It’s fair to say that when the Destructoid PC team was talking about its most exciting upcoming PC games in 2012,Tribes: Ascendwas one of the games everyone was most looking forward to. Some of us have been playing in the closed beta for a few weeks now but we’ll all get the chance to play on Friday onwards whenthe beta goes open.

From 5:00pm GMT onwards, beta access will be open for all to play and there’s a raft of improvements and additions to the game for existing players. Hi-Rez studios is promising four new maps, including two for a new game mode, Arena Deathmatch. Also included are new items for the soldier class, new default suits for Doombringer and Brute classes, as well as a raft of bug fixes and balance patches.

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I know I’m going to be downloading the game on Friday for a try over the weekend. Hopefully the PC team will be able to give you our impressions real soon.Tribes: Ascendhas a big legacy to live up to but I’m hopeful it’ll turn out really well; my jetpack-fueled mid-air death sprees depend on it!

The opening area of the Whisper mission, in a small grove.

The Divide in the Cosmodrome, where the Guardian was resurrected.

A holofoil Ribbontail, as seen in collections.

The Phoneutria Fera hand cannon, inspired by the Season of the Haunted armor set. It has a unique, galactic glow.

Three Fuses appear in a match of Apex Legends' Wild Card mode.

Mad Maggie opens a supply bin and an item with a symbol indicating infinite ammo appears.

Legends slide through a zipline in King’s Canyon in Apex Legends.

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The Yeartide Apex tex Mechanica SMG with a Holofoil glow.