Line of Defense, the latest game from Derek Smart and his company 3000 AD, will be making its beta debut on Steam this coming July.

Line of Defense has been in development for several years now, but has yet to release a public beta. That will all change in July, when 3000 AD will open up the game’s beta to pre-purchasers on the Steam digital distribution platform.

Line of Defense seeks to make a name for itself in the MMOFPS hybrid market. In the game’s final release, plans include multiple zones at several kilometers each in area, as well as both land and air combat. Line of Defense will be focused on PVP, with players able to take on multiple different challenges in each of the game’s expected environments. Access during the beta will be much more narrow in scope, focusing on gameplay and event optimization before the developers begin releasing the expanded content.

The first phase of Early Access will feature the Heatwave planetary starbase and the GCV-Starguard carrier in orbit around the Lyrius planet. New features and areas will frequently unlock  as the testing phase progresses, including new levels, new vehicles, and new weapons leading up to the game’s official release later this fall.

For such a massive game, this staggered release allows the team to focus on each aspect of the game during the public Beta testing. Meaningful feedback from the public will enable the team to address issues, concerns and gameplay suggestions in a timely fashion as each aspect of the game is unlocked and extensively tested.

3000 AD lead game designer Derek Smart has been releasing PC games for nearly twenty years, and Line of Defense is set to continue expanding on the universe he has featured in several past series, such as Battlecruiser 3000 AD and Galactic Commando: Echo Squad. With an impressive library of titles in the universe already under their belt, 3000 AD has a lot of background already in place to build their MMO framework around. Combining that with the list of features the final release hopes to include, from the expansive environments to multiple gameplay styles, Line of Defense could potentially offer players a unique MMOFPS experience.

Line of Defense will debut exclusively on Steam at $99.99 for the Early Access adopters, giving players access to the game as well as the Tactical Advancement Level IV ($69.99 value) kit (see the FAQ at http://lodmmo.com) which includes a variety of items.  They will also have the choice of four Commander Perks that identify them as having participated in the Early Access program. This includes a medal, a special vehicle, as well as other perks. They will also be given a free copy of the recently released Line Of Defense Tactics companion game ($24.99 value).

For players interested in checking out developer 3000 AD’s older titles, many of them are available on the Steam digital distribution service.