Atlus has announced that the first closed beta test for its PC-based MMORPG Shin Megami Tensei Online Imagine will begin on October 17th and run until the end of the month. Participants will have to download the game's client software, as the company will not distribute CDs. A link to the download page will be provided to beta testers at a later point. Currently, details regarding the second closed beta testing phase have already been fixated and Atlus is preparing to accept applications for it. Despite the game being an online title, series veterans will be pleased to hear that a lot of familiar faces such as Amaterasu, Susanoo and Shiva have already been confirmed to appear in this newest Shin Megami Tensei title.

Shin Megami Tensei Online Imagine will be released in Japan sometime this year.

• GameWatch