Sony Online Entertainment is sending yet another of its MMORPGs free-to-play, planning to open Vanguard: Saga of Heroes up to all this summer. SOE's also ramping up development a little, expanding the team to make new content.

Read more: F2P model similar to DCUO, EQ, and the rest »

MMO magpie Sony Online Entertainment has relaunched its 'Station Access' subscription under the new name 'All Access' and knocked $10 off the monthly price. It includes membership to ten SOE games, four of them free-to-play, for only $5 per month more than a single subscription.

An All Access sub will let you play DC Universe Online on PC, EverQuest, EverQuest II, EverQuest Online Adventures for PlayStation 2, PlanetSide, and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes with the single subscription fee. Read more »

Sony Online Entertainment is still down following the hack of SOE and PlayStation Network. In an update, Sony outlined the make-good rewards it plans to dole out for its various franchises.

Each of the game-specific rewards will be available on both PC and PlayStation 3, as applicable. You'll also get 30 days free added to your subscription, on top of a free day for each that the system was down. So far, SOE has been down almost two weeks, so that's a month and a half of free time and counting. Read more »

[Update 12:30pm - XdM] An anonymous source at Sony Online Entertainment tells Shacknews that rumors of layoffs and the cancellation of The Agency are accurate. According to the source, a number of the layoffs also reduced the size of the EverQuest 2 team and although the Planetside Next team also took some layoffs, the project is alive and well. Read more »

There's a Vanguard: Saga of Heroes Q&A on Ten Ton Hammer, asking Michelle Butler about her role as community manager and SOE's support for the game.

There's an article format interview about Sony Online Entertainment taking over Vanguard: Saga of Heroes on WarCry, chatting with SOE's Courtney Simmons about this development we reported on yesterday.

Update 2: Sony Online Entertainment has now officially confirmed the acquisition statement made by SOE president John Smedley. "With an unparalleled team and exceptional product, Sigil has been a creative force in the online games space," said Smedley in the announcement. "We look forward to continuing the vision for Vanguard and to continue to deliver some groundbreaking game play."

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Brad McQuaid, CEO of Vanguard developer Sigil Games, made a lengthy forum post this weekend, appearing to confirm recent rumors that publisher Sony Online Entertainment is looking into various actions regarding the future of Sigil and its recently released MMO, including a potential acquisition of Sigil by SOE. "SOE is in discussions with Sigil regarding the future of Vanguard and Sigil Games in Carlsbad," wrote McQuaid (pictured left), relaying SOE's official position. "What does that mean? It means that right now Vanguard is doing decently but not as well as we hoped," he added. Potential courses of action theorized by McQuaid include acquisition, changes in management, or workforce adjustments at Sigil.

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GameSpot has the latest Vanguard: Saga of Heroes preview, going hands-on with the game one more time before its launch next week.

We just received a press release, announcing that early access to Vanguard: Saga of Heroes will begin this Friday around noon CST. People with pre-orders are the ones who can start playing early (the game officially launches the 30th). SOE and Sigil also announced that the game carries a $14.99 monthly subscription fee, and people who already have a Station Access subscription can play the game using that.

Over at Ten Ton Hammer you can find the latest Vanguard: Saga of Heroes Q&A. Nick Parkinson of Sigil Games is asked about the game's impending release. It is interesting to note there is no info on the game's subscription price even with the game launching soon.

Over at Vanguard WarCry you can find the latest Vanguard: Saga of Heroes Q&A. Community manager Nick Parkinson is asked about game changes due to the beta, tweaking the game before launch, the game's diplomacy system, crafting, combat and more.

According to a press release sent out by Sony Online Entertainment today, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes will be hitting stores at the end of the month. Both North America and Europe will get the game January 30, with an MSRP of $49.99.

EuroGamer is the latest site with a Vanguard: Saga of Heroes preview, offering their own thoughts on the beta version of this upcoming MMORPG.

For more Vanguard: Saga of Heroes impressions, head over to GameZone where they have the latest preview of the game.