Defiance 2050 launches in July, open beta begins next week

Defiance 2050, a reimagined take on the 2013 shooter MMO Defiance that was revealed to the world earlier this year, will launch on July 10, Trion Worlds announced today. Before it does, an open beta will run from June 22-25, providing players with an opportunity to try out different character classes, weapons, and progression systems. 

The original Defiance is a third-person open-world shooter that casts players as Ark Hunters, "mercenaries battling their way across the post-apocalyptic landscapes of a ruined earth, using alien tech and advanced weaponry to carve out their fortune." It was tied in with a Syfy television series of the same name: That series was canceled in 2015 after three seasons, but the game has persisted.   

Defiance 2050 is aimed at "bringing the game into the next generation," Trion said, with updated graphics and overhauled game systems. It's free to play, but Founder's Packs are available for purchase that will automatically unlock various character classes and upgrades, and provide bonus in-game currency. Purchasing a Founder's Pack will also enable access to the Head Start period, which will begin on July 6. 

More information about Defiance 2050 is available at trionworlds.com, and you can get a quick rundown of the game's classes in the dev update below.

Andy Chalk

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.