Neverwinter MMO Open Beta Release Date On April 30

Cryptic Studios and Perfect World Entertainment have announced that Neverwinter, the upcoming free-to-play MMO, shall begin open beta on April 30, with a final closed beta starting April 12 for Founders, according to Gamespot. The companies are both confident that Neverwinter, which is tied to the Dungeons and Dragons franchise, will be able to quickly gain a following in the crowded free-to-play market. The company's declare that the game is "proof that Western free-to-play games, when built from the ground up, can compete with even the biggest boxed subscription titles."

The game shall let Founders try out the four professions that the game will offer for about 60 hours over the weekend. Those professions are Mailsmithing, Leatherworking, Platesmithing, and Leadership. Anyone interested in joining this closed beta can still do so by prepurchasing the game on Neverwinter's website. Several preorder packages are available from $20 to $200, all offering various unique items for eager players.  

This includes the massive Heroes of the North Founder Pack, which includes a panther companion and a giant armored spider to ride, in addition to several costumes and special items, for $200. While many may have missed their chance to play the closed beta, the unique items gained by preordering the game may make still worthwhile for some.

Neverwinter, while taking place in and around the same fictional city found in the Forgotten Realms area of Dungeon and Dragons lore, is not part of the previous Neverwinter Nights series. The game shall be more story-based than most MMORPG's, which an added emphasis on user-created quests and stories. The game has been anticipated greatly by both MMO and Dungeon and Dragon fans alike, and promises to have many trying out the game's beta at the end of the month. Cryptic has yet to announce when the full game shall be available, but it should be soon, barring any major flaws in the beta.