Cited as one of the most requested items, Cryptic Studios has announced that warp cores will be added as brand new functional items to Star Trek Online. In the shows and films, warp cores are powered by tylithium crystals and a matter/anti-matter combination; the cores function as the source of power for every system on a starship. When the warp core is effected, the entire ship is effected; and if the warp core breaches, the ship explodes.

Cryptic Studios decided to add warp cores to the game when they started designing Romulan ships for the upcoming Legacy of Romulus expansion - Romulan ships run on a singularity-powered system of propulsion, and this hurdle spurred development of warp core systems across the other two factions. Romulan singularities and Federation/Klingon warp cores will effect power levels, system efficiency, interstellar warp speed, maximum warp, and other ship's features.

Legacy of Romulus will be released on May 21st, 2013. You can read all about warp cores on Star Trek Online's official developer's blog.