There's a new update for Nosgoth, Square Enix's free-to-play human-vs-vampire PvP battler. This time, the fighting's spread to a new location—the vampire-controlled forges and workshops of The Crucible. It's part gothic, part industrial, and all full of angry people trying to kill you.

Here's a video preview of the new map:

Also in update 4.0, a new skin. The "Evolved Skin" is unlocked for the Deceiver on reaching level 25 with the class. It was designed by Legacy of Kain artist Daniel Cabuco, and looks like this:

Nosgoth is available to play now, for free, in Steam Early Access.

We mentioned last week that the Nosgoth open beta was set to begin today, and so it has, right on schedule. The game is now available for free on Steam, and to mark the big day Square Enix has pumped out a new trailer showing off the game's eight classes in action.

The multiplayer Nosgoth is based on a centuries-long, world-consuming war between humans and vampires. As the trailer makes abundantly clear, the human side of this conflict has access to some pretty sweet party favors, but they prove awfully squishy when the physically dominant vampires get in close.

It's free, as mentioned, but if you find yourself having enough fun to want to throw money at it, there are options for that as well, in the form of various "packs" ranging from $17 to $60. Oddly enough, I can't find any descriptions of what's actually in the packs, although they might be explained within the game itself—either way, you might want to exercise a little due diligence before you start waving your credit card around.

Square Enix has announced that the free-to-play Legacy of Kain spin-off Nosgoth will go into open beta next week. The game will be taken offline on January 19 to make final preparations for the big day, and then opened to all at 10 am PST on January 21.

Nosgoth was announced in 2013 as a class-based multiplayer game pitting humans against vampires, based on the multiplayer mode of the canceled sequel to the 2003 release Legacy of Kain: Defiance. As you might surmise, the action is asymmetrical: Vampires are almost unstoppably powerful up close, while humans have access to devastating ranged weaponry and alchemy.

"Our goal for the Open Beta is to deliver a fun and engrossing metagame and we realize that working closely with our community is the best way for us to balance and deepen the experience going forward," Game Director Corey Davis said in a statement.

Players will earn double experience during the first week of the open beta, and developer Psyonix will be streaming a live session on Twitch at 11:30 am PST on launch day. The Nosgoth client will be available from Steam—free, remember—while more information about the game is at Nosgoth.com.

Not long ago we gave away 20,000 keys for the closed beta of Nosgoth—a multiplayer game set during an endless war between humans and vampires (which the vampires really ought to win, given their natural endlessness). The keys went faster than black puddings in a vampire rave, so we're back with 10,000 more! Pick a side and kill the other for justice and lols.

To get a key, simply enter your email address in the widget below. The keys will be raffled off in three days on Friday December 5 to 10,000 randomly selected email addresses. They'll even unlock an exclusive in-game skin for you. Good luck!

If you win a key, you can redeem it by typing it into the Nosgoth key redemption page. If you have any trouble redeeming your key, find help on the Nosgoth support page.

In addition to what's currently in the closed beta, developer Psyonix have recently been offering fans a sneak peek at upcoming features including details on the Summoner class—a race of decaying necromancers. They've also provided an early look at The Crucible, a map set deep in vampire-controlled territory. For more details, head to the game's official site.

Nosgoth offers brutal PvP action in an endless war between vampires and humans. You can join as either side—utilising unique class and race-specific abilities in an asymmetrical fight between the forces of darkness, and the forces of weapon-carrying meat sacks.

The closed beta is currently live, and we can grant you access. We've got 20,000 keys for the beta to give away. All you need to do is enter your email address in the widget below before the deadline on Wednesday, 19 November at 16:30 GMT. After that, we'll email the winners with their key.

As an extra special bonus, key recipients will also get an exclusive skin.

To redeem the key, enter it on the Nosgoth code redemption page and follow the instructions provided. To play the beta, you'll need to have Steam installed on your PC. 

In addition to what's currently in the closed beta, developer Psyonix has teased the game's upcoming features. Most recently, they've provided details on  the Summoner class—a race of immortal, decaying necromancers. They've also provided an early look at The Crucible, a map set deep in vampire-controlled territory. For more details, head to the game's official site.

*If you have any problems redeeming your code, visit the Nosgoth support page.