14 DAY TRIAL // Relic is announcing that Dawn of War II will be getting an open multiplayer beta set to begin on January 28. The beta files will be delivered to those interested via the Steam digital distribution service as offered by Valve. Those who have bought and played Warhammer 40,000: Soulstorm, the latest incarnation of the original game, will get access to the multiplayer beta one week earlier, on January 21.
Dawn of War II is set to chance essential elements of the series. Base building is being done away with and a lot of role playing game aspects will be added. The player takes control in the single player component of a company of Space Marines, from the Blood Raven Chapter, and guides them against the enemies of the Empire, changing equipment from battle to battle, developing better abilities in order to wage war on ever more powerful enemies, including bosses and the Tyranids, which are making their first appearance in a Dawn of War game.
Relic says that the multiplayer beta will not be limited in any way and the four races, the Space Marines, the Orks, the Eldars and Turanids, will be playable. There will be five multiplayer maps available and all of them will be set in interesting locations from the Warhammer 40,000 universe. The Games for Windows Live service will be put to good use by Relic, as players will be matched up one against the other by using the TrueSkill component.
If you like Space Marion on Ork, Eldar and Tyranid action, be prepared to pick up Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II as it arrives for the PC on February 23. If the game is anywhere as gripping as the original, prepare yourself for total lack of social life while playing through the single player campaign.