The free-to-play multiplayer shooter Tribes: Ascend has been doing pretty well for itself, but the key to a long F2P lifespan is a constant stream of new content. To that end, Hi-Rez Studios has showcased the upcoming "Tartarus update," which will feature two new maps, the ability to save loadout sets, and other gameplay adjustments.

Watch: A look at Tartarus and Hinterlands »

Tribes: Ascend has been given an official release date of April 12, Hi-Rez Studios announced today. The free-to-play PC shooter's open beta has been running for a few weeks, and boasts 400,000 participants.

Watch: 'Llama Island' parody trailer »

After a few months of closed beta testing, Hi-Rez Studios is ready to share Tribes: Ascend with the hoi polloi. Its free-to-play take on the much-loved jetpacking PC shooter series will enter open beta on Friday.

Read more: Big patch arriving ahead of open beta »

The beta test for Tribes: Ascend will come on Friday, November 4 according to Hi-Rez Studios head Todd Harris. The team had been aiming for September, but Harris says the beta was pushed back due to alpha feedback and the addition of a character progression feature.

The beta is set to include four multiplayer maps, two game modes, three vehicles, and 12 playable classes. Once the full game launches, it will be free-to-play and supported by microtransactions, similar to Team Fortress 2.

Read more: Beta invites still coming »

Hi-Rez Studios is planning to kick off the closed beta of Tribes: Ascend within the next few weeks, and has opened up registrations for interested testers. They promise that beta testers will number in the thousands, and more will be added through the end of the year as the company ramps up its testing in preparation for an early 2012 launch.

Read more: Beta's offering of maps and modes »

Shacknews receives a slew of new screenshots and trailers for upcoming games everyday. The most anticipated titles receive their own post, because we know you're eager to see that content. For the rest, we have the Daily Filter, a place to feature all of the media we add to our enormous database on a daily basis.

Today's Filter features a new Gamescom 2011 trailer for LittleBigPlanet 2, a PvP trailer for Star Wars: The Old Republic, an Ubisoft developer panel at Gamescom 2011, a demo walkthrough of Dark Souls, two inside looks at the brand new PlayStation Vita, four new background trailers for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, a multiplayer sneak peek at Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, a cinematic trailer for Might & Magic Heroes VI, a new look at the Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection, a PAX Prime 2011 Blacklight: Retribution trailer, and new screenshots for Tribes: Ascend, Prototype 2, GoldenEye 007: Reloaded, X-Men: Destiny, and The Baconing.

Read more: Check out today's Filter »

While some Tribes diehards are wary of Hi-Rez studios' revival of the classic multiplayer shooter series as a free-to-play game, the developer, also responsible for Global Agenda, is selling it well. Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz, studio co-founder and COO Todd Harris has explained that Tribes: Ascend is focusing on the birthplace of the franchise: the PC.

"I will say that our first initial focus is the PC as far as what we're developing on, testing on, and as far as availability we're focused first on the PC," he said. "One; because that's where people associate the franchise, that was its home, and two; because we do want to be able to deliver updates for it, and as we were saying we think that's the strongest platform for it right now." Read more »

Yesterday's reveal of Tribes: Ascend's free-to-play status predictably evoked mixed emotions. "This free-to-play stuff ruined it for me," one Shacker said. "Every time I see that a game is going to be powered by microtransactions my excitement and anticipation level goes to zero and I automatically write it off," another responded.

But before you plug your ears at the mention of Tribes, perhaps you'll want to take a look at gameplay footage? Developer Hi-Rez Studios released this trailer, showing off its jetpack-infused gameplay. Read more »

Tribes: Ascend is being billed as "the multiplayer successor to the much lauded Tribes 2." Built on Unreal Engine 3, Ascend will be a downloadable multiplayer shooter for PC and Xbox 360. And, surprisingly, it will also be free-to-play.

Yes, like Team Fortress 2 and many MMOs, the game will be entirely powered by microtransactions. According to a report by IGN, Ascend is largely inspired by League of Legends' cycling release of warriors. In Riot's game, new "champions" are made available for purchase every two weeks, for about $5-10. Tribes: Ascend will, instead, allow players to buy entire loadouts. One loadout may give players more engineer-type attributes, while another may focus more on stealth. Developer Hi-Rez is hoping to create new loadouts on a regular basis, in addition to making cosmetic enhancements available for purchase as well. Read more »

A new multiplayer Tribes game has been announced by Global Agenda developer Hi-Rez Studios, who acquired the shooter franchise last year.

Hi-Rez describes Tribes: Ascend as "the multiplayer successor to the much lauded Tribes 2 and a re-introduction of the franchise to the gaming world." Jetpacks, skiing and vehicles are all set to feature. Read more »