RAGE Will Not Have Demo or Beta

RAGE, the long-awaited new first-person shooter from developer id Software and publisher Bethesda Softworks, will probably not get a single player-based demo before launch date, with those interested in getting it needing to rely on reviews and on other media to make a purchase decisions.

Peter Hines, who is the vice president in charge of public relations at Bethesda, has told VG247 that the company is not taking the issues of a demo lightly, saying, “It’s something we look at for every game and we do it where possible and where appropriate. But to be perfectly honest, from a technical standpoint, it isn’t always possible. I don’t see a demo for RAGE on the cards.”

He left a small window open for the possibility, adding, “I guess it’s not a zero percent chance, but it’s somewhere down on that end of the spectrum.”

id Software has not launched an original intellectual property in quite some time and RAGE is a big bet for them, so putting out a demo that shows off the innovation they have incorporated would make a lot of sense for them.

RAGE looks impressive from a technical standpoint, with demos during 2010 showcasing how beautiful the new id Tech 5 engine is and how smooth the action moves.

RAGE will focus on a post-apocalyptic world and, in addition to traditional first-person shooting, will also include vehicle-based sections and some role-playing elements.

Earlier during the development process executives from id Software have said that they are not planning to create a multiplayer based beta for RAGE but that a single player demo could be delivered on both the PC and the Mac.

RAGE currently has a planned launch date of September 13 in the United States and September 15 in Europe, with the platforms including the PlayStation 3, the Xbox 360 and the PC.