Dust 514 Beta Open To PS+ Today, New Update Adds EVE Online Integration And More

The Dust 514 Beta is gearing up as it is about to open it’s door to many new users.

Today, CCP released a brand new update, which comes packed with the first EVE integration system along with some graphical enhancements and many other new features.

Later on today, when the PlayStation store update has officially gone live, PS+ subscribers will be able to download the Dust 514 closed Beta. Meanwhile, for those who are from the European territories you can expect it to arrive in the EU update tomorrow.

Update: The PlayStation Store has just recently updated.

Contents Of The Latest Patch

As seen on the official Dust 514 website.

The first live DUST 514 / EVE Online integration

Linking the intense front-line combat of DUST 514 with the galactic ship warfare of EVE Online has always been our keystone to building a vibrant community, and now that keystone is coming into place. With the Precursor release, we move DUST 514 from its standalone testing server over to the long-standing EVE Online test server, Singularity (aka “Sisi”). This means DUST 514 on PlayStation 3 and EVE Online on PC/Mac will be officially running on the same server.

When the Precursor Closed Beta build goes live, players on the Sisi server in DUST 514 and EVE Online can chat in real time and send in-game mail between games. We can’t wait to see what happens when these games collide in the same shared universe, and we’ll bring you more info on additional interconnectivity features as we move towards our next releases.

Orbital Strike Framework

The first framework for Orbital Strikes goes live in the Precursor build. These powerful, space-based attacks help link DUST 514 and EVE Online, letting squad leaders call in Orbital Strikes from the War Barge flying overhead when their squad achieves certain conditions in battle.

This is just the first level of Orbital Strike capability. In the near future, players on the ground in DUST 514 will be able to request strikes from ships piloted by EVE Online players. These strikes have the potential to do far more damage than the War Barge, their accuracy and power determined by factors like your DUST 514 Merc’s skills and what turrets the EVE Online pilots have trained and fit to their spaceships.

But Mercs on the ground won’t be helpless. We’ll soon add the Orbital Artillery outpost on the ground, which they can use to attack EVE Online ships in space.

Instant Battle Matchmaking

The Precursor update also implements several matchmaking features. Players will be able to find their friends, form squads and jump quickly into battles together using “Instant Battle.” In addition, the matchmaking system has been implemented to intelligently place solo players and squads into matches based on skill, creating a more inviting shooter experience, especially for new players.

New Environments

We couldn’t put out a major new release without adding tons of new game content. Precursor brings our Galaxy system online, which assembles maps from components based on planetary attributes and what is built on the planet, for tons of potential combinations. Closed Beta users will be able to help us test out a substantial array of new environments to battle in utilizing this new system.

Keyboard and Mouse Implementation

That’s right, with the Precursor release, you can use a USB keyboard and mouse to play DUST 514. We’re looking forward to seeing how this impacts play styles, and will be watching closely to see how keyboard/mouse players match up against Dual Shock and Move gamers. We are also working to add controller-based filters into Instant Battle/Matchmaking for a following update.

Tons of Other Great Stuff (including lots of polish, graphical enhancements, and bug fixes)

Everything mentioned above is just a small subset of what we’re adding to DUST 514 next week. All of these features are just the latest improvements to an awesome massively-multiplayer first-person shooter that will be free to play for every PlayStation 3 owner.

In addition, we’re launching a free companion app on the Vita, DUST 514: Neocom, to augment your gameplay experience and let you customize your fittings, train skills, use the market, browse the starmap, and much more, on the go anytime and anywhere.

New Screenshots of The Updated Build

Dust 514 Neocom App For Vita Detailed

As mentioned above, the PS Vita will be receiving it’s own Dust 514 App called “Neocom”. This app serves as a companion app the the official PS3 version of the game. There won’t be any actual gameplay, but for those who are looking for a “MMO on the Go,” then this free app will be for you. You’ll be able to manage your player outfits, weapons, shopping – pretty much everything that Dust 514 menu’s already allow. You’ll also get to interact with galaxies from EVE Online in real time where you’ll be able to visit hundreds of solar systems and manage resources and surface infrastructures of individual planets. That means you’ll be able to shape the battlefield that PS3 gamers will be playing on.

Lots of exciting new details for Dust 514. As a PS+ member, are you looking forward to the beta?

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