Rift opening on PCs March 1

Trion Worlds entered the gaming scene in 2006 and in short order began working on a trio of projects. Now, the first of those games is ready for primetime, as the California-based developer announced today that its "dynamic" fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game Rift will launch for the PC in North America on March 1. The game's European rollout will follow on March 4.

As its title might suggest, the game's premise is that of "rifts" in space time that are playing havoc with the land of Telara and threatening to tear the fabric of the universe. Trion noted that the world will be highly malleable, as these rifts can be triggered by players or the development team, and they can also occur spontaneously. Their arrival will apparently alter the landscape, as well as open up new areas for exploration.

Interested gamers looking to get a head start in the game can do so by preordering the digital or retail edition of the game, beginning today. Those who prepurchase the game will be able to access Rift's servers beginning February 24, and they'll also be offered a choice of in-game pets. Preorderers will also be eligible to participate in all remaining closed-beta testing events, a schedule for which is available on Rift's website.

Rift is available in three different configurations: Standard ($50), Digital Collector's Edition ($60), and Retail Collector's Edition ($80). The game also carries a $15 monthly subscription charge, with the first month being included in the game's purchase price. For a limited time, Trion is offering promotional $10-a-month pricing as part of the "Founder's Pricing" plan.

For more on Rift, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.