The first details on the fourth installment of the Gothic Series have been leaked thanks to early copies of the June Issue of Germany's PC Games magazine reaching subscribers early.

Via Tiscali Games, who've done the honour of translating the text into English for us, comes the news that Gothic 4: Arcania will be "set 10 years after the third title and will be located on various southern islands, each having different climate zones and its own flora & fauna."

The title is still far from completion, with a release date of 2010, but the magazine has discovered that they'll be a dynamic weather system and we'll be able to change day to night by casting a spell that will enable us to creep past guards

Other snippets of information include:

# Same as in previous titles, there'll be a hidden place (temporarily blocked by a magical shield/barrier).

# Aside few NPCs from the previous title, some monsters will have a fresh look (however, trolls look the same as in Gothic III).

# With the ability to climb and ride on beasts.

# Aiming for continuity, developers have gone through fan wishes on the forums and are planning on integrating some of them.

# Fully DirectX 10 compatible with advanced shader technology: standing under a tree, not only light will be realistically dimmed, but looking up into the sky, you'll see the sun behind partially transparent leaves.

Source :: Tiscali Games