EA spills The Secret World in April

Electronic Arts is telling everyone it can today about The Secret World's new release window. During its Gamescom press briefing today, the publisher said the Funcom-developed massively multiplayer online role-playing game would launch on the PC in April of 2012.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean gamers need to wait that long to go hands-on with the title. EA also announced plans for its upcoming beta testing, with registration opening "through a unique interactive social media campaign" that will be centered around the game's official website.

Announced for the Xbox 360 and PC in 2007, The Secret World posits an alternate universe in which a modern-day world has been torn asunder by the reemergence of magic and other occult activity. Players will join one of three occult factions and battle one another for control of strategic locations throughout the world, ranging from Egypt to New York to Seoul. The game will also come replete with mythical beasts and slavering monsters.

For more on The Secret World, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.