Red 5 Studios finally announces open beta launch of Firefall

Firefall, a totally free-to-play open-world shooter MMO, will enter open beta on July 9, 2013. If you're confused, then you probably thought Firefall has been in open beta this whole time, which it has not been. It's been in closed beta for what feels like eternity, thanks in part to major changes to the game based on community feedback.

New updates will continue to roll out up until July, fleshing out what will be the open beta product. The content of these updates include:

• City Power Levels: Players will receive new bonuses and rewards in the open world by increasing the power level of major cities through local missions and encounters.
• Melding Exploration: By raising city power levels and unlocking special dropships, players will finally be able to enter and explore pockets of the deadly Melding energy storm surrounding New Eden.
• Chosen Instances: Fortifying the open world allows players to take the fight to the Chosen, driving back the hostile alien race in epic new battle instances.
• Crafting and Progression: Players will continue to see major additions to crafting and Battleframe progression (including the new UI).

"We're incredibly excited to be nearing what we consider to be the most important stage of Firefall's development — Open Beta," said vice president of development for Red 5 Studios, James Macauley. "For us, open beta isn't a traditional 'marketing beta', but rather an opportunity to include many more players in our community-driven development process. We're looking forward to welcoming these new players into the community and continuing to build an amazing game together."

If you're just learning about Firefall for the first time, it is a sci-fi MMO shooter, that is completely free-to-play. Set 200 years in the future, players are part of the last remnant of humanity on Earth, fighting to survive against energy storms and under constant attack from a mysterious race known as the Chosen. There is both PvE and PvP, and combat is skill-based. I've played a bit of the beta. My personal opinion is that the game looks great and combat is fun, with Battleframes allowing you to switch up your playstyle whenever you want. That said, outside of defending Thumpers, I'm not exactly sure what more there is to do that's unique. I've only had limited time with the game, so I can't wait to explore the depths of Firefall and see what the surprises that the game has in store.

If you want to sign up for the beta and keep up-to-date on Firefall's progress, you can visit their new site: http://www.firefallthegame.com.

You can follow Senior Editor Lance Liebl on Twitter @Lance_GZ. He likes talking sports, video games, movies, and the stupidity of celebrities. Email at LLiebl@GameZone.com