There's been a closed beta for the Korean MMO/FPS hybrid running on Fileplanet for a little while now, but that's not of interest to you. You probably weren't part of it. You can, however, be a part of an open closed beta (bear with me), which is now seeing anyone and everyone in North America with a Fileplanet account (not a subscription, just an account) given access to the beta.

If you're in Europe or Australasia? Sorry.

Huxley Beta [Fileplanet, via Massively]

It's player versus player on a massive scale in Huxley, the game we first heard about ages ago when it was initially announced for the Xbox 360 and PC. As of this moment it's a PC only game, and U.S. distributor NHN USA and Fileplanet have teamed up to provide closed beta access for everyone with a Fileplanet account. You don't even have to be a paying subscriber. If you can log in to Fileplanet, you're in.

Of course you still have to sign up for a free account at NHN's ijji.com to play, and the beta is only open to those in the U.S. and Canada, but those are simple qualifications...for those living in the U.S. and Canada.

Fileplanet Huxley Beta [Fileplanet via Massively]

This just in - you will be surprised to hear that the MMO/FPS game has had its Western PC release pushed back until "the first half of 2009". The promised Xbox 360 version is even deeper in the mire - no release date has yet been suggested.

The massively multiplayer shooter is loosely (extremely, I would have though) based on the visionary SciFi novel "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley. The challenge now for Webzen is to ensure a release date before the novel's fictional timeline begins in 2540 AD. Not long now, chaps!

No Huxley US launch in 2008 [Big Download]

“Huxley is one of the most anticipated online games currently in development, and we are very excited to bring the triple-A title to Western audiences,” said Whon Namkoong, CEO, NHN USA, Inc. “Huxley provides gamers with a unique and compelling experience that gamers everywhere are sure to enjoy.”

Is Huxley still one of the most anticipated online games currently in development? There was a time when I couldn't mention online games without Huxley coming up, but now? Meh. Anyone out there still all tingly for some MMOFPS action?

NHN USA To Bring Much Anticipated Next-Gen MMO Shooter Huxley to North America
Leading Game Portal ijji.com, with More Than Six Million Users, to Host Breakthrough Online Game in Late 2008

IRVINE, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—It’s official. NHN USA, a subsidiary of NHN (KOSDAQ:035420), the largest Korean Internet company, announced today that it has secured the rights to publish the long-awaited Huxley in North America and Western Europe. Bringing online gamers everywhere closer to the chance to exercise their fragging skills against thousands of other players in the first twitch-action massively multiplayer online first-person shooting (FPS) game Huxley, the online shooter is slated to arrive on the PC via ijji.com in late 2008.

“Huxley is one of the most anticipated online games currently in development, and we are very excited to bring the triple-A title to Western audiences,” said Whon Namkoong, CEO, NHN USA, Inc. “Huxley provides gamers with a unique and compelling experience that gamers everywhere are sure to enjoy. The revolutionary online shooter is a welcome addition to ijji.com, the site where millions of fans can play it later this year.”

Huxley is the first massively multiplayer online (MMO) game to combine the twitch-based fast-action gameplay of a first person shooter (FPS) with the cerebral character development of an MMO to deliver an intense and exciting online entertainment experience of a complete MMOFPS. Players will be drawn into the genre-bending game play, riveting cinematic graphics and intricate setting of Huxley, where they will choose between two races, Sapiens or Alternatives and struggle to obtain a powerful energy source while fighting endless battles against the Hybrids, a mysterious third group born of the two races.

Developed by Webzen, Huxley will be released by NHN USA for the PC and be available to play on the publisher’s renowned gaming portal ijji.com in late 2008. More information will be available shortly at www.ijji.com.

Huxley, that MMOFPS by Webzen that we all keep gushing about, had its beta go live in Korea back in September, so it's about time, I think for us to finally see some game play. I am not disappointed. Not at all.

"With Huxley's many innovative elements, gamers are in for a totally different experience," said Nam-Ju Kim, chief executive officer of Webzen, Inc. "Huxley is sure to challenge the existing genres with a new look and feel in multiple platforms. We're extremely confident that this title will set a new standard in MMOFPS."

WEBZEN ANNOUNCES THE FIRST CLOSED BETA TEST FOR HUXLEY™ TO START ON SEPTEMBER 13

August 22, 2007 - Global online entertainment company WEBZEN Inc. (www.webzen.com) announced today the dates of the much-anticipated first closed beta test for Huxley™, the next-generation MMOFPS. The closed beta test will start on September 13.

One of the year's most anticipated titles, Huxley is the cutting-edge, next-generation MMOFPS, fusing traditional FPS with the quest and character growth system of the MMORPG. Being developed as a truly global game title for Webzen, Huxley has already been creating a sensation in the markets in Europe and North America with rave reviews and a $35 million deal with a Chinese publisher.

After 999 lucky beta testers are selected from the official Huxley website beginning on August 28, the closed beta test will take place from September 13 for five days. For the first time ever, testers will get a chance to experience the city where the characters live and breath. They will also be treated to a variety of play modes such as team death match and radar domination, as well as the core systems, including the quest, not seen before in standard FPS games.

"With Huxley's many innovative elements, gamers are in for a totally different experience," said Nam-Ju Kim, chief executive officer of Webzen, Inc. "Huxley is sure to challenge the existing genres with a new look and feel in multiple platforms. We're extremely confident that this title will set a new standard in MMOFPS."

Meanwhile, Webzen has been conducting various testing and external network tests with a focus group since June to better gauge gamer preferences and evaluate the game's stability. The first closed beta test is a part of a planned series of user tests.

For some reason Sony still hasn't updated their placeholder for the Playstation 3 in North America, but they did get around to launching the European version.

The site isn't exactly bursting with information, but it's a nice start. The games section has screens and details for seven previously announced titles, including Eye of Judgement, SingStar and Warhawk. There's a spec sheet, a gallery of fun PS3 images, an outdated press release section and a PS3 Explained Section.

Instead of trying to put a happy face on the outrageous price, or talk about how Microsoft stole all of their ideas, the FAQ focuses mainly on Blu-ray and why you should be buying a high-def television.

The best part of the entire site is the intro on the front page:

Welcome to the official Playstation 3 website. Here you will be able to find all of the latest information and images of the console which promises to usher in a brave new world of home entertainment.

I assume they're using Brave New World in the Huxely-sense of the phrase, as in a dystopian future where culture, family, art and literature have been scrubbed clean from society and replaced with a hedonistic love of all things technological, no matter the cost... even if it's $600. That's a lot of Soma. Brian Crecente