Blade & Soul Closed Beta Starts in October

Blade & Soul, a martial arts-themed, action-combat MMORPG by NCSoft, will start their closed beta on October 30. Anyone interested in participating in the closed beta can purchase the Founder’s Pack for $25 — which guarantees a spot — or they can sign up on Blade & Soul‘s official web site.

Full version of Blade & Soul is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2016. The game was originally released in Asia in mid-2012. After reaching several million subscribers throughout China, Japan and South Korea, developers announced the game would be released domestically in September 2012.

NCSoft West producer Nicolas Coutant explained the purpose of the closed beta is to get “feedback and implement it in the final stages of development ahead of launch.” The beta also gives players the opportunity to explore the latest MMO from the makers of AION, Guild Wars 2, Lineage II, and WildStar.

Blade & Soul is described by NCSoft as “set in a beautiful and diverse world, and featuring a deep and cinematic story.” The game is heavily inspired by Far East and martial arts mythology. The game boasts a combo-driven action combat system that is playable in PvE dungeons or 1v1 PvP Arena battles.

Characters can choose from four human-based races: Gon, Lyn, Yun (female-only) and Jin. Characters have an array of unique classes to choose from: Blade Master, Destroyer, Summoner, Force Master, Kung Fu Master, Assassin and Blade Dancer. Players can choose between two warring factions: The Cerulean Order and The Crimson Legion.

Check out the 2015 Closed Beta Weekend Schedule:

• Weekend 1: Oct 30–Nov 2 [English only]
• Weekend 2: Nov 13–16 [English only]
• Weekend 3: Nov 24–30 [English, French, German]
• Weekend 4: Dec 11–14 [English, French, German]
• Weekend 5: Dec 18–21 [English, French, German]