PlanetSide 2 will be free-to-play, beta on track for late this year, early next year

John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment, was recently interviewed by Chinese gaming website 17173.com. After a series of misunderstandings after a translation from MMOSite, PlanetSide Universe was able to confirm with Smedley that the important details were accurate.

Without further ado, here they are:

First up, Smedley confirmed what we all suspected to begin with, which is that PlanetSide 2 will operate on the free-to-play model. Smedley wasn’t willing to go into any detail, but he dropped a hint by stating that SOE is a fan of League of Legends.

Additionally, Smedley stated that a PlanetSide 2 beta could launch as soon as this year, but it could end up being pushed back into next year. “It’s ready when it’s ready and we are proud of it,” he said in a statement to PlanetSide Universe.

PlanetSide 2 is aiming to make the same impact that the original PlanetSide made on the MMOFPS genre nearly eight years ago. To appeal to a modern audience, PlanetSide 2 received a fresh, modern coat of paint and an all-new internal engine.

By all reports, however, not much has changed for the worse with PlanetSide 2 — it’s still the same PlanetSide you know and love, with gigantic maps and uniquely frantic gameplay.

via Destructoid