By David Craddock

Sega and Warner Bros. Interactive announced earlier today that [i]Matrix Online[/i] will no longer be available in November, but will launch simultaneously in the United States and Europe on January 18, 2005.

This is grim news to many fans of MMO games, but there is a small bright side; Beginning sometime next week, a closed beta – launching on 11/18/04 – will begin for any gamer who decides to preorder [i]Matrix Online[/i]. “During the pre-order beta, players will experience The Matrix Online’s full mechanics and abilities,” said Sega and Warner Bros. Interactive in a statement. The developers feel it “?will be an opportunity for members of the Matrix community to establish allegiances, join guilds and plan strategies for the full game.”

Yet another benefit to those with enough forethought to pre-order the game is the chance to have it three days before the general public. In addition to early purchase capability, the in-game characters of anyone who pre-ordered will receive “an advanced-level ‘Hyper Jump’ ability with a special effect.”