Hellgate: London is one of the saddest game releases in recent history. The PC action-RPG hybrid of third- and first-person shooting and melee launched back in 2007 to loads of pre-release hype, largely because its now-defunct developer, Flagship Studios, was led by some of the former Blizzard masterminds behind Diablo. It was a really fun game, but sadly the fun was buried in technical problems and the developer’s overly ambitious attempt to deliver both an extensive single-player campaign and online multiplayer on the scale of a full MMORPG. Unfortunately, both sides suffered from the lack of direction and identity.

But there is still hope for the post-apocalyptic ‘hack and shoot’ dungeon crawler that refuses to die. T3 Entertainment, Redbana and HanbitSoft have been re-developing the game since 2009 with plans to relaunch under the free-to-play MMO model. Hellgate won’t be fully resurrected until later in the year, but next month the game will take its first big step towards redemption.

The free-to-play version of Hellgate is scheduled to enter closed beta in North America between June 3rd and June 5th, during which invited players will be able to choose from six different class types and fight creatures from hell by themselves or online with a team of fellow demon hunters. Information on how to get access to the beta test will be posted to the game’s website soon. If you’re interested in joining, you should probably follow Hellgate on Twitter and Facebook for updates.

Here’s a sneak preview of the game in action:

“Today marks a major milestone for Flagship Studios,” said Bill Roper, CEO of Flagship Studios. “The greatest thrill any developer can have is to see their game actually in a player’s hands. We’ve put our all into making Hellgate: London a great gaming experience, and now we’re able to share what has been a huge part of the past four years of our lives with our friends, family, and the world.”

“The core of the EA Partners program is utilizing our strengths as a publishing organization to help world-class independent development studios like Flagship bring their games to market globally,” said David DeMartini, Vice President and Global General Manager, EA Partners. “Hellgate: London is a great achievement and we are excited to have had the opportunity to work with Flagship and NAMCO BANDAI in delivering a breakthrough action RPG.”

EA and Namco Bandai have officially kicked off the North American pre-order program for Flagship Studios’ much-anticipated Hellgate: London. By pre-ordering either the standard or Collector’s Edition version of the game, you’ll get three perks: an access key to an exclusive beta that starts next week and runs to October 7th, one of four exclusive dye-kits to color your character’s gear with, and the option to purchase a lifetime subscription to the game’s premium online service for a hefty $149.99 as part of the Hellgate: London Founders Offer. Hellgate: London is scheduled to ship this Halloween. Swing by www.hellgatelondon.com for a short Q&A concerning the pre-order program and answers to a few other frequently-asked questions.

“We’re excited to get our most passionate players into the early Beta test, and to reward them with a special look once the game goes live on Halloween,” said Bill Roper, CEO of Flagship Studios. “The Founder’s offer is designed for those die-hard fans that will have had time to really get to know the game during the Beta phase and plan on spending a lot of time with us online.”

“We wanted to hit the sweet-spot for release in terms of the development schedule and delivering the highest-quality game to our players,” said Bill Roper, CEO of Flagship Studios. “Halloween was the perfect fit as it ensures that Hellgate: London will have an appropriate amount of beta testing, while also being an incredibly fun time to unleash the game.”

When it ships, Hellgate: London will offer a robust single-player campaign along with compelling online multiplayer action, both free play and a subscription-based service providing new and evolving content to explore on a regular basis. More specific details on the online features are set to be divulged soon, we’ll let you know as soon as any new info surfaces. Here is a pair of screenshots commemorating the Halloween release date.

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“We are all committed to making Hellgate: London absolutely the best game possible,” said Bill Roper, CEO of Flagship Studios. “The anticipation surrounding the game is immense and we are looking forward to its launch being a truly worldwide event.”

For more info on Hellgate: London visit www.hellgatelondon.com.

“Since the announcement of HELLGATE: LONDON we’ve had a lot of requests for a faction of characters that place an emphasis on player skill through mid-to-long ranged-weapon attacks,” said Bill Roper, CEO and co-founder of Flagship Studios. “By removing auto-aiming and target-locking, the Hunter has been designed to provide a game play experience which will appeal directly to FPS players.”

Read on for an in-depth background synopsis of the Hunter faction, and for a peek at the new screenshots and artwork.

Hunter Faction Background Info (as provided by EA):

Black Ops. Wetworks. The Agency. Every government has its darker side. No matter the name, the world powers have always maintained highly-trained individuals who are most comfortable clinging to the shadows and dealing with threats in their own extremely deadly ways. Trained with technology that is far superior to what the common man could even dream of, these Hunters commonly went after the most dangerous prey of all – each other.

That is, until the Demons came.

When the Demons did arrive, it was with a swift and deadly force. Millions fell instantly, and in mere days, it seemed that only a handful of people had survived. Not surprisingly, Hunters represented a high percentage of that number – their training, instincts, physical and mental abilities, and knowledge serving them well. National loyalties fell by the wayside as sworn enemies threw aside their political dogma to face a greater threat in the Demons. Methods and weapons once held preciously secret were quickly shared and the Hunters switched their crosshairs from one another to the monsters that had invaded their world.

The Hunter

The archetype of the Hunter is obscure, cloaked in mystery and subterfuge. In one way he is the Assassin, the Ninja, the Knife in the Dark. In other ways, he is the Ronin, a highly-trained warrior with no master. In yet more, he is the Destroyer, a force of blazing gunfire and deadly accuracy that lays waste to any that stand in his way. In all ways, The Hunter will not be staid.

The Hunter has learned how to use his natural skills and special technologies to effectively combat any adversary, no matter his number or strength. This is no mean feat, as Demons are largely invulnerable to mundane attack. That said, every foe has a weakness, and the Hunters have made it their purpose to find these soft spots and exploit them.

Although they acknowledge their apparent effectiveness, the Hunters are suspicious of magical or “holy” approaches to battling the Demons, and usually shun using them. They value skill over loopy beliefs, and as such don’t like to get caught up in arguments over the esoteric concepts of good and evil. Basically, Demons are very dangerous prey, and it takes a highly-skilled Hunter to bring one down. Now move out of the way and let them do it.