star Trek Online introduces more Discovery ships and Voyager concept design

Star Trek Online have added several new ships to the game recently, including 32nd and 23rd century designs from Discovery, plus a concept art version of an advanced Oberth class that Voyager almost was. Continue below to check them all out.

First up, from the 32nd century fleet is the Courage class, one of the vertically oriented designs seen in the far future.

Star Trek Online ends Year of the Klingon with House United, and adds loads of 32nd century Discovery stuff to the game

Star Trek Online have revealed their latest major update, the conclusion to their long running Year of the Klingon series of content releases. They've also introduced lots of new 32nd century content from Discovery, and other new ships. Continue below to check out the latest from the video game.

Year of the Klingon is coming to a conclusion in House United, which brings back Mary Chieffo (L'Rell), J.G. Hertzler (Martok), Robert O'Reilly (Gowron/Aakar), and Rekha Sharma (Adet'pa, but better known on-screen as Landry). Here's how STO describe the new content:

L'Rell, as played by Mary Chieffo, is back from the dead, and leading an army to retake the Empire from the Mad Emperor, J'mpok. Whether you are a loyal Klingon Warrior, or one of the other factions taking part in the world of 2411, you've been along for the ride, experiencing the destruction of New Khitomer, clearing your name, and the shattering of the Klingon Empire. Now, you, Martok (J.G. Hertzler from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) and J'ula must stand against J'mpok to reunite and restore honor to the Klingon people.

This battle will take you around the empire, in the mission "Leap of Faith," and to Qo'nos itself in the mission "Warriors of the Empire," and the Task Force Operation, "Remain Klingon." For the first time in a long time, the story of the final battle will be told in both the mission and the TFO, giving you a chance to experience both the ground and space battles for the Klingon homeworld. Participating in these, and new patrols based off of "Leap of Faith," will progress you in the "Only Qo'nos Endures" special event. Completing that event grants you the powerful Imperial Assault ground set. And finally, the Discovery: Far from Home Lock Box lets you obtain the technology of the 32nd Century, as seen in Star Trek: Discovery Season 3. 

STO have released a trailer and some key images showing off the major characters:

USS Voyager-J Janeway class comes to Star Trek Online

Star Trek Online have revealed the first of the 32nd century Starfleet ships to join the video game, the USS Voyager-J type, Janeway class Command Science Vessel. Thanks to lots of pictures and video, that means we all get to enjoy our best views yet of one of the more prominent ships of Disco's future. Continue below to check it out:

Star Trek Online introduces cool new variants of classic starships

Star Trek Online have launched their latest big starship offer, the 2021 Anniversary Legendary Bundle. This set of ships includes every existing variant, plus a brand new take for each of the Starfleet Ambassador class and Excelsior class, and Klingon Vor'cha class and B'rel class Bird of Prey. Continue below to check out the new and classic designs.

First up, surely the snazziest of the ships in the bundle is the new Horatio class variant of the Ambassador class, which brings the ship best known as the USS Enterprise-C up to date to STO's 25th century aesthetic. Perhaps most notably this includes giving it a duel neck between the saucer and engineering sections.

Here's STO's in-universe intro to the design:

Recent efforts to revitalize an old set of plans for the Ambassador class yielded the Narendra-class Support cruiser. While the Narendra performed well during its initial deployment, the Advanced Starship Development Board felt the design’s use of early-24th century assumptions put it at a bit of a disadvantage compared to newer cruisers. Starfleet still desperately needed more medium-sized units to backfill its long-range exploration and support needs, and a medium-tonnage cruiser meant more ships could be built and crewed faster. Starfleet engineers took the lessons learned from the Narendra and iterated on them in a new cruiser design, the U.S.S. Horatio. The Horatio is a very flexible long-range exploration and support platform meant to fill the gap of mid-size units that Starfleet needs to fulfill its various mandates inside Federation territory and beyond.

Star Trek Online introduces new Alliance hybrid ship, Picard Romulan goodies, and lots of Klingon content

It's a busy time in the Star Trek Online universe, with their ongoing Year of the Klingon content role outs bringing more established on-screen characters into the game, new Picard inspired goodies, and always more ships. Continue below for all the latest.

First up, to mark the 11th anniversary of the game the second cross-species Alliance ship is joining the game (following last year's Federation/Klingon Khitomer class). The new Temer class raider is meant to be a Romulan/Klingon hyrbrid design, although the colours and escape pods also suggest Starfleet influences to me.

Here's how STO describe it's in-universe origins:

The Allied Cooperative Starship Development Board (ACSDB) is excited to announce their second vessel with unified design philosophies. Due to its nature, it draws heavily on the expertise of the Romulan Republic and Klingon Empire, a collaboration that continues to bode well for the Khitomer Alliance’s future.

The Alliance Temer Raider is a unique starship – fitting command and control capabilities into a compact, lightweight shell. In order to ensure it survives to coordinate the battle, it features high maneuverability, an Enhanced Battle Cloaking Device, and a weapons layout with an emphasis on longer-ranged attacks. In trials, it’s been shown to exceed at performing a support role from the shadows, appearing for a matter of seconds to strike before vanishing again.

Star Trek Online's latest ships, including Synths, new Romulan and Jem'Hadar classes, and more

Star Trek Online have recently introduced quite a variety of new ships to the game through various means. Continue below to check out some of their latest designs.

First up, available as a possible prize from the Infinity Lock Box, the Synth ship previously in the game as a non-playable ship is now available to fly yourself. STO are calling this the Deimos-class Pilot Destroyer.

Here's how they describe it:

The A500 series of Synthetics was created to serve Starfleet. While not as advanced as a Soong-type Android, and certainly lacking the interpersonal skills that Data would come to learn and display, the A500 was enough of a success that they were put to work throughout some of Starfleet's most dangerous jobs. There was even a ship designed for their use, mostly for transport and for defense of the Utopia Planetia shipyards. Due to the synthetic nature of their operators, these ships are faster, more nimble, and more accurate than the counterparts designed to be run by other sentients. 

Unfortunately, a fleet of these ships was used to conduct the assault on Utopia Planetia in 2385. Due to their use in that attack, Starfleet halted their production and put them aside, until very recently. Starfleet Engineers have retrofitted these ships to operate with sentient controllers, without losing their agility.

Star Trek Online introduces new Titan and Shenzhou variant starships, plus mirror universe ships, Klingon updates and more

Star Trek Online are honouring the USS Titan, with the introduction of a new successor class to the Luna class, the Titan class. Continue below to check out this cool new ship, plus lots of other STO updates, including a new variant of the Walker class, mirror universe ships, updates of other classic designs, and the latest in the ongoing Klingon saga that is currently the focus of the game.

The new Titan class, a "Science Destroyer" is meant to be the 25th century descendant of the USS Titan's Luna class. Here's how STO describe it:

Named after the legendary ship commanded by William T. Riker, the Titan Class Science Destroyer is a little like Riker himself. It's a balance between exploring the galaxy, and gearing up to fight when necessary. As a Science Destroyer, the ship has two modes it can switch between, Science and Tactical. It also is equipped with a console designed to disable enemy systems, effectively taking them out of the fight for a brief time. She also can be loaded with an advanced subspace communication device, allowing you to summon the aid of your faction's flagship at a moment's notice.

Picard's Inquiry class comes to Star Trek Online

Star Trek Online's latest ship has joined the game: From Picard, comes the Inquiry class, as seen in the fleet commanded by Riker in the final episode of season one.

The ship's design is very similar to STO's existing Avenger class, and so has been included in that family of ship variants in the game. Here's how STO describe it's in-universe position:

Initially coming to fame in 2399, with the actions of the USS Zheng He over the planet Coppelius, the Inquiry Class was Starfleet’s most powerful ship for many years. The initial designs and technical breakthroughs of the ship were later used as the starting point for the Avenger-class project. Engineers at Utopia Planetia felt the time was right for another update to the Avenger line, and decided to return to the classic form, and name, of the Inquiry class.

The modern Inquiry Battlecruiser, like other ships of its lineage, are aggressive ships, designed to charge into head-on confrontations and come out unscathed. To further these goals, it comes equipped with a Variable Assault Deflector Array to ensure that it can come out swinging and shrug off any retaliation. This is further tied into its Cruiser Commands, to ensure that its team is as prepared as possible to follow it in its charge. Its sturdy construction and forward-facing weapons mountings round out the package, make it an intimidating sight to be staring down at. Those on the business end of an Inquiry often find their goals rapidly aligning with the Federation’s peaceful ideals.

Star Trek Online's new support carriers

Star Trek Online have introduced a new range of "support carrier" ships to the game.

Available in designs from the Jem'Hadar, Romulans, Klingons, and Caitians (the latter the Federation entry), the large ships all feature two hangers, and come pre-equipped with a support frigate and squadron and fighters. In each case those support ships are repurposed pre-existing designs.

The hangers can each support either two support frigates, or six squadrons, if you get hold of more - The latter is a new function that operates a group of smallcraft instead of just one, so each carrier is able to hold six squadrons each, and so are able to deploy thirty-six fighters, plus two frigates.

Continue below to check out the details of each design, plus some other STO ship updates.

My favourite of the bunch if the Jem’Hadar Vanguard Support Carrier, because it's a cracking new Jem'Hadar design:

STO round-up: Year of Klingon gets going, plus Discovery season 2 content

Star Trek Online's Year of Klingon has got into full swing with the first major story-content expansion, House Divided. Continue below for details of that, and other new updates to the video game:

House Divided picks up the story focused on the temporarily displaced Disco-Klingon J'ula, along with Aakar, Gowron's grandfather, voiced by Robert O’Reilly (Gowron himself). J.G. Hertzler has also returned as Martok. Here's how STO outline the story arc:

With the incursion of J’ula into the modern era, more and more Klingons are listening to her message of a return to “traditional” ways. What side will Martok choose?

Here's a trailer for the new content:

Star Trek Online introduces the Picard Romulan Bird of Prey. Plus other new ships and updates

The Star Trek Online shipyards have been busy lately, with new and updated ships coming regularly. Continue below to check out all the latest, starting with...

The Romulan Bird of Prey seen in Picard is coming to the game. And that means we can get a really good look at the new version of the bird of prey paint job, which is only seen fleetingly on-screen (see Ships of Picard article). Behold:

Fleet Command introduces Harry Mudd to the Kelvin timeline

The Kelvin timeline video game Fleet Command has revealed the latest story arc in the game; Outlaws, which will introduce Harry Mudd to the Kelvin timeline, and curiously seems to team him up with Khan! - Who was himself liberated from his freezer when the Augments became a faction in the game last year. Continue below to find out more.

Star Trek ships arrive in Crypto Space Commander

Star Trek Picard is coming to the world of Crypto Space Commander, a newish massively-multiplayer-online-game developed by Lucid Sight. The game will introduce several ships from Picard, and Star Trek at large, alongside a new Borg-focused story in the game. More on that below...

But first, what is CSC? Currently in an "Early Alpha" state, the game is available to play via Stream. Set around the activities of the Sol system based Galactic Federation, the game lets players go explore the galaxy and obtain resources. What really seems to set it apart though is the focus on crafting of unique assets in the game, and a blockchain based economic model that encourages trade, and rewards the creation and obtaining of unique items. Here's how Lucid Sight summarise it:

Get ready to embark on an adventure through the cosmos! CSC (Crypto Space Commander) is a sandbox space MMO that operates a player-owned economy. Players can travel to different star systems, mine stellar bodies for resources, craft items and ships to sell, battle pirates and other players while commanding their very own starship. CSC utilizes the Ethereum blockchain to secure game assets, enforce P2P contract actions, and run the game economy.

CSC is designed to facilitate all facets of Play-To-Own gaming. Are you a traditional gamer looking for a deeper, more immersive experience? Or gaming entrepreneur looking to grow and develop next-generation economies? All players can profit on their skill and wit with CSC’s player-owned asset design.

Asset management is enforced on the Ethereum blockchain, allowing for complex actions and trustless cooperation between players. By giving players free rein to influence nearly every aspect of gameplay, the universe truly becomes their own.

Playmates Star Trek toys box art by Ron McPherson

I recently came across the art of Ron McPherson, the artist who created much of the box art for the 90s Playmates Star Trek toy range. Between his website and Behance portfolio, he has shared much of his work on the range, giving a rare opportunity to checkout the artwork without all the other box titles and labels. I've paired each piece up with the final box art, to give a look at how the packaging design works. Continue below to check out:

I have to start with the artwork for one of my favourite ever Star Trek toys, the glorious "transwarping" Enterprise, as Playmates named the tri-nacelled future Enterprise from All Good Things....

McPherson's artwork captures stages of the transformation, complete with the hull panel flaps you have to flip out to reveal the refit components.

Fleet Command's Borg event comes to a close with Mega Borg Cube, and Jaylah's assimilation!

Scopely have announced the finale of their months long Borg event, in the Kelvin timeline video game Fleet Command.

The final run of missions will set up an all out Borg invasion, culminating in the arrival of a "Mega Borg Cube", which obviously must be defeated!

Continue below to meet assimilated Jaylah, Borg tribbles, and check out the latest ships from the game. First though, here's come Borgy art they've been releasing to promote this:

La Sirena comes to Star Trek Online, plus other new game ships

Got lots of starshipy updates from Star Trek Online today, including a chance to pick a future design, some remasters of classics, and I think the first ship from Picard to join the game. Continue below to check them out:

First up, from Picard we have La Sirena, which they're calling a Heavy Raider. The ship will be one of many available as a possible bonus upon opening a Research and Development Pack or a Duty Officer Pack purchased between May 7th and May 11th.

Dark Remnant's USS Galileo concept art

Last year VR Studios and Strange Lizard created Star Trek: Dark Remnant, a VR game available at Dave and Buster's locations in the US. Set in the Kelvin timeline the games features the USS Enterprise and a Klingon battle cruiser, but also a brand new ship, a small "advanced stellar research vessel", the USS Galileo. The unique ship features a bridge inside a large window/forcefield bubble, giving players wide unobstructed views of the action unfolding around them in the game. Several of the artists who worked on the ship have shared their work online, so we can get a good look at this unique and obscure design.

Most of the artwork here was shared by Paul Jouard, who also credits Andrian Luchian and MuYoung Kim, who provided blockout models and concept sketches respectively. These first two Jouard notes as being the final paintovers:

Check out settings from Sandbox VR's Away Mission VR game

Last year brought us the latest Star Trek VR game, Sandbox VR's Star Trek: Discovery - Away Mission. The game has players join a landing party from the USS Discovery on missions to several different locales, with help form Silvia Tilly, and hindrance from the Klingons.

VR experience artist Cola River was the art producer on the game, and worked on just about every aspect of it, including concepts, level, character, prop, and scene design, lighting, effects, rendering... Well basically everything! He has now shared some of his work from the game on his Art Station portfolio, giving a great clean look at what went into the virtual reality experience. Continue below to check it out:

River has shared sets of images looking at several of locations in the game. My favourite is a shuttle bay littered with crashed shuttles and work bees:

More Borg attack the Kelvin timeline in latest Fleet Command missions

Scopely have released an action packed new narrative trailer for their current Borg arc in the Kelvin timeline video game Fleet Command. Continue below for more updates from the game, but first, check out the trailer:

Star Trek Online introduces Section 31 Command Heavy Battlecruiser

Star Trek Online have unveiled a new ship coming soon to the game; Discovery's four nacelled Section 31 drone carrier, otherwise now known as the Section 31 Command Heavy Battlecruiser. Here's how they describe it:

When it comes to top secret organizations, few things are as they appear, and the Section 31 Command Heavy Battlecruiser is a master of deceptive appearances – provided your sensors will even pick it up. Its powerful stealth capabilities are backed by a giant swarm of fighters to overwhelm any foes it encounters, and its infiltration capabilities are unmatched.

Here's a cool animation of the drone swarm in action, which also gives us an interesting look at the structure of the ship: