Dawn of War II: Retribution multiplayer beta starts Jan. 31

THQ has announced a multiplayer beta for the standalone expansion, Dawn of War II: Retribution. The beta includes all of the game's factions and multiplayer maps and is scheduled to begin on January 31, at which point access will be given to the press and "Key Dawn of War community members." The following day, the beta will be open to anyone who has pre-ordered the game on Steam. Beginning February 8, the test will then open to anyone who has ever purchased a Dawn of War product or registered a copy of Dawn of War II on Steam.

The beta will test Retribution's Steam matchmaking as well as overall multiplayer balance. Once the beta ends on February 24, the results will be used by the developers at Relic to create a "day-zero balancing patch" for the game.

Show full PR text

THQ Announces Warhammer(R) 40,000(R): Dawn of War(R) II - RetributionTM Beta
Community Invited to Help Balance Multiplayer Modes Prior to Launch
AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Jan 17, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced that a multiplayer beta for its upcoming real time strategy game, Warhammer(R) 40,000(R): Dawn of War(R) II - Retribution(TM), is scheduled to launch in late January.

Featuring all six multiplayer races including the new Imperial Guard faction, this beta is expected to run from the end of January through the end of February to test the new Steamworks networking and matchmaking features and to help balance the multiplayer mode. All new units for each race will be available in the beta along with the new multiplayer maps which ship with Retribution.
The beta is scheduled to go live on Monday, January 31st when global press and key Dawn of War(R) community members will be given access. It will then broaden to include everyone who has pre-ordered Dawn of War(R) II - Retribution(TM) on STEAM to date on February 1st. Finally, anyone who has bought a Dawn of War game through STEAM or has registered a Dawn of War II product on their STEAM account will automatically receive an invite on February 8th. There will be no open registration phase to this beta.

The Dawn of War II - Retribution multiplayer beta is currently planned to run until midnight on February 24th, at which point the developers will take all feedback into account to create a day-zero balancing patch.

About Retribution
It is ten years since the events of Chaos Rising and Sub-Sector Aurelia has been in a constant state of warfare with the Imperium struggling to retain control. The apparent betrayal of the chapter by Gabriel Angelos and his Space Marines has shaken the Blood Ravens and now the Imperial forces are beset on all sides by hostile aliens. Retribution allows the player to select the race of their choosing in a battle to determine the very survival or destruction of the entire sector. In addition to the multi race single player campaign, Dawn of War II - Retribution will also feature new multiplayer units, maps and the new playable Imperial Guard faction when it ships.
About Games Workshop
Games Workshop is the world's largest tabletop wargames company. Based in Nottingham, UK, it designs, manufactures and distributes its range of Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 games, miniature soldiers, novels and resin models through more than 389 of its own Hobby centers, mail order, Internet and independent retail channels in more than 50 countries worldwide. Further details on the company can be obtained at www.games-workshop.com. Games Workshop, Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Chaos Rising, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Retribution the foregoing marks' respective logos, and all associated marks, logos, places, names, creatures, races and race insignia/devices/logos/symbols, vehicles, locations, weapons, units and unit insignia, characters, products, illustrations and images are either (R), TM and/or © Games Workshop Ltd 2000-2011. Used under license. All Rights Reserved.

About THQ
THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com. THQ and its logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the business of THQ Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as "THQ"), including, but not limited to, expectations and projections related to the Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II: - Retribution beta, and are based upon management's current beliefs and certain assumptions made by management.Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, business, competitive, economic, legal, political and technological factors affecting our industry, operations, markets, products or pricing.Readers should carefully review the risk factors and the information that could materially affect THQ's financial results, described in other documents that THQ files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2010, and particularly the discussion of risk factors set forth therein.Unless otherwise required by law, THQ disclaims any obligation to update its view on any such risks or uncertainties or to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements.Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.