Hi-Rez Studios announces they plan to kick off closed beta testing of Tribes: Ascend within the next few weeks, though there's no specific date for the testing of their upcoming multiplayer shooter revival. They say they will hand-select thousands of testers from those who register on the Tribes: Ascend Website. This news also reveals a delay, as the game was announced for release later this year, but now word is: "Hi-Rez Studios will continue to increase the number of beta participants through the end of this year in preparation for a general game release in Q1 of 2012." Here are a pair of new screenshots, and here's word on testing: "During this initial beta phase, Tribes: Ascend players will experience 4 multiplayer maps, 2 game-modes and 3 vehicles as they progress thru 12 playable classes in fast-paced, high-flying online multiplayer matches of up to 32 people."