Free-to-play FPS Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex—First Assault enters open beta this week

Nexon's Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex—First Assault Online, which for the sake of my fingers and sanity I will henceforth refer to as simply First Assault, is about to enter open beta. Beginning July 28, all players will be able to access the game at no charge as it heads into the final stretch before full launch. 

First Assault a multiplayer FPS that sets players up as operatives of Section 9, “an elite force of cybernetically enhanced combat operatives tasked with protecting society and fighting terrorists on the bleak streets of a futuristic Japan.” It currently offers eight unique classes, three modes of play, and “several” different maps, but the move into open beta will also include an update adding a new operative, new systems and optimizations, and an “an innovative mode inspired by the classic The Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex series that brings a new hacking element into the game.” 

The game is free-to-play, but players have the option of purchasing different tiers of “crates,” which come with various sorts of character and weapon skins, unlocks, and other handy bits of stuff. First Assault is available from Steam, or through the Nexon Global Platform. More info is up at firstassault.nexon.net.

Andy Chalk
US News Lead

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.

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